A photo exhibition will be held both in China and the United States to celebrate the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) announced on Tuesday at a press conference.

The exhibition in China will kick off in Beijing from January 12, and that in the US will start in Los Angeles from January 21 and both will last until the end of the year, said Li Xiaolin, vice president of the CPAFFC.

US President George W. Bush sent a message of congratulations on the exhibition, Li said.

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, former US President Jimmy Carter, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger will be present at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

A total of 360 photos, selected from over 10,000 on Sino-US relations, will reflect the important events in the political, trade and cultural areas of Sino-US history.

The exhibition will include four sections: history recalling, friendship between peoples, economic exchange and win-win cooperation.

The CPAFFC and the China Photo Service attached to Xinhua News Agency are sponsoring the exhibition.

The photos will also be shown in Shanghai, Chongqing and Heilongjiang in China, and in Washington, Houston, and Atlanta in the US.

(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2009)