A hundred people from Xi'an, capital city of northwest China's
Shaanxi Province, are driving toward Rome to mark the Year of
Italy, a program China has launched together with the European
nation to enhance cultural exchanges between the two countries.
The team, involving 30-odd motor vehicles and 100 people, on
Saturday gathered at a plaza outside the southern gate of Xi'an and
started the driving tour.
The journey, from the starting point of the Silk Road and to the
terminal of the ancient road, will take 32 days to complete and
traverse 10 countries. The travelers include artists, entrepreneurs
and journalists. They believe the activity will add color to the
program of Year of Italy.
Governments of Xi'an and Rome jointly organized the driving
tour.
The team has another mission, which is to convey a letter from
the governor of Xi'an to the governor of Rome.
The letter says that both cities are among the world's four
ancient capitals and that the tour will hopefully be conducive to
further promoting the friendly relations between people of the two
countries.
(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2006)
