Experience China kicks off in Indonesia promoting people-to-people contact

Series of Chinese cultural events aimed at promoting closer people-to-people contact between China and Indonesia commenced here on Tuesday, helping locals know more about China.

The whole events, dubbed Experience China, were comprised of photo exhibition, inaugration of China Library, Indonesia-China music concert and a media forum.

Speaking in his remarks to address the opening ceremony of photo exhibition entitled Maritime Silk Road Pearl earlier in the day, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Association of Cultural Construction, Wang Shimin, said interaction between Indonesia and China would be greatly favored by the two peoples.

"Through the cultural exchange program, closer acquaintance and understanding between Indonesian and Chinese people can be improved, laying a more solid foundation for the development of the bilateral relation," he said.

The photo exhibition displayed more than 150 photos highlighting daily life and scenery of China's eight cities regarded as the pearls of the Maritime Silk Road.

The exhibition would allow Indonesians to better understand China, nurture bilateral relations between the two nations which is believed to gain greater potentialities in the future, Deputy Chief of Indonesia-China Association Sudrajat said in his remarks in the event.

Featured in the Experience China program, the inaugration of China Library in Al Azhar University provides knowledge about China through thousands of China-themed books, journals and magazines.

The China Library was set up on Al Azhar University's campus premises and is open for public.

The campus rector, Ahmad Lubis, expected that China Library would greatly facilitate people-to-people contact as it helps Indonesian to acuire deeper knowledge on China's development in areas such as politic, economic, culture, science and technology and learn from China's experience in running the country.

A music concert performed by Indonesian and Chinese singers was also held later in the evening, presenting popular folk songs from both nations.

More understanding was expected to result from the media forum event scheduled on Wednesday, as journalists of both nations would meet and discuss who will share their experiences in carrying out their tasks.