Beijing residents can have a taste of Egypt's dances, Uganda's drums and Africa's films without venturing to the faraway continent as a nine-day festival featuring African culture opened Friday.

The 2nd Touch Africa Tourism and Culture Festival also offers displays of art collections, photos about Zimbabwe and Kenya, a joint show of paintings by African artists in China, and exhibitions of coffee and chocolate producers.

Bipin K. Rudhee, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Mauritius in China, said at the opening ceremony that the festival would help promote cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between the peoples of China and Africa.

Rudhee also said he was looking forward to next year's World Expo in Shanghai, which he believed would bring more of the unique flavor of Africa to the Chinese people.

The festival is being jointly co-organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Chinese-African People's Friendship Association.

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2009)