A group of China's top artistic workers gave an excellent Chinese-flavor artistic performance Wednesday night at the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG), heralding the official kick-off of the "Experience China" cultural activities in Geneva.

The artistic show at the Assembly Hall of Palais des Nations, the headquarters of UNOG organized by China's State Council Information Office (SCIO) "is part of its effort to promote the Chinese culture overseas," SCIO Director Wang Chen said.

In a welcome speech before the show, Wang said the "Experience China" cultural activities in Geneva "aim to share the Chinese culture with foreigners, including UN staff members."

Through the activities, he added, the audience "may experience and feel vividly China, a country that is thriving with prosperity and unique traditions" without stepping their feet on China's soil.

Sergei Ordzhonikidze, director-general of the UNOG, said on the same occasion that "Experience China" cultural activities "show us many faces of China's rich and diverse culture heritage."

He added that "it is an example that culture exchanges may generate mutual understanding among different peoples on the basis of a better world."

The Chinese performers including well-known tenor Liu Weiwei, violinist Li Chuanyun and lutanist Wu Yuxia brought to the audience masterpieces of traditional and classical music of both China and abroad as well as China's traditional dances, breathtaking acrobatics and ballet.

Hundreds of UNOG staff, foreign diplomats, representatives of non-governmental organizations and people from Switzerland enjoyed watching the performance.

On Nov. 24-30, the SCIO will also stage other activities, like a photo exhibit, a book donation ceremony and a film festival week, to introduce China to the world.

"Experience China" is a series of worldwide cultural activities launched by the SCIO with a view to promoting the world's understanding of China. It has already been carried out in Germany, the United States, South Korea, Israel and Turkey.

(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2010)