China's Cultural Exhibition Opens in New York

China's Cultural Exhibition Opens in New York

"A Close Look at China," a free cultural exhibition offering an unprecedented look at the beauty and diversity of China opened in New York Tuesday evening.

Qian Qichen, Chinese vice premier; Evelyn Lieberman, US under secretary of State Department, and George Pataki, governor of New York, cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony.

The exhibition, which features a wide range of objects showing the history, culture, garments and tourism resources of China, will last 10 days and close on September 15.

The opening ceremony, presided over by Maurice Greenberg, chairman and CEO of American International Group, Inc., took place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, which was decorated with posters for the exhibition and two letters of congratulations from Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US President Bill Clinton.

China's Cultural Exhibition Opens in New York

Zhao Qizheng, director of the Information Office of the Chinese State Council, said mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and American peoples should be the foundation of better relations between China and the United States.

"The cultural exhibition opened here today is aimed at this," Zhao said.

Zhao described the exhibition "as a gift the Chinese people present to the American people from the other side of the Pacific Ocean, especially to those Americans who have not yet set foot on Chinese soil."

He hoped that "A Close Look at China" would enable more Americans to better understand China.

On behalf of State Secretary Madeleine Albright, Mrs. Lieberman said the exhibition "is an example of the kind of cultural diplomacy that we should encourage as we strive to better integrate cultural concerns into the conduct of foreign relations. "

New York Governor Pataki also delivered a speech at the ceremony, saying that his state will seize new opportunities to enhance US-Sino exchanges.

Sponsored by the Information Office of Chinese State Council and the Ministry of Culture, the exhibition is part of the Chinese Culture Exchange Tour in the United States.

Top Chinese models wearing traditional Chinese costumes, or the latest fashions by China's best designers, will show different styles of Chinese costumes, traditional and modern, each day as part of a spectacular display of China's splendid 2,000-year-long fashion history.

The show will also present a rare collection of some 300 masterpieces of contemporary Chinese art, including carved jade ware, stone and wooden sculptures, pottery, porcelain and metal artistic pieces.

Visitors will also get to know China's beautiful landscapes and diversified cultural traditions of the 56 nationality groups that live in different parts of China through a travel exhibit that takes them on "A Journey Through China," a part of the exhibition.

Sun Jiazheng, Chinese cultural minister; He Guangwei, chairman of the National Tourism Administration; Li Zhaoxing, Chinese Ambassador to the United States, and other Chinese officials attended the ceremony.

Among the American VIPs were Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corp.; Cathy Egan, vice chairman of ABC; and Gary Benanav, vice president of New York Life International.