Vice mayor of Beijing Cai Fuchao, vice Minister of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), Tian Jin, vice Minister of Culture, Meng Xiaosi, Assistant to the president of BOCOG, Tu Mingde (from left to right) together kick off "Meet In Beijing 2008-Culture Events" in Beijing on Monday, May 12, 2008. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

A series of cultural events entitled "Meet in Beijing 2008" kicked off in Beijing on Monday.

The events organized by the Ministry of Culture will be the largest in scale and will last for the longest time to celebrate the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games.

From May to September, nearly 10,000 artists from some 80 countries and areas will gather in Beijing to present more than 100 performances in various art forms, such as modern dances, opera and symphony.

Famous Irish dancing, River Dance and Chinese musician Tan Dun's opera "Tea" are some of the events.

It is estimated that over two millions audience members will enjoy these performances.

Vice-chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, Sun Jiazheng; vice Minister of Culture, Meng Xiaosi; vice Minister of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) of China, Tian Jin; vice mayor of Beijing Cai Fuchao; assistant to the president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG), Tu Mingde attended the launch ceremony held at the China Millennium Monument.

Meng Xiaosi delivered a speech at the ceremony, saying that the event with the theme of "Five Rings of Art Blooming in Beijing" is a large-scale culture exchange and multilateral cooperation, and a great artistic feast for participants from worldwide. She emphasized that everybody can share the cultural festival in the year of the Olympics.

Zhang Yu, head of China Performing Arts Agency, one of the events' organizers, introduced that ticket packages will be introduced so as to ensure that the common people can afford the tickets.

There will also be a family package, which will enable up to five members in one family to watch some kind of performance that they are interested in, with a total price that is lower compared to buying single tickets.

The organizer hopes to encourage all people, the young and the old, to participate in the events.

In addition, the organizer will provide ticket packages to Olympic volunteers and athletes competing for medals in Beijing. They can enjoy performances from both home and abroad at discounted prices, he added.