A delegation from the US state of Wisconsin, featuring Peter Buffett, son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett, will visit Beijing next week to discuss an array of cultural exchange projects-to-be.

It is the hope of the U.S. delegation that the first exchange will include in China a performance of Buffett's musical "Spirit, The Seventh Fire," and in the United States a show featuring the art works of Gao Zhanxiang, former Chinese minister of culture, delegation leader Einar Tangen said in Beijing on Tuesday.

Tangen said the time, place and cast of the performance in China were still under discussion.

A musician, composer and producer, 50-year-old Peter Buffett had his first major success in 1991, scoring and choreographing "Fire Dance" in the Academy Award winning film "Dances with Wolves."

Gao made his name as a poet, reviewer, calligrapher and photographer.

The visit and exchanges are based on the friendship between Gao and Tangen and their mutual belief that through understanding each others' culture they can better understand each other.

"We hope these shows will lead to an ongoing program of more unique cultural exchanges in the future," said Tangen, former chairman of the State of Wisconsin International Trade Council.

Starting this fall, Wisconsin universities will increase their enrollment for Chinese students, Tangen said. It will be arranged for the students to live in the homes of high-level executives of large corporations. They will have a special access to both very good accommodation and lots of social practice and working internships.

"As the main force of future development, the increasing of Chinese students who study in the United States will facilitate the scientific innovation and commercial cooperation between China and the US"

According to Tangen, another purpose of Buffett the junior's first trip to China is to finalize his plans for his personal foundation that has an estimated 1.2 billion US dollars.

He added the junior Buffett was "very interested in the usage of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation", which Warren Buffett had donated 37 billion dollars to in 2006, Tangen added.

Members of the delegation include Jennifer Buffet, build member of the Spirit and NoVo Foundations; Julia Taylor, president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee; Jodie Lee Tabak, vice chairman of the Greater Milwaukee China Committee; Christian Bartly, president of World Trade Center Wisconsin; and Curtis L. Carter, first vice president of International Aesthetics Association.

They were expected to visit the 798 contemporary art zone, the art studio of Gao Zhanxiang, the Forbidden City and the newly-built National Center For The Performing Arts, formerly known as the National Grand Theater during their visit from February 26 to 29, according to Tangen.
 
(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2008)