Sponsored by German company Mont Blanc, the winners were voted for by nearly 100 arts and culture journalists from across the country.

"These four artists, who have made a great contribution in promoting Chinese arts and culture to the international world, deserve the awards and wider recognition," said Zhan Zhao'an, manager of Mont Blanc Pacific Distribution Ltd, at last month's award ceremony in Beijing.

A world famous brand, named after the European peak, Mont Blanc, the company is internationally recognized for its high-quality writing accessories, watches, luxury leather goods and jewellery since its establishment in 1906.

In 1992, Mont Blanc established the Mont Blanc Foundation for Arts and Culture to issue the Mont Blanc Art Patronage Award to world-renown artists whose commitment and achievements are deserving of wider recognition.

In the past 10 years, a total of 85 artists from 10 countries have been awarded prizes. It was, however, the first time that the awards were made on the Chinese mainland.

All four winners are acknowledged internationally, both for their talent and career achievements.

Zhang Yang, 35, one of China's most promising directors, has seen his three films, Aiqing Malatang (Spicy Love Soup) (1997), Xizao (Shower) (1999) and Zuotian (Quitting) (2001) become huge hits with audiences both at home and abroad.

Spicy Love Soup (1997) -- a funny look at romance in modern Beijing, was the top box-office draw in China in 1998. Comprised of a series of five vignettes, each featured upper-middle class people of different generations in their quest for love.

The first movie earned Zhang instant fame and swept most of the film awards in domestic movie circles that year, including Best New Work in Huabiao Awards, Best New Director of the Golden Rooster Award and Best Director of the University Students' Film Festival.

It was also invited to be screened abroad where it won prizes at a number of international film festivals, such as the Tokyo International Film Festival, the San Diego International Film Festival and the Indian Kerala Film Festival.

Shower (1999) -- an inter-generational family drama set in a Beijing neighbourhood bathhouse, was the top film in China that year. It is a sentimental look at how tensions between the traditional and modern are played out between a father and his estranged son.

Shower also did well internationally, playing in 56 countries and picking up nine prizes at five international film festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival, the San Sebastian International Film Festival, the Greek Thessalonika International Film Festival and the Rotterdam International Film Festival.

Zhang's latest work, tentatively entitled Quitting (2001), is his most serious yet. It portrays the true story of one of his best friends, a well-known screen actor named Jia Hongsheng, who plays himself in the film, overcoming drug addiction. Jia's parents, both veteran actors, also play themselves.

Cinematographer Gu Changwei displayed his talent in Zhang Yimou's award-winning films Hong Gaoliang (Red Sorghum) and Chen Kaige's Haizi Wang (King of the Children) in 1987.

His co-operation with leading Chinese directors such as Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige and Jiang Wen on films including Judou, Bawang Bieji (Farewell, My Concubine), Guizi Laile (The Gingerbread Man) and Yangguang Canlande Rizi (In the Heart of the Sun) has gone a long way in promoting Chinese movies around the world.

Yu Long is one of the most talented Chinese conductors and one of international repute.

Born into a family of musicians in Shanghai in 1964, Yu's childhood music education from his grandfather prepared him for the rigorous formal music training he was to receive at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and later at the Hochschule der Kunst in Berlin.

His professional experience and achievements inside China are twofold-administrative and artistic.

In 1992, he was appointed principle guest conductor of the Central Opera Theatre in Beijing. In 1998, he founded the Beijing Music Festival, acting as artistic director of the annual festival, which has become one of the most significant music events in both China and the world.

The year 2000 has witnessed another milestone in Yu's career. He helped found the China Philharmonic Orchestra and was appointed artistic director and chief conductor.

Violinist Lu Siqing was the first Asian violinist who won the gold prize at the Paganini International Violin Competition in Italy in 1987, when he was only 18 years old.

Since then he has performed annually around the world. His musical ability is held in such high esteem, that the prestigious Stradivari Society in Chicago loaned him a rare 1742 Guarneri violin, worth US$6 million, for an unlimited period.

(China Daily October 8, 2002)