Updated: 2004-07-01

Congratulatory message from Minister Sun

China and Ireland are both time-honored civilizations with more than a thousand years of history. Historically, both are unyielding nations who suffered repressions time and again but never stopped combating against foreign invasions. Nowadays, both are modern fast-growing economies. Though separated by thousands of miles, we feel well within reach as we enjoy so much in common.

Despite well-developed modern information and communication facilities, people can never feel closer with each other unless they communicate face-to-face. It is indeed commendable and congratulatory that artists from China and Ireland will serve as cultural ambassadors in 2004 to build a bridge to link the two peoples together.

I am deeply convinced that the Irish Festival in China and the Chinese Festival in Ireland will inspire more artistic sparks and bring a broader prospect for China-Ireland cultural exchange and cooperation.

I wish the Irish Festival in China and the Chinese Festival in Ireland a great success!

Sun Jiazheng
Minister of Culture
People's Republic of China

Irish minister delivers speech to the festival

Message from John O'Donoghue TD, Minister for the Arts, Sport and Tourism of the Government of Ireland:

A major cultural exchange programme is taking place during 2004 under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Governments of Ireland and China in 2001. The cultural exchange is intended to lead to a greater understanding between our two peoples and should assist in the ongoing cultural, economic, trade and social relations between our two countries.

The festival in Ireland of Chinese arts and culture commencing in July follows closely on the very successful festival of Irish art and culture just concluded in China. The festival in Ireland of Chinese arts and culture promises to be an exciting affair encompassing many artforms. The Irish people will be afforded the rare opportunity to experience the excellence of Chinese artists in music, theatre, opera, literature, visual arts, cinema and dance. The programme will be hosted over a broad a geographic base extending from Donegal to Cork and Galway to Dublin. With such a varied programme spread around the country there is, I hope, an opportunity for all to enjoy some elements of the festival.

As the Minister with responsibility for arts and cultural matters in Ireland it is my pleasure to welcome all the participating Chinese artists to Ireland. It is my belief that through this exchange programme important new friendships and new connections will be made and through these that lasting benefits for Ireland as a whole will be achieved.

John O'Donoghue
Minister for the Arts, Sport and Tourism of the Government of Ireland