An ancient prayer wheel from Nepal, a royal coffee set from Morocco or a painted gallipot from Peru... more than 300 exotic art works from foreign embassies are on display Monday -- one day ahead of the 11th Asia Arts Festival to kick off in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The free show, with the theme of "One World, One Home", features a total of 350 art works contributed by 48 foreign embassies in China, covering paintings, photographs, sculptures, handicrafts and fine arts.

"The exhibition has received hearty support from all embassies. Many ambassadors took the trouble to select exhibits themselves and some embassies even commissioned artists of their countries to create specific works for the event," said Zhao Shaohua, vice minister of culture.

Zhao said the exhibition was aimed to provide a stage for various countries to showcase their arts and cultures.

"We've been enjoying this event for many years. We really appreciate China's efforts in showing the benefits of our own art works and give them a chance to be appreciative by all countries," said Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Cataumber Brady.

"Every country has their own way of promoting cultural heritage, but there is a great deal of similarity among different cultures in Asia," she told Xinhua while visiting the show, adding that similar event had also been held in Philippines.

For this time's exhibition, fourth of its kind, the Philippine Embassy contributed more than ten items of paintings and traditional articles, including a large parol, or a star-shaped lantern made with colored paper and bamboo frames for traditional Christmas decoration in Philippines.

"Some of these are the collection of the embassy, and the others were borrowed from embassy members themselves," she added.

Along with Brady, eight ambassadors of Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam also attended the launching ceremony and toured the show.

The 11th Asia Arts Festival, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, will be held from Aug. 18 to 26. It is the first time that the gala is celebrated in the country's western region where many ethnic groups inhabit since its inception in 1998.

The festival will feature art exhibitions and performances from artistic troupes from 18 Asian nations.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2009)