DIALOGUE 2

Xinhua: Where do you learn about Chinese culture? Can you name some of the problems when China promotes its culture to other countries?

Twenty-eight-year-old Nairobi resident Belly said he got to know Chinese culture through Chinese people working there. "Unfortunately, most Chinese people prefer talking about business. It's a pity that they do not discuss much about their culture with us," he said.

He suggested that overseas Chinese be "more socially open" and the Chinese government hold more expos in Africa. "Maybe China should organize a fashion exhibition because I am really curious how the Chinese women are dressed," he added.

Kim Inki, CEO of MaxTimes Korea, a South Korean company, suggested that China introduce more movies and TV programs to other countries so as to further improve its cultural influence globally.

Chinese movie makers and TV program producers still have a lot of work to do to make Chinese entertainment more attractive, said Kim.

DIALOGUE 3

Xinhua: What do you think China should do after the "two sessions" in order to enhance the international influence of Chinese culture?

Kimura Yoichiro, director of KOYONPLETE, a Japanese video game company, said China's animation production level will go up if its cultural industry is more open.

"China does not lack good painters. However, many of Chinese painting students ... hardly get a chance to work on something they like after graduation," said Yoichiro.

"More openness in China's animation industry means broader Chinese market and more cooperation opportunities for us," added the director.

To Akiko Sugimoto, a reporter on international affairs at Japan's NHK, China is the "treasure house of documentary materials."

"China can produce excellent documentaries," said Sugimoto. "As a cultural consumer, I am strongly supportive of China spreading its culture to the world."

"People around the globe are curious about what's China like and what the Chinese are thinking about," noted the reporter. "But China has for now given little response to this curiosity and we have known little of China. That breeds ideas such as 'China threat.'"

But Sugimoto said the development of China's cultural industry will be more anticipated after the "two sessions."

Closer cooperation with China on the cultural front is also supported by Luigi Corbani, general manager of the Giuseppe Verdi Symphonic Orchestra of Milan.

"There is so much to know about Chinese culture. ... It is difficult to imagine that any other country would have opened its arms to the rest of international culture through exhibitions, cultural activities and cinemas in such a short period of time to the extent China has done," he said.

The "unique and extraordinary" pace of opening has given more strength to China, he said, adding that his orchestra is considering to deepen exchanges with China.