A photo exhibition on landscapes and local cultures of six Arab states of the Gulf by a Chinese photographer was held in Beijing Wednesday.

The pictures for the exhibition were taken by Bai Xueyi, a Chinese photographer and a member of the China Photographers' Association. They reveal the beautiful landscapes and local cultures of the six Gulf Arab states, which are the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

The exhibition is the first of its kind in the history of the exchanges among China and the Arab countries, said an official with the organization committee, adding that it will efficiently promote further development of the cultural exchanges and friendly relations among China and the six Arab countries of the Gulf.

From 1997 to 2000, Bai visited the Arab states several times, taking more than ten thousand pictures. This exhibition will showcase 150 of the pictures.
 
(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2004)