A festive mood prevailed in a gymnasium, beside the ancient Temple of Earth, on the evening of August 15, 1994. The Shanxi Yunjing gongs and drums vibrated half of the capital city. Over 400 folk art envoys, in different skin colors and wearing colorful national costumes, from 16 countries in four continents filed into the gymnasium. The third China International Folk Art Festival opened here this evening in the gymnasium, permeated with the atmosphere of unity, friendship and peace. While the national flags of 16 countries and the flag and emblem of this art festival were hung in the venue, the performers from 16 countries formed 16 beautiful flowers. Li Ruihuan, executive member of the Political Bureau CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, declared the festival open amid applauses, songs and dances. After Li Lanqing, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council addressed the opening ceremony on behalf of the Chinese government (see full text elsewhere), the participating art troupes presented exciting folk dances. Bu He and Wang Guangying, vice chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, were seated on the rostrum. The participating art troupes are from Argentina, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Mexico, New Zealand, Romania, Russia, the United States and China. In particular, seven countries, namely Argentina, Germany, South Korea, Latvia, New Zealand, Mexico and Romania are participating in the festival for the first time. The Huagudeng Art Troupe from Anhui Province is participating on behalf of China. Mr. 法格尔, secretary-general of the International Organization of Folk Art, paid a special inspection visit to China on August 16. In recent years, dozens of international folk art festival have been held in various countries or regions and cities to promote folk art exchanges and deepen friendship and peace. China has held three festivals of this kind since 1989, sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Meanwhile, the Chinese federation organized over 10 folk art troupes to participate in foreign art festivals. The Chinese party and government have paid high attention to these international exchanges, with the former premiers of the State Council, chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and other state leaders attending or addressing the opening ceremonies. The current art festival, which has attracted more participants from more countries, is a grand cultural event in the course of China’s reform and opening up. It will play positive roles in promoting reform, opening up and the modernization drive and open a window for the world to know about China. After the opening ceremony, the participating art troupes will perform in the Cultural Palace of Laboring People in Beijing for three consecutive days. During this period, they will also visit the Tian’anmen Square, the Palace Museum, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall and have exchanges with the Chinese people and artists. Then they will visit the provinces in two groups. While the troupes from Argentina, Austria, India, South Korea, Latvia, New Zealand and the United States will visit the cities of Shenzhen and Huizhou in Guangdong Province, those from Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Romania and Russia will tour the cities of Dalian and Haicheng in Liaoning Province. The whole festival will last half a month and will close on August 29. The current festival has State Councilor Li Tieying as its honorary chairman, with Cao Yu, executive chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and a grand master of drama, and Liu Zhongde, Minister of Culture, serving as its co-chairmen. Over 2000 people attended the opening ceremony, including Liu Zhongde, Shao Huaze, Li Deyou, Xu Guangchun, Chen Haosu, Lin Muhan, Yin Shoushi, Li Ying, Zhang Junqiu, Wu Zhuqiang, Sun Shen, Jia Zhi, Bao Shuxiang, Meng Weizhai, Liang Guangdi, Gao Fan and Lu Houmin. |
