The opening ceremony was held in the Palace Museum in the downtown Beijing Sunday for a show of paintings and calligraphy by political, economic and cultural celebrities from China and Japan -- one of a series of events to mark the 30th normalization anniversary of Sino-Japanese ties.
Chen Yongchang, vice-president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries said the exhibition was boosting mutual understanding and friendly exchanges between the celebrities in political, economic and cultural circles of both countries.
It would also promote the sound development of Sino-Japanese friendly cooperation in the new century, he added.
Former Japanese prime minister Kaifu Toshiki expressed the hope that the cultural exchanges and friendship between Japan and China would continue to grow.
A total of 154 celebrity works are being displayed.
The show is sponsored jointly by the Subcommittee of Foreign Affairs under the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the China-Japan Friendship Association, the Japan Art and Culture Association, and the Japanese Politicians' Association for Art Promotion.
(Xinhua News Agency November 3, 2002)
