The Chinese culture promotion activity, "Experience China in Geneva," held its second music and dancing show in Pitoeff Theatre on Thursday, bringing a different culture experience to Swiss audiences.

The show was staged by a group of top Chinese artists, including tenor Liu Weiwei, lutanist Wu Yuxia, pianist Wu Long and violinist Li Chuanyun, with presentations of both traditional Chinese music and western classics alike. Dances that reflect Chinese cultural and breathtaking acrobatic ballet were also performed during the show.

It was the second show after a debut in Palais de Nations, the headquarters of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). There hundreds of UN staff, diplomats, and representatives from international organizations gathered to watch the show.

Wang Chen, minister of China's State Council Information Office (SCIO), said in a welcoming speech before the show that "the activities of 'Experience China in Geneva' have depicted China in its many faces, from its society, its economic progress, to its cultural heritage and its people."

With these activities, "you may experience and feel vividly, a country with its traditions and modernity, and a country that is thriving with prosperity, even when you are in Geneva," he said.

Wang Chen and the SCIO delegation arrived in Geneva on November 24 to launch "Experience China in Geneva," which includes a photo exhibition, film week, book donation and music and dancing performances.

Opened on Wednesday, the photo exhibition presented a collection of more than 60 pictures, giving an overview of China not only on its past, but also its recent progress and changes.

On the same day, more than 1,000 books covering a wide range of subjects on China were donated to the UNOG library as part of the event.

The books, donated by the SCIO, include both ancient Chinese masterpieces and contemporary works on history, philosophy, religion, literature, arts, architecture and sociology.

The culture experiencing activities will continue until the end of December.

The director-general of UNOG, Sergei Ordzhonikidze said Wednesday at the start of the event that ""Experience China" shows the many faces of China's rich and diverse culture heritage" and it is an example that culture exchanges may "generate mutual understanding among people as the foundation of a better world."

"Experience China" is a series of activities carried out around the world by the SCIO that offers a chance for people to experience Chinese culture in their own countries. The activities were also organized in Germany, the United States, South Korea, Israel and Turkey.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2010)