Interactive Cultural Exchange Years

The event officially began on October 19 with a concert featuring Greek composer Stamatis Spanoudakis' new work "Alexander: Paths You Haven't Travelled" at the Beijing Poly Theater.

An exhibition, named "Classical Memories in Contemporary Greek Art", ran from October 16 to November 16 in the Beijing-based Capital Museum.   

Other events include theatrical and dance performances, cinema tributes, archaeological and modern art exhibitions, opera, folk concerts, modern and popular music, conferences and book exhibitions.

The theatrical performances include classical dramas with a history of over 2000 years, like Aristophanes' comedy "The Birds" and Sophocles' tragedy "Aias". 

Dance performance "Medea," whose director was also the artistic director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, performed in May and June 2008.

As part of one-year long program, the Hellenic Cultural Center was set up adjacent to Beijing's Forbidden City, and activities including exhibitions, seminars and lectures were held there. 

HungaryCultural Festival

As Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany visits China, a week-long Hungary Festival was launched in Beijing to enhance the cultural ties between China and the central European country. 

Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Embassy of Hungary in Beijing and China Performing Arts Agency, the event brought the best of Hungarian arts and artists to China.

The festival opened with a gala show featuring Hungarian music, an operette, folk dance and ballet (pictured) at the Forbidden City Concert Hall on September 2. The program contained the music of great composers, including Franz Liszt, Zoltan Kodly and Bela Bartk, the finest selection of Hungarian ethnic music and elegant operetta.  

The well-known Hungarian artists, including pianist Tamas Vasary, dancer Henriett Tunyogi, soprano Agi Szaloki and the musicians of the Gypsy band Romano Drom, took the local audience on a journey to Hungary - a journey through different times, places and emotions.

ChinaCultural Festival in Israel 

The first China Cultural Festival opened May 25 at the Jerusalem International Convention Center in Israel, featuring the renowned Wuhan Acrobatic Troupe of China with the acrobatic show Heroes, which showcased ancient Chinese heroes in different eras, such as the legendary Mulan, the warriors and horses of Emperor Qin, and Shaolin kung fu masters.

Following the opening performances, a series of different Chinese cultural events were held throughout Israel, including Chinese folk dances, folk music and songs, arts and crafts, photo exhibitions, plays and movies.  

The festival, which was jointly held by the Chinese and Israeli governments, was dedicated to mark the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and lasted for about six months until November 2007. More than 200 performers from all over China went to Israel to participate in the event.

In his congratulatory letter to the festival, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said: "Both the Chinese people and the Jewish people have created time-honored civilizations and splendid cultures. During the past 15 years of diplomatic relations, China and Israel have witnessed remarkable progress in our bilateral relationship of all fields."  

He added: "As the Chinese artists bring rich and diversified Chinese culture and arts to Israel for the China Cultural Festival, I am convinced that cultural exchange and interaction between our two countries will further enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples."