Chen Liqing, the founder of China's first dancing and singing group Young Girls, is the chief initiator and organizer of the 1st Asian Youth Art Festivity.

The 1st Asian Youth Art Festivity, sponsored by Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, China Education Foundation and Beijing Qingchunniao Development Center for Film and Television Arts opened in Beijing May 22, 2005.

The festivity has seen active response from Asian countries. At present cooperation between Chinese sponsors and South Korean media, Japan's Association of Painters and Calligraphers, Singaporean media and other film companies, TV stations are in full swing.

By "taking culture as pathway and art as bridge", the festivity aims to promote and carry forward understanding, communications and exchanges among Asian youth. The festivity will be held in Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo. Art prodigies in Asian countries will be selected through contests in singing and dancing, folk music, painting and cartoons. The activity will lay solid foundation for cultivating international art talents. 

(People's Daily Online)

in full swing : 活跃，热烈地进行

prodigy : 天才，神童