To help the American people know more about Heilongjiang in Northeast China, the province launched a large cultural exchange event in Los Angeles, United States last month.

The event, consisting of a series of activities including "From Heilongjiang - China to Los Angeles 2007" - an introduction to Heilongjiang, the Charming Heilongjiang TV Week and celebration of the Two-Year Anniversary of North American Broadcasting of Heilongjiang TV, opened on September 24.

The Information Office of the People's Government of Heilongjiang Province, Phoenix Satellite Television (US), Heilongjiang TV and Los Angeles WCETV Network were the organizers of the event.

Li Zhanshu, executive vice-governor of Heilongjiang Province, headed a delegation that attended the opening ceremony of this cultural exchange event.

Local officials and businesspeople, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Governor of California Gray Davis, were also present on the occasion.

The Charming Heilongjiang TV Week was the highlight of the activities. Consisting of a TV show and a photo exhibition, the TV week aimed "to introduce Heilongjiang Province and promote local cooperation and exchange between the two countries," said Li.

The TV program, which had eight parts - brief introduction of Heilongjiang, natural resources, tourism, culture, life, ethnic groups, opening-up and the Harbin-Daqing-Qiqihar Industrial Corridor - was broadcast on Phoenix Satellite Television (US) over eight days.

With both Chinese and English subtitles, the TV programs offered the American people a rare opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of Heilongjiang Province, said Wu Xiaoyong, director of Phoenix Satellite Television (US).

The Charming Heilongjiang Photo Exhibition also presented the audience with a beautiful and dynamic view of Heilongjiang, a province that has huge business potential.

The exhibition was composed of 40-odd vivid pictures in four parts: natural landscapes, industries/technologies, agriculture and cities.

After visiting the exhibition, former California Governor Gray Davis said he was especially impressed by the city of Harbin, saying it is a charming metropolis combining Eastern and Western cultures.

The Two-Year Anniversary of North American Broadcasting of Heilongjiang TV was also an occasion to celebrate fruitful cultural exchanges between Heilongjiang and the United States.

Since 2005, Heilongjiang TV and the Los Angeles WCETV Network have cooperated to present Heilongjiang TV programs to the American audience. To date, about 500,000 people in the United States have watched the TV programs and gained a better understanding about Heilongjiang.

Encouraged by the successful cooperation, representatives of other US media such as Los Angeles Bilingual Radio Station and American City Weekly magazine expressed their willingness to launch long-term cooperation with Heilongjiang media organizations.

Heilongjiang Executive Vice-Governor Li Zhanshu praised the event and noted its significance, saying: "it is not only an event of cultural exchange, but also a window to showcase Heilongjiang's achievements in opening up and a rare opportunity for the US business community to know more about the province's investment environment."

At the inauguration ceremony of the Charming Heilongjiang TV Week, Li introduced the tourism and natural resources, as well as economic development and business potential of Heilongjiang.

"We sincerely invite the American people to tour Heilongjiang and US businesspeople to invest in the province," said Li.

(China Daily 10/26/2007 page19)