The 7th Shanghai International Garment Festival will first be on by Shanghai municipal government. April 24-May 3, as scheduled, 18 activities in 5 series including "International Garment Fair", "2001-02 Autumn and Winter Fashion Display", "Garment Design Competition", "International Garment Photography Competition" will be staged. A contest by male models will be held and the whole Festival will be drawn to a close with a grand fashion show on Huaihai Road.

Closely followed is "Shanghai Spring", an international concert for strengthened ties and increased exchanges with counterparts abroad and a happy occasion in giving tribute to new music creations and talented musicians. Chorus contest and music products fair will be had and rewards granted in commendation of new music works and songs composed, with over 20 activities from home and abroad.

June 9 to 17 is due to see the 5th Shanghai International Film Festival, one of the nine "A-class" event approved by the International Producer's Association on a par with the Cannes and Venice film festivals. Near 200 films will be screened and compete for a "Golden Rank" reward. Then on will the Festival be held when time comes every year.

Shanghai is then to have its Third International Art Festival in the latter half of the year, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Shanghai municipal government, being the only one of its kind at a state level, approved by the Ministry, scheduled November 1 to December 1 every year. More than 30 classical performances will be staged, such as "Romeo and Juliet" by Rhein Ballet of Germany, "Swan Lake" by Tchaikovsky Ballet of Russia, "Carmen" by Zaragoza Ballet of Spain, and "The Magicians' Corner" by David Copperfield of the US. As is hoped now, Shanghai is on the way and in good stead to turn itself into an exchange center of world cultures.

(People's Daily 02/23/2001)