1. Rosa, Director of Geneva 21st Cultural and Commercial Exchange Center, visited China at her own expenses on February 8 for working discussions with CICA on matters related to establishing long-term contact between the two organizations as well as exchange and cooperation projects in 1999. Zhang Hualin met with and hosted a banquet for Rosa and her delegation on behalf of CICA at the noon of February 9.

2. On February 27, Mr. Clemens, Chairman of Germany Freiburg Arts Festival paid a visit to CICA, discussed matters related to inviting China National Acrobatic Troupe to participate in the International Circus Arts Festival to be held in Freiburg the same year, and watched performances presented by Beijing Acrobatic Troupe and China National Acrobatic Troupe. Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with and hosted a banquet for Mr. Clemens and his delegation.

3. On April 6, the visiting concert presented by Geneva Choir & Quintet Group from Switzerland at the invitation of CICA was held at the Beijing Concert Hall. Lv Zhixian, Vice Chairman of CICA, Dong Junxin, Deputy Director-General of Bureau for External Cultural Relations, Director of Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, Swiss ambassador, cultural counselor and cultural officials to China, Danish ambassador to China and relevant staff as well as music lovers and foreign guests in Beijing attended the concert. Performance given by the Geneva art troupe was widely acclaimed by the audiences.

4. From April 11 to May 19, a 4-member shooting crew from ZDF German Television visited China at the invitation of CICA to shoot two TV tour scenery programs entitled as Tourism Taste in Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou. According to the feedbacks from the Chinese Embassy in Germany, Tourism Taste, which reflected the changes in cities and people’s mentality after the reform and opening-up in China, was widely praised after being aired on TV.

5. On May 6, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with Mrs. Itou Tomoko, new Chairman of Japan Theatre Association. Both parties reviewed the history of friendly exchange in the drama area between China and Japan, and pledged further cooperation and efforts on cultural exchanges between China and Japan.

6. On May 8, a 6-member delegation from the Danish Cultural Society visited China at the invitation of CICA. The delegation held working discussions with CICA during their stay in Beijing. Zhang Hualin met with and hosted a banquet for the delegation on behalf of CICA. Li Dongwen, Deputy Director-General for External Cultural Relations, Ministry of Culture, attended the meeting. The delegation visited Shanghai and Yunnan following its stay in Beijng.

7. On April 13, a 4-member delegation of Japan Amakusa Music Festival Executive Committee visited China at the invitation of CICA. Japan Amakusa Music Festival Executive Committee has a long-term friendly and cooperative relationship with CICA. The delegation visited China at its own expense, and was mainly to donate the surplus after holding activities with CICA. Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with and hosted a banquet for the Japanese guests.

8. On May 18, Meng Zhihao, Chairman of Portugal’s Oriental Foundation visited China at the invitation of CICA. Zhang Hualin met with and hosted a banquet for Mr. Meng and his delegation. Deputy Director-General Li Dongwen attended the meeting. Zhang Hualin welcomed the Portuguese guests and expressed his appreciation for the warm reception by Portugal’s Oriental Foundation when CICA visited Portugal. Both parties expressed their satisfaction with the progress of exchange projects under cooperation and discussed the future long-term cooperation between the two parties.

9. In order to enrich the cultural life of Beijing citizens, satisfy the needs of the audience for music and enable a better understanding of China after reform and opening-up through music, a bridge transcending cultural differences, the 3-day “Heineken Beat 1999 Summer Music Festival” hosted by CICA and undertaken by Beijing YiRen Culture and Art Exchange Center was officially kicked off on July 2 at Beijing Ritan Park. During the event, about 70 musicians of 9 bands from the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France and other places performed a series of wonderful programs which reflected the different cultures and styles of music, including blues, punk, relaxing jazz and popular music. They were welcomed and highly praised by the audience. Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA and Mr. Liu, Deputy Director-General for External Cultural Relations and Vice Secretary-General of CICA watched the performances. This music festival was the first international open-air summer music festival held in China. Open-air music festival was novel in form. Audience may listen to music, relax and enjoy the cool air in the comfortable environment and this form of cultural activity was favored by the public. The event was included in dozens of media coverage.

10. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the advent of the new century, Century International Concert hosted by CICA and the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee was held in Beijing and Shanghai respectively on July 4 and July 9. Jia Qinglin, General Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, Li Yuanchao, Vice Minister of Culture and other senior officials attended the premier performance at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. International Festival Choir composed of 1000 singers from over 20 countries around the world, the Red Star Red Army Chorus and Dance Ensemble (Russia), the choir from China National Symphony Orchestra as well as several domestic and foreign famous singers performed La Traviata, Yellow River Cantata, Ode to Joy and other popular chapters. They are warmly welcomed by the audiences. Sun Jiazheng, Minister of Culture and Liu Qi, Mayor of Beijing wrote inscriptions for the performance.

11. From July 8 to August 22, under the arrangement of CICA, a 37-member art troupe from China National Peking Opera Company attended the International Folk Arts Festival in France, Belgium and other cities at the invitation of the festival organizing committees of Saint and other cities in France as well as the International Folk Arts Festival in Penhicn, Belgium.

12. From August 1 to 19, in order to implement the spirit of the national meeting on external publicity work and publicize the achievements of China after the reform and opening-up, CICA invited a 5-member shooting crew from Brigham Young University in the United States for the production of a TV documentary Red Star over China in continuation in Beijing, Shanghai, Shaanxi and other places after obtaining the approval by related provincial and municipal external publicity offices. The documentary described the changes in the places where Helen Snow, the famous friendly personage in the United used to work in China during the 1930s, and interviewed the famous personages who worked with Helen Snow in China in those years. This documentary aimed at publicizing China’s achievements after the reform and opening-up to the United States as well as enhancing the American people’s understanding of China.

13. At the invitation of CICA, Japanese Little Bear Puppet Troupe visited China for three consecutive years. The children’s drama was highly praised by the audiences and was especially favored by young children in China. In order to promote the cultural exchanges of young children who shoulder the important historical tasks in the 21st century and strengthen the friendly people-to-people ties between China and Japan, CICA invited Japanese Little Bear Puppet Troupe once again to China from August 3 to 17 to perform Green’s fairy tale puppet drama of Hunter and Grete in Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou and other cities.

14. A 10-member group of Malaysian artists visited China from August 25 to September 4 at the invitation of CICA, and held Malaysia Contemporary Art Exhibition at National Art Museum of China. The group visited Mount Huang and sketched there after attending the opening ceremony of the exhibition in Beijing. Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA, Dong Junxin, Deputy Director-General for External Cultural Relations and Vice Secretary-General of CICA as well as Yang Lizhou, Liu Boshu, Shao Dazhen and other well-known calligraphers and artists attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition on August 27.

15. Renowned French painter Roland Lovland is an old friend of Chinese embassy to France. After visiting China in the early 1990s, Roland Lovland held painting exhibitions with China as the theme at famous galleries in Paris and garnered wide attention. Roland Lovland is an influential painter in the French painting circle. In order to further promote the people-to-people cultural exchanges between China and France and strengthen the understanding between Chinese and French people, CICA invited Mr. and Mrs. Roland to visit Beijing, Xi’an and Kunming from August 27 to September 6. During their stay in Beijing, Lv Zhixian, Vice Chairman of CICA met with and hosted a banquet for them.

16. From September 2 to 9, according to the minutes of talks between CICA and Portuguese Oriental Foundation, CICA held “China Movie Week” in Portugal in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the return of Macao to the motherland. Red River Valley, Genghis Khan and 3 other feature movies were shown during the movie week. All those well-known movies, filmed in China during the 1990s, were welcomed by the Portuguese people.

17. From September 3 to October 16, a 4-member shooting crew from German ZDF TV Station visited China once again at the invitation of CICA to shoot the TV documentary Silk Road Today in Shaanxi, Gansu, Xinjiang and other places after shooting the TV documentaries of Beijing and Shanghai in April and May in cooperation with CICA. This documentary recorded today’s feature of the ancient Silk Road as well as the local custom and ways of life along the road. It has shown China’s traditional culture and China’s prospect after the reform and opening-up to Germany people.

18. From September 12 to 24, a 3-member shooting crew from Germany Southwest TV Station visited China at the invitation of CICA and went to Shandong to shoot the TV documentary The World’s Treasure – Qufu which is aimed at showing the grand scene of commemorating the 2550th anniversary of the birth of Confucius. The documentary collection was the series of documentaries introducing the world-famous UNESCO cultural heritages.

19. On September 24, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA and Tian Dan, Vice Secretary-General of CICA met with the cultural counselor from Portuguese Embassy to China and representatives from Portugal's Orient Foundation. Liu Deyou expressed his appreciation to the Portuguese government and Portugal's Oriental Foundation for their the efforts in promoting cultural exchanges between Portugal and China as well as the support and assistance provided to CICA by the Portuguese Embassy to China and Portugal's Oriental Foundation in the first place. He hoped that the political, economic and cultural relations between China and Portugal would enjoy stable development after the return of Macao, and also hoped that CICA and Portugal's Oriental Foundation would reach more cultural exchange and cooperation projects through the concerted efforts. Portugal's Oriental Foundation and CICA also exchanged opinions on the exchange projects in the following year.

20. On September 23, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with Itou Yoshihiko, Chairman of Japanese Little Bear Puppet Troupe who paid a special visit to China. Liu Deyou expressed his admiration and appreciation to Japanese Little Bear Puppet Troupe since the troupe brought the Japanese children’s drama to China for years after overcoming numerous difficulties, performed for the children in China and introduced related list of plays to Chinese players in the same area. Mr. Itou Yoshihiko also expressed his appreciation to CICA for inviting the Little Bear Puppet Troupe to perform in China for 4 consecutive years and CICA’s efforts in promoting exchanges of children’s drama between China and Japan.

21. From September 19 to October 30, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the return of Macao to the motherland, CICA sent a 31-member art troupe from Guangxi Ensemble of National Minorities Songs and Dances to perform in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain at the invitation of the friendly groups in the above countries. This visiting performance was one of the important activities for Chinese embassies abroad to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Local news media covered the performance. Chinese embassies also praised the performance given by the ensemble for the novel programs with rich ethnic characteristics. Good organization of the ensemble laid a good foundation for the success of their visits.

22. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the great achievements after the 20-year reform and opening-up and in praise of the solidarity of the Chinese people, CICA held “Overseas Chinese Singer Eulogizing China Concert” in Hangzhou and Beijing respectively on September 3 and 7. CICA invited 6 well-known overseas Chinese singers who had won awards in international vocal competitions and won the honor for the motherland to return to China and present performance, including Hu Xiaoping, Liang Ning, Wang Yanyan, Mo Hualun, Du Jigang and Cai Dasheng. In addition to the well-known world classic music, they also sang I Love You China, Hymn of Heroes and other best Chinese vocal music works. Li Yuanchao, Vice Minister of Culture, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA, Tian Dan, Deputy Director-General for External Cultural Relations and Vice Secretary-General of CICA as well as other guests of honor watched the performance in Beijing. Li Yuanchao highly praised the concert by saying that the patriotic enthusiasm of the singers was the most beautiful song. He also commended that many Chinese artists who were active around the world at present had emotional connections to China and had China at hearts regardless which stage they were standing on.

23. On September 8, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with Chairman of Switzerland 21st International Exchange Association and representatives of Nestle in Beijing. Both parties fully affirmed the achievements in the past exchanges and cooperation between the two associations, and discussed the activities to be held in 2000 for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland. Representatives from Nestle expressed their willingness to cooperate with CICA and sponsor the cultural exchange projects between China and Switzerland.

24. To enhance the cultural exchanges and friendship between China and Switzerland and enrich people’s cultural life, CICA invited an 8-member New Orleans (also translated as “Old Platform”) Jazz Band in Switzerland to perform in China on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The Band held a concert in Beijing on October 2. New Orleans Jazz Band had held several performances in Europe and America and was warmly welcomed. The performance presented by the band also achieved a great success.

25. To promote the people-to-people cultural exchanges between China and Singapore, and deepen

exchange between the cultural and art circles in the two countries, CICA invited an 80-member delegation from Hymn Rhyme Sing Opera Club to China and perform its famous opera Queen Han Wen in Beijing on October 9. Hymn Rhyme Sing Opera Club was a very active local drama group in Singapore with the history of over 40 years. Queen Han Wen, the famous opera of the club had been performed in Hainan, Jiangsu and other places in China successively in 1998. It had received a warm response and had been highly praised. The performance on October 9 also achieved a complete success. Sun Jiazheng, Minister of Culture and Lv Zhixian, Vice Chairman of CICA watched the performance in Beijing, and met with the crew of the club.

26. On October 11, a 15-member art group headed by Itou Tomoko, Chairman of Japan Theatre Association came to China and visited CICA. Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA and Zhang Aiping, assistant Director-General met with the delegation at Ministry of Culture. Both parties reviewed the history of drama exchanges and cooperation between China and Japan, and discussed the future development and cooperation prospects between the two countries in drama area.

27. “Beijing International Jazz F

estival” hosted by CICA and undertaken by Beijing YiRen Culture and Art Exchange Center had been successfully held for 6 times since 1993. The activity had gathered the top-class musicians in the world, and their performances had drawn the wide attention of domestic and foreign media, and received the compliments and praise from all circles in the society. The success of the Festival not only made Jazz accepted and favored by the Chinese people, but also improved its reputation and developed into one of the largest and most popular exchanges of international musical culture in Beijing.

38. From November 9 to 14, in order to enrich the cultural life and promote the international cultural and artistic exchanges, CICA and Beijing YiRen Culture and Art Exchange Center worked together again in holding 1999 Beijing International Jazz Festival. On this occasion, about 90 musicians of 14 bands from the Netherlands, Austria, France, the United States, Australia, Portugal, Finland, Japan, Italy, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Greece, Denmark and Sweden performed in Beijing, Shanghai, Changchun and other cities. The outstanding performances presented by the bands were warmly welcomed by the Chinese audience.

29. From November 10 to 13, CICA selected and sent Professor Yang Ming from Piano Department of Central Conservatory of Music to attend the 11th Japanese International Matsuzaka Exchange Concert in the United States at the invitation of the executive committee of International Matsuzaka Exchange Concert. The concert had been held for 10 times and hosted by China, Japan, Republic of Korea and the United States in turn. It is aimed to strengthen the cultural exchanges among the countries through the concert and enhance the good-neighborly and friendly relations.

30. From November 22 to December 5, a 4-member delegation of CICA headed by Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA paid working visits to Austria, Switzerland, Sweden and Germany at the invitation of Federal Chancellery of Austria, International Folk Art Organization in Austria, the 21st Century Exchange Association in Switzerland, Swiss Association and Bonn Municipal Bureau of Culture in Germany. During the visit, the delegation met with Federal Chancellery of Austria, International Folk Art Organization in Austria, the 21st Century Exchange Association in Switzerland, Swiss Association, Swiss Culture Committee, Bonn Municipal Bureau of Culture, Bureau of International Cultural Exchange in Germany and other organizations, and discussed the possibilities of future cooperation. Through exchanges of views, the parties enhanced their mutual understanding and friendship.

31. From December 15 to 22, Mrs. Rosa, Chairman of the 21st Century Exchange Association in Switzerland led the 4-member delegation to China at the invitation of CICA. During the visit, both parties discussed the cooperation projects in 2000.

32. From December 21, 1999 to January 7, 2000, Zunyi Acrobatic Troupe attended the acrobatic performances for the annual celebration of Christmas in Germany under the arrangement of CICA.