U.S. and China to Sign Agreement Facilitating Cultural and Educational Exchanges

On the occasion of the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Washington, the governments of the United States of America and the People's Republic of China will sign a renewed Implementing Accord for Cultural Exchange on December 9, 2003. The Cultural Accord recommits both governments to foster, encourage, and facilitate cultural, educational, and artistic exchanges, as they have done since the first such agreement in 1979. Since then, the United States and People's Republic of China have actively pursued a wide variety of such exchanges, helping to foster a broader and deeper understanding between our peoples.

The signing ceremony will take place in the ancient Chinese art section of the Smithsonian's Sackler Gallery (1050 Independence Avenue, SW).

Patricia Harrison, the Department of State's Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, and Yang Jiechi, Ambassador to the United States of the People's Republic of China, will sign the Accord.

The signing ceremony will begin promptly at 3:00. Media who wish to cover the event must arrive no later than 2:30 p.m; they should enter at the main gate in front of the Smithsonian Castle and Haupt Gardens, and then enter the Sackler Gallery immediately to the left. Security guards will direct media to the signing ceremony. The contact for interested media is Barbara Kram, 202-633-0520, of the Sackler Gallery's public affairs office.

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