The China Philharmonic Orchestra's performance for Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday in Vatican City is "a big success" as a people-to-people exchange event through culture and art, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Thursday.

According to reports, Pope Benedict XVI described the Beijing Olympic Games as "an event of great importance for the entire human family" as he received the China Philharmonic at the Vatican.

China has taken notice of that and considered the Pope's words relevant to the Chinese orchestra concert, Qin told a press conference.

"The concert helped strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and Europeans," Qin said.

"Art is the common treasure of all human beings, and music is a bridge that can bring together people from different countries," the spokesman added.

The orchestra played WA Mozart's Requiem and Chinese folk songs, accompanied by the Shanghai Opera House Chorus at the Paul VI Audience Hall in Vatican City. This is the first time the orchestra has made an appearance in the Vatican, which has no diplomatic ties with China.

China is willing to improve relations with Vatican and to continue making efforts to that effect, Qin said.

"We would like to further conduct constructive dialogue with the Vatican based on relative principles so as to push bilateral ties towards normalization," Qin said.

The Chinese government has repeated its stance of improving ties with the Vatican while insisting on two principles: the Vatican should end its "diplomatic relationship" with Taiwan, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs using the excuse of religion.

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2008)