Days of Russian Culture in China in Early May

The Days of Russian Culture will be held in Beijing and Shanghai in early May 2003. The Russian and Chinese Culture Ministries signed a protocol on holding the Russian arts festival in China in Beijing on Wednesday as part of the visit by the Russian Culture Ministry's working group on preparations for the Days of Culture in China.

About 160 Russian actors, musicians and other culture figures will arrive in Beijing to participate in the festival. Igor Moiseyev's state academic folk dance ensemble, Igor Garanyan's jazz orchestra, the State Kuban Cossack Choir, the leading singers and musicians, including the laureates of the Tchaikovsky International Contest, will perform on the most prestigious stages of the Chinese capital - the imperial Forbidden City, Tianqiao, Baoli and 21st Century concert halls.

An art exposition, featuring several dozens of famous paintings from the Tretyakov Gallery, will open in Millennium, Beijing's largest exhibition centre, as part of the Days of Russian Cutlure.

In addition, Russia will be the main guest at the annual traditional international festival "Meetings in Beijing".