Zhou Heping, CPPCC National Committee Member, Vice Minister of Culture
Icelandic singer Bjork's offending support to "Tibet independence" at a Shanghai concert earlier this month won't affect China's policy on inviting foreign artists to come and perform in the country, a senior cultural official said on Thursday.
"It was just an individual case. I don't think it will affect our invitation of artists from all over the world to come to China and perform, particularly during the Olympic Games," Vice Minister of Culture Zhou Heping told a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing parliament session.
On March 2, Bjork chanted "Tibet! Tibet!" at her Shanghai concert after singing a song "Declare Independence", a move that Zhou said had made the Chinese audience "very upset".
"Foreign artistic troupes and artists should voluntarily observe relevant laws and regulations of China when they come to perform on the Chinese soil. It should be a part of an artist's professional ethics to avoid violating Chinese laws or hurting the feelings of the Chinese people," said Zhou.