SEOUL: Experience China in South Korea 2006, the biggest-ever Chinese cultural festival, opened in Seoul yesterday.

In a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony, Chinese President Hu Jintao said: "Experience China in South Korea 2006 provides an important opportunity for South Koreans to get close to China, experience and understand China. It will play a positive role in boosting the traditional friendship between the two peoples and promote friendly co-operation between the two nations."

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said in a letter that South Korea will further expand friendly co-operation with China. He expects the two nations can iron out differences, promote trust on the grounds of mutual respect, and join efforts to create common peace and prosperity.

Cai Wu, minister of the Chinese Information Office of the State Council, said at the opening ceremony that he hopes South Korean people can feel the Chinese people's desire to seek peaceful development and co-operation with other countries through the event.

Kim Chang-ho, minister of South Korea's Government Information Agency, and Chey Tae-won, president of SK group, the festival sponsor, both expected the event to be a good opportunity for closer exchanges and deeper understanding between the two neighbours.

Following the opening ceremony, a display of about 500 photos portraying the 14-year relations between China and South Korea since 1992 was launched at the Olympic Park in Seoul. The cultural festival, jointly hosted by the Chinese Information Office of the State Council and South Korea's Government Information Agency, is being held under an agreement by Hu and Roh during the APEC summit in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan last November.

(China Daily 09/22/2006 page2)