The Asian Art Exhibition, co-sponsored by the Sino-Austrian Friendship Association and the Austrian auctioneer Dorotheum, opened on Monday in Vienna.

The year of 2006, the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as well as that of the Sino-Austrian Friendship Association, was designated "China Year" by Austrian President Heinz Fischer.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Austrian counterpart have sent congratulatory letters to the festival, wishing it a success.

The exhibition is part of a series of "China Year" activities, among which, Dorotheum's collection of nearly 100 works of art from China and Asia has drawn a great deal of interest among its visitors.

China was expecting more Austrians to visit China and to enjoy the Chinese traditional culture in person, said Chinese Ambassador Lu Yonghua at the opening ceremony.

The ambassador hoped the Sino-Austrian Friendship Association would continue their efforts to promote friendly relations between the two countries.

The friendship organization is to celebrate "China Year" by a series of symposiums, exhibitions, artistic performances and other activities.

Source: Xinhua