09-26-2007

Yesterday evening, China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC), Jiangsu Provincial Government and Suzhou Municipal Government held a banquet at the city’s conference center to welcome friends from all over the world for participating in the 7th China International Folk Art Festival. Among the guests were Hu Zhenmin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Vice Chairman of CFLAC, Liang Baohua, Governor of Jiangsu Province, Feng Yuan, Vice Chairman of CFLAC, Sun Zhijun, member of the standing committee and Minister of Publicity Department of Jiangsu Provincial Government, Wang Rong, member of the standing committee of Jiangsu Provincial Government and Secretary of Suzhou Municipal Government, and Zhang Taolin, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province. People attending the welcoming banquet also included guests and leaders from the Central Government and related departments of the province, officials from related countries’ embassies in China, and representatives of international art organizations. Many leaders of Suzhou Municipal Government, including Wang Jinhua, Zhou Fuyuan, Feng Ruidu, Xu Guoqiang, Wang Shaodong, Zhu Yongxin and Su Huixin, also attended the welcoming banquet.

In his welcoming speech, Hu Zhenmin stated that the 7th China International Folk Art Festival was a gala that combined the folk art quintessence of all countries. Artists from all over the world got together there; and either old friends or new acquaintance would be closely connected together by the bridge and tie of art and share the joy and happiness that art and friendship created.

Zhang Zhaolin sent his warm welcome to the guests and Chinese and foreign artists participating in the 7th China International Folk Art Festival. He stated that China International Folk Art Festival was not only a marvelous stage for exhibiting Chinese and foreign excellent folk arts but also an important window for strengthening the cultural exchange between countries. He hoped that this gala would further propel the experience communication and integration of national cultures, enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between people and promote the harmony and development of the society.