China is planning an exhibition of calligraphy, painting and photographs depicting life and economic development in its vast western region, and artists and amateurs from the world over are invited to submit their works.

The organizer, China International Exhibition Agency under the Ministry of Culture, announced here Tuesday that all artists and amateurs, Chinese or foreign, were welcome, and all art forms were encouraged to participate in the event.

The exhibition is to promote the world's understanding of and attention to China's western regions, and encourage the world to show more support for the western development strategy.

Experts will select up to 500 of the best works and display them in Beijing in December. Later, they will be sent to the western cities of Xi'an, Lanzhou and countries like Japan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore for more exhibitions.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2002)