Li Ruihuan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, sent his message of congratulations to the festival.

In his message, Li, also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, called Beijing Opera a treasure of the Chinese nation and a gem of the world art treasury.

Li called for continued efforts to invigorate national arts including Beijing Opera.

During the two-week festival, 24 operas with traditional and contemporary themes will be staged by artists from across the country including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and the city government of Nanjing, the festival will also feature an exhibition on Beijing Opera art, seminars and opera competitions for amateur performers.

(People's Daily December 3, 2001)