1. On January 5, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of China International Culture Association (CICA) and Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture attended the Initial Publication Ceremony of My Experience and Appreciation of the Art of Kyogen in Chinese version created by Motoya Izumi, the 20th Generation Master of Lzumiryu form of Japanese Kyogen held by the Chinese National Academy of Arts. The guests of honor watched the special performance of Motoya Izumi in the evening.

2. On January 14, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with Miura youxin, the principal of Beijing Branch for Ikenobo Form of Japanese Ikebana Art at the Ministry of Culture.

3. On January 15, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA attended Urasenke New Year’s Tea Party at Sino-Japanese Youth Exchange Center.

4. From January 19 to 26, under the arrangement of CICA, a 10-member shadow puppet group of Luannan County of Hebei Province visited Portugal and presented 5 performances at Belem Cultural Center of Lisbon at the invitation of Portugal’s Orient Foundation.

5. From January 20 to 29, under the arrangement of CICA, Liaoning Art Troupe attended the celebration activity of Spring Festival of Chinatown in Dublin jointly held by the local government and the oversea Chinese in Ireland during the Spring Festival, and gave special performance at the City Hall of Dublin.

6. On February 17, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with and hosted a banquet for the 3-member delegation led by Haruhiko Kato, the Director of Beijing General Office of Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) at the Ministry of Culture. The two parties discussed further cooperation in the future. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting.

7. On March 3, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with and hosted a banquet for the 6-member delegation led by Kotarou Kawamura, the principal of Japan National Art Exchange Troupe at the Ministry of Culture. The two parties discussed the performance of Art Feast of Kyogen, Spoken Opera and Ikebana held in Beijing in June. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting.

8. From February 29 to March 6, 2004, a 10-member delegation of Youth Traditional Instruments Orchestra of the China National Children’s Center, assigned by CICA, attended the 38th Winter Jasmine International Music Festival in Moldova at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova on March 4. The China Youth Traditional Instruments Troupe was the first orchestra group visiting Moldova. They participated in the grand show at the opening ceremony and gave special performance at the National Music Hall of Moldova on March 4.

9. From March 7 to 11, a 5-member delegation of the Portugal’s Orient Foundation led by its President Meng Zhihao paid a friendly visit to Beijing at the invitation of the CICA. During the delegation’s stay in China, Meng Xiaosi, the Vice Minister of Culture and Lv Zhixian, the Vice President of CICA met with and hosted a banquet for the delegation. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture held talks with the delegation on related matters.

10. On March 17, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with and received a 4-member delegation led by Ogura Kazuo, the President of Japan International Exchange Foundation. The two parties discussed “New Thoughts” on China-Japan relationship in new era. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting as well.

11. On April 5, Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture hosted a banquet for the 4-member delegation led by Tomoko Itou, the President of Association of Japan-China Theatre Communications of Japan. The Japanese party visited China with a view to organizing Vigorous Children Troupe of Koshi, Kumamoto Prefecture of Japan in participating in the 3rd Chinese Cultural Summer Camp sponsored by CICA.

12. On April 23, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with the 2-member delegation led by Harumi Sakai, the new principal of Beijing Office of Japanese Tea Ceremony Urasenke. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting.

13. On May 10, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with the 4-member delegation led by Taizan Yanagida, the Japanese calligrapher and the principal of School of Yasuyama Calligraphy at the Ministry of Culture. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting.

14. On May 16, a 60-member delegation of American and Mexican college students attended the Chinese cultural and educational tourist activities at the invitation of CICA.

15. On May 17, Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture met with the 2-member delegation led by Bando Shengci, the performing artist of Japanese Wadaiko at the Ministry of Culture. The two parties discussed the celebration activity for the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Nation jointly held by CICA and the Japanese party.

16. On May 18, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with and hosted a banquet for the 3-member delegation led by Hosoi Susumu, the Japanese calligrapher at the Ministry of Culture. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the activity.

17. On May 21, International Culture Forum was jointly held by CICA and Germany Bertelsmann Publishing Group in Beijing. The Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng attended the opening ceremony.

18. On May 21, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with Mr. Akio Yamaguchi, the leader of Iwanami Shoten of Japan at the Ministry of Culture. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting.

19. On May 31, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA attended the publication ceremony of Album of Toshu Fukami created by Toshu Fukami, famous entrepreneur and artist in Japan. The ceremony was organized by Chinese National Academy of Arts.

20. On June 3, “Art Feast of Kyogen, Spoken Opera and Ikebana” was jointly held by CICA and the Association of Japan National Revival. It was also the first time for the three art forms to be performed on the same stage. Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA and Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture were present at the performance and reception.

21. On June 5, China and ROK Concert was jointly held by CICA and South Korean Opera House to celebrate the 10th anniversary of signing the Sino-South Korea Cultural Exchange Agreement. Zhang Aiping, the Vice President of CICA and Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture were present at the opening ceremony.

22. On June 12, Japanese Ikenobo Ikebana Talent Show and Performance were jointly held by CICA, Japanese Embassy in China and Sino-Japanese Youth Exchange Center, etc.. Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA attended the show and performance and gave speech on the opening ceremony.

23. From June 18 to 23, 2004, a 2-member delegation led by Ryūichi Tateishi, the master of Japanese traditional dance visited China at the invitation of CICA from June 18 to 23, 2004.

i. On June 18, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA and Ding Wei, Director General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture received and hosted a banquet for the delegation led by Ryūichi Tateishi.

ii. On June 21, the delegation paid an official visit to Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA at the Ministry of Culture. Li Xin, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the visit.

iii. On June 22, Ryūichi Tateishi delegation reciprocated a banquet for their Chinese friends led by Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA, and Wang Yansheng, Assistant Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the return banquet.

24. On June 28, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with the famous Japanese director Kaoru Ikeya, and the two parties discussed the possibility of cooperation. Wang Yansheng, Assistant Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting.

25. On June 30, Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture met with Hisamitsu Tani, the principal of the Association for Promotion of Japanese Culture. The two parties discussed the intention regarding performance, exhibition and summer camp exchange, etc.

26. On July 1, CICA received a 10-member delegation of NHK programming division. Their visit was for the purpose of shooting documentary film about Chinese famous actress Zhang Ziyi in Beijing. The programming division mainly focused on shooting the release publicity of Ambush on all Sides in Tokyo starred by Zhang and this show will be broadcast on Japanese NTV.

27. On July 2, Lv Zhixian, Vice Minister of Culture met with the major members of the delegation of Japan Taku Saga at the Ministry of Culture. The delegation was invited by sister city Qingdao to visit China. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting.

28. On July 19, Sun Jiamu, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture and Deputy Director-General-General of CICA met with and hosted a banquet for Maria, the principal of Columbia Cali Culture Promotion Association, who will invite Sichuan Song & Dance Troupe to visit Columbia and give performance on September 5.

29. On July 19, CICA accepted the application of TBS for assisting in the shooting of programs on the history of ancient capital Beijing in Ming and Qing Dynasty. The program aims at demonstrating the city of Beijing with historical background and modern civilization through such outdoor scenes as the Ming Tombs, Simatai Great Wall and Wangfujing Street, etc.

30. On July 25, a 20-member Chinese elderly art group sent by CICA attended the 18th Thailand National Cultural Festival in Thailand.

31. On July 27, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with Yanqi Zongmei, the principal of Beijing Office of Urasenke who was about to leave office and return to Japan. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting.

32. On July 27, a 35-member art troupe of China National Children’s Center participated in the Golden Peacock Art Festival in Romania under the arrangement of CICA.

33. On July 29, the 3rd Chinese Culture Summer Camp sponsored by CICA was opened in Tianjin. Delegations from Japan and Germany and scholarship student delegations from Chinese Culture Centers of Mauritius, Benin, Cairo, Paris and Malta attended this Camp. Senior officials of Tianjin City and Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture were present at the opening ceremony.

34. On July 31, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA hosted a banquet for the Japanese delegation attending the 3rd Chinese Culture Summer Camp.

35. From August 10 to 14, the 10th Beijing International Accordion Competition, sponsored by CICA and involving over 170 competitors both at home and abroad, came to a full conclusion. Accordion Master Training Workshops and Accordion Exhibition, etc. were also held during the competition.

36. On August 18, Asia in My Heart Photo Exhibition was jointly held by CICA and CAPP in celebration of the 6th Asia Arts Festival. The some 40 exhibition photos were all created by diplomats of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

37. On August 24, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with and hosted a banquet for Hideo Chunyang, the Chairman of Japan 21st Century Yenching Calligraphy Association. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting.

38. From August 25 to 31, a 25-member national art troupe sent by CICA attended the 7th Djakarta International Art Festival in Djakarta at the invitation of Djakarta International Art Festival Committee.

39. On August 26, Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture hosted a banquet for Hiroyuki Suzuki, the principal of Japan Fashion Show Company. The two parties discussed the communication and cooperation on fashion show and exhibition, etc.

40. From August 27 to September 21,under the arrangement of CICA, a 16-member delegation of Sichuan Youth Song & Dance Troupe visited Ecuador and Columbia for performances at the invitation of Ecuador and China Friendship Association, the Bureau of Culture of Quito and the Association for Promotion of Culture of Columbia.

41. On August 29, a 10-member youth traditional music group of China National Children’s Center sent by CICA visited Bolivia for performances at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture of Bolivia and performance institution Saint Martin in Uruguay.

42. On August 31, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with Sekine Otaki, the commissioner of the Head Office of Japanese Tea Ceremony Urasenke in Japan. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting.

43. From September 2 to 13, under the arrangement of CICA, a 35-member Chinese art group visited Austria and attended the art concert “Celebration of the Autumn” held in Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane at the invitation of Austrian Promotion Institution for Austria and China Trade and Exchange Center of Economy and Culture and Science.

44. From September 3 to 5, the 2nd Linyi Saint of Calligraphy Culture Festival was held jointly by CICA, Department of Culture of Shandong Province, the People’s Government of Linyi City and Chinese Calligraphers Association, etc. in Linyi of Shandong Province. Wang Yansheng, Assistant Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture, Chilean minister and Columbian cultural officials were invited to attend the activity.

45. On September 15, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with Mr. Akeda, the new representative of Japan International Exchange Foundation in Beijing. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting.

46. From September 17 to 23, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA and his wife visited Japan and attended the celebration activity for the 80th birthday of famous Japanese dancer Ryūichi Tateishi at the invitation of Japanese Ryūichi Tateishi Dance Institute. He also gave lectures at the Institute.

47. From September 17 to 24, camera crew of the Japanese NHK TV station visited China to shoot documentary film about Chinese famous film actress Zhang Ziyi at the invitation of the CICA.

48. On September 23, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with Kotarou Kawamura, the principal of Japan National Art Exchange Troupe.

49. On September 30, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with Xiaoxiongxu, former representative of Japan International Exchange Foundation in Beijing. Li Xin, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture was present at the meeting.

50. From October 8 to 15, a delegation led by Sun Xiaohong, Vice Secretary-General of CICA visited Portugal and Hungary at the invitation of Portugal’s Orient Foundation and Hungary National Guard Song & Dance Ensemble, and signed the Cultural Exchange Cooperation Agreement for the Years 2005 to 2007 in Portugal.

51. From October 10 to November 1, Charles de Gaulle’s Life Exhibition, one of the major projects for opening activities in French Culture Year was held in Beijing and Shanghai. The exhibition was jointly hosted by CICA, the Chinese People’s Institute on Foreign Affairs and French Charles de Gaulle Foundation.

52. On October 18, Liu Deyou, Executive Vice Chairman of CICA met with and hosted a banquet for the delegation led by Kitaura Shensan, the principal of Chinatown Preparatory Association in Osaka of Japan. The two parties discussed the establishment of Chinatown in Osaka. Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture and Meng Xianmin, the Director of State Bureau of Cultural Relics and Museum were present at the meeting.

53. From October 23 to 27, the 4th Asia Elderly Art Celebrations sponsored by CICA and organized by China Association for Promoting Cultural Exchanges among the elderly was held in Beijing. The elderly teams from more than 10 countries in Asia participated in the celebrations.

54. From October 24 to 28, Flag-drawing Competition of the world children calling for peace The Flag of Peace jointly held by CICA, China Association for Promoting Children’s Culture and Art and China Foundation for the Development of Social Culture, and more than 90 children both at home and abroad participated in the competition.

55. From November 18 to December 3, under the arrangement of CICA, a 16-member national art troupe visited Cuba and Dominica with national dance and instrumental music programs and a minor photo exhibition at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture of Cuba and the Ministry of Culture of Dominica.

56. On December 5, CICA and China National Children’s Center donated the Chinese Embassy in Columbia with 55 drawings and calligraphy exhibits of Chinese children as the collections of the embassy. The works would be exhibited around Columbia

57. On December 30, Zhang Aiping, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture met with the famous Japanese photographer Kuboda. The two parties discussed matters regarding holding the personal photography show of Kuboda in Beijing in 2005.