Li Lanqing, former Chinese vice-premier in charge of science and education, is known for his expertise as a singer, with his forte being bel canto, a European genre.

So it was no surprise when he recently published a book about his understanding of European music, in an attempt to help others appreciate what he calls the real beauty of music.

The book, titled Li Lanqing's Writing Conversation on Music -- European Music, is published by the Higher Learning Publishing House. The target readers are teachers and students of all ages, said Zhang Zengshun, editor-in-chief of the publishing house.

The book is aimed to help more Chinese learn about European music and to become interested in it, according to the former leader.

In the book, Li tells about the life experience of 50 European musicians and the history of European music in the past 300 years.

The book comes with a DVD containing European classics and 100 portraits of European musicians painted by Chinese artists.

(Xinhua News Agency Septenber 7, 2004)