"Beautiful China" photograph exhibition opened in Nairobi Monday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Kenyan diplomatic relations.
China, a nation with 5,000 years of civilization, has long enchanted the world with unique cultural traditions, diversified ethnic life and beautiful landscape, according to the preface of the exhibition.
"The well selected 60 photographs taken by Chinese photographers faithfully recorded various aspects of China and will serve as a good guide, leading you to explore a very diversified country," Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Chongli said at the opening ceremony.
"The exhibition will bring us to a real 'beautiful China'. For those who have been to China, it will provoke reminiscence, while for those who have not yet the chance to set foot on the land of China, it may prove to be an irresistible invitation," Guo added.
The ambassador said, "This December is unusual in the sense that on its 12th day we'll join the Kenyan people in celebrating the 40th anniversary of Kenya's Independence, and also in the sense that only two days after that, China-Kenya diplomatic relations will be 40 years old too. A series of activities will be held this month in honor of the special occasion. This exhibition is the first one."
Representing his minister Najib Balala, Kenyan Senior Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services Nicholas Kanyiri said at the ceremony that "this exhibition is part of the long-standing cordial relations between Kenya and China, which has often found expression in the works of art. It is a realization of the existing cultural exchange agreement signed by our two nations."
"It is my belief that the photographs will provide Kenyans with an insight into the historical, cultural, religious and social life of the Chinese in relation to their traditions, values and natural environment," Kanyiri said.
Jointly sponsored by the Chinese embassy in Kenya and the Kenyan Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social services, the exhibition will last eight days.
(Xinhua News Agency December 2, 2003)
