The half-month gala, covering a total area of 70,000 sq. meters at the CCA, will be the largest cultural exchange ever held by Germany in China. More than 100 German companies and institutes have sponsored or joined the celebrations, including Siemens and Volkswagen.

Meng Xiaosi, Chinese vice-minister of culture, said the celebration is another large-scale cultural exchange between China and Germany, following the "Berlin Asia-Pacific Week" which China attended in 2001.

Joachim Broudre-Groeger, German ambassador to China, said the celebration focuses on Germany's recent achievements in different fields, in a bid to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between German and Chinese peoples.

Chinese and German artists jointly staged a German opera Carmina Burana, as part of the opening ceremony. According to the organizer, well-known artistic troupes from Germany will give concerts, and Chinese folk artists will also be invited to join with German counterparts.

Chinese artists Ren Rong and Wang Xiaohui and German artists Jorg Immendorff, Rolf A. Kluenter, and Manfred Durniok, will show their paintings and photographs on life in China and Germany.

Young people and children will also have fun in activities including children's car-racing and language lessons. Experts and scholars will discuss issues such as environmental protection at specific forums.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2002)