The eighth congress of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the seventh congress of the Chinese Writers Association convened in Beijing Friday.

State leaders including Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Zeng Qinghong, Wu Guanzheng, Li Changchun and Luo Gan attended the opening ceremony at the Great Hall of the People.

More than 2,500 artists and writers from all over the country are attending the two meetings from November 10 to 14. 

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2006)