On the eve of 2002, the China Central Nationalities Orchestra (CCNO) and the Czech National Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra in the Great Hall of the People jointly staged a concert entitled "Golden Spring" to highlight the past year's cultural exchanges.
In 2001, the first year of the new century known world-wide as "China's Year",
Beijing won the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games,Shanghai held the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings, and China entered the World Trade Organization (WTO), all remembered in the new century festival overture.
Chinese Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng said as China proceeds with its fast economic and social growth, the local cultural market is also blossoming.
The past year has shown China's growing role in the international art world. In both the 3rd Berlin Asia-Pacific Week and the Tibetan Culture Week in Australia and New Zealand, China won warm applause from western audiences for its folk and modern arts which showed its long history.
China is spreading the seeds of its culture and making close friends worldwide, experts said.
Last year also saw a series of international cultural galas, namely "Meet in Beijing", the "Asia Arts Festival", the "International Acrobatic Festival", and the "Peking Opera Festival",which were co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, performing arts agencies and local governments.
Well-known cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, who performed at the 4th
Beijing Music Festival, said that the Chinese people's enthusiasm for arts is attracting more international artists, who help make China an important stage in Asia.
China's leading artistic groups including the China Philharmonic Orchestra and the CCNO, also were in the world spotlight, gaining praise from famous conductors like Claus Weise.
As Ouyang Jianghe, an art commentator, said, China's cultural market is developing in diversified forms, reaching a high level, becoming international, and attracting more discerning audiences.
According to statistics, since "Meet in Beijing", started in 2000, more than 100 groups from over 30 countries, have given 200performances and four exhibitions and have attracted local audiences numbering 800,000.
A total of 60 foreign performing groups traveled to 30 provinces and regions throughout China, giving 150 performances for a total of 400,000 people.
Chinese historical opera also saw a renaissance, with Kunqu Opera listed last May among 19 "masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity" by the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization. In the 3rd Berlin Asia-Pacific Week, the Kunqu opera "Tale of the Lute" was translated into German, which has moved some European audience members to tears.
Wu Jiang, dean of the China Peking Opera Theater, said that the Chinese opera began revitalizing when it tightened exchanges with the world. It is still looking for increased breakthroughs and innovation in the market-oriented competition.
Chinese modern arts have also been enlightened, as the experimental drama "Richard the 3rd" produced and performed by young Chinese artists aroused great interest among westerners during a series of international arts events.
Social experts believe that China's entry into the WTO will lessen the cultural gap between the east and west, and also bring about a tide for artistic creation.
Zhang Yu, manager of the China Performing Arts Agency (CPAA), said, "China's performing arts administrators and companies shouldpromote high quality products, and help formulate an orderly, sound and healthy culture market, and create more first-class? brands in this market."
According to Zhang, 11 national artistic groups have joined with the CPAA to establish a nationwide performance network, making good use of both artistic and marketing resources.
As the new year approached China started the construction of theChina National Theater, founded by China Radio, Film and Television Group, and allowing foreign-funded video business into the its market, ushered in a new era in the cultural sector.
Experts said that Chinese artists have been dedicated to artistic creativity, which shows Chinese vitality and diversity inartistic creation, since the country adopted the reform and open-up policy.
With China entering a new year, Chinese President Jiang Zemin called for all those who work in the cultural field to work harder to make more cultural achievements and to cater for the 21st century.
Artists said China is now embracing a spring-like season for the country's cultural development.(xinhua)
