(2002/08/20)

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, the Silk Road -- Silk and the Golden Road exhibition co-sponsored by Chinese Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Cultural Relics Bureau, Tokyo's National Museum, Japan-China Friendship Association and NHK television station was opened on August 19 at Tokyo's National Museum.

People from Japanese political, economic, cultural and press circles, friendly people and representatives of Chinese expatriates in Japan, nearly 500 in all, attended the grand opening ceremony. Chinese Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Japan, vice chairman of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region who made a special trip to Japan, curator of Tokyo's National Museum Nozaki Hiroshi, president of NHK Ebizawa Katsuji, and president of Japan-China Friendship Association Hirayama Ikuo were present at the ceremony and cut the ribbon.

Nozaki Hiroshi, Ebizawa Katsuji, and Hirayama Ikuo spoke respectively on behalf of the sponsors, and the vice chairman of Xinjinag Uygur Autonomous Region spoke on behalf of Chinese side. The sponsor said in his speech that the ancient silk-road is a road for contacts and trade between the East and the West the world yearned for in ancient times, that it is a precious cultural relic in human civilization, and that the exhibition held here, appropriate to the occasion, has a far-reaching significance in the cultural exchanges between the two countries. The vice chairman expressed thanks to Tokyo's National Museum, NHK television station and Japan-China Friendship Association for their efforts for the exhibition. He hopes that the exhibition will be contributive to further understanding of China's age-old civilization for Japanese people, will boost mutual understanding between our two peoples and enhance cultural exchanges and friendly relationship from generation to generation.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is a communication center on the ancient silk-road. Chinese archaeologists have, through hard work for many years, discovered a large quantity of valuable relics on the site of that part of silk-road that is within the territory of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. On exhibition this time are glittering gold and silvery ware, bright-colored silk fabrics, exquisite Tang-dynasty paintings, sculptures revealing Buddhist art and ethnic records and files that have been handed down, 150 choice pieces in all. In the spacious National Museum's Furasei Hall covering an area of over 800 square meters, historic relics over a period of 2,000 years dating back to 8th century BC are placed in display cabinets. These fine and rare articles attracted the audience who highly praised the prosperity of the area along the silk-road that was a tie linking Eastern and Western civilization over a long historic period and admired ardently the long-standing culture of China's ethnic groups.

The exhibition at Tokyo's National Museum will come to a close on October 6. After that, the exhibition will be held at Osaka's historic museum from October 23 to December 16.

Chinese Embassy in Japan, the State Cultural Relics Bureau, Japanese Cultural Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Agency backed the exhibition.

By Hasbagen