On January 20, Shao Huixiang, deputy director-general of the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, met with Munich City Councilor Oliver Belik and his party. The two sides discussed about Munich’s invitation to Shanghai to participate in the “Bayerisch-Chinesische Jugendtage” to be held in Germany in July, 2012.

According to Councilor Belik, as an event commemorating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany and the “China Culture Year”, Munich will hold “Bayerisch-Chinesische Jugendtage” on July 7-14, 2012 and will invite youths aged between 10 and 15 from Shanghai, Guangzhou, Jinan, Dalian and other Chinese cities to participate in this cultural event, when the Chinese and German youngsters will join together in such cultural and artistic activities as chorus, orchestra, dance and painting and finally put on a show at its closing ceremony. According to the plan, Munich City Government would like to ask Shanghai to send a youth orchestra and hold “Shanghai Day” during the cultural week. Moreover, Munich Mayor Christian Ude will send letters inviting Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng and personages from Shanghai’s business community to attend this cultural event. 

Deputy Director-General Shao expressed appreciation to the Munich side for its plan and concept of the event and said that Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office will discuss with the departments and districts concerned in the city about the possibility of sending government officials and a youth orchestra to the event. He hoped it will promote the mutual understanding and friendship between the young people of China and Germany and the friendly cooperation and exchange between Shanghai and Bavaria State.