(2002/10/10)

To mark 30th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, China and Japan plan to conduct this year activities of 2002 Japanese Year and Chinese Year, named Chinese and Japanese Cultural Year Series of Activities Commemorating 30th Anniversary of Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between China and Japan. To take charge of the relevant activities, two organizations have been established, namely Japanese Operation Commission and Chinese Organizing Commission. They aim to set up partnership of a new generation and to carry forward exchanges at higher level through manifold activities.

The exchange activities planned to be carried out this year total 300 in number including fields of traditional arts, culture, economy, education and sophisticated technique.

Guided by Chinese Organizing Commission, a series of activities have been launched in Japan. For instances, China Philharmonic Orchestra gave public performances in Japan from September 18th to 22nd; Chinese Film Festival was held; China Symphonic Orchestra gave a special concert on September 29thetc., which have enhanced Japanese's understanding of China.

The Japan-China Economic Forum in Beijing so-sponsored by Japanese Operation Commission and Chinese Organizing Commission this time is one of the highlights of the exchange activities this year. The forum contains two parts: VIPs in commercial circles exchanging views with Chinese and Japanese young entrepreneurs, and dialogues between the guests and participants of the forum. As is expected, the forum will become a grand gathering in which the future of Sino-Japanese economic and industrial cooperation is to be discussed.

On October 2nd the CCTV will videotape the forum on the spot, which will be telecast on the golden program Dialogue as a special program in China in the middle of October. In Japan, it will be telecast by NHK also in October.

From October 1st to 3rd, a grand performing activity cooperated between Chinese and Japanese artists -- the opera Madame Butterfly will be staged at Beijing's Tianqiao Theater. It will be conducted by Ozawa Seiji and starred by Asari Keita. The opera, composed by Italian composer Puccini using Japanese subject matter, will be starred in part by a Chinese performer and accompanied by New Japanese Symphony Orchestra. In this way the performance will become a cooperative activity in a true sense between artists of the two countries.

On October 9th, first-rate Chinese and Japanese artists will give a concert together at Tokyo's NHK telecast hall. A live video recording will be made into a program to be telecast in the two countries.

For launching 5 activities including Japan-China Economic Forum sponsored by Japanese Operation Commission and 6 other activities headed by the performance of  Madame Butterfly, and for promoting 2002 Japanese Year and Chinese Year, 100 enterprises from Japanese commercial circle have donated a sum of money topped 300 million Japanese yen.

(From China Cultural News)