A two-day cultural conference held in Beijing sets up a bridge
for Asian and European people to communicate, said a senior Chinese
culture official Thursday.
At the closing ceremony of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)
Conference on Cultures and Civilizations, Chinese Culture Minister
Sun Jiazheng said the conference will play an active role in
cultural dialogues and exchanges between Asia and Europe.
The conference, the largest culture ministerial meeting of its kind
ever held in China, included four plenary sessions and three group
discussions. About 200 representatives from 26 ASEM member states
attended the conference.
Sun believed that all ASEM members will make efforts to
facilitate exchanges between Asian and European countries.
The conference, with the theme of "unity in diversity", will
promote friendship and mutual understanding between Asian and
European people, said French Minister of Culture and Communication
Jean-Jacques Aillagon.
(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2003)