EU-China Year of Intercultural Dialogue to kick off

Beijing (CNS) -- A press conference for the "EU-China Year of Intercultural Dialogue" introducing more than 150 cultural events to be held in 27 European Union member states during 2012 was held at the Ministry of Culture on Monday.

The intercultural dialogue was designated during Premier Wen Jiabao's meeting with EU President Jose Manuel Barroso in October of 2010, following the 2011 Europe-China Year of Youth.

The opening ceremony is slated for February 1 at the EU headquarters in Brussels, and will include joint performances by the Guangdong Modern Dance Company and the Belgian Compania de Maria Rosa, followed by a series of exchanges on philosophy, art, literature, linguistics, media, youth, and tourism.

Xiang Xiaowei, an official the ministry, said the goals of such events are to reinforce cultural talks between peoples, to prepare for a long-term cooperative regime between bilateral cultural offices, and to share experience in stimulating cultural industries.

The EU will also hold the closing ceremony of the dialogue and a variety of cultural activities in China.