China's minister of Culture pledged to initiate more cultural exchanges so as to promote Chinese culture in the international mainstream market in places other than Chinatowns.

Minister Sun Jiazheng said at the closing of a national working conference Thursday that China should take initiative to promote its own unique culture globally.

Sun demanded that his staff make efforts to find a variety of channels to present traditional and contemporary Chinese arts to the world stage, which is in line with the country's foreign policy.

He said that the ministry will continue to carry out big exchange projects such as the China Arts Festival, China Arts Week and China Cultural Relics Exhibition which have made successful debuts in countries including the United States and France.

Meanwhile, the ministry will encourage high-quality small troupes and exhibitions to tour overseas countries.

"We'll encourage more local and non-governmental activities by relieving them of complex approval procedures," Sun added.

(Xinhua 05/17/2001)