The Year of Italy in China was unveiled over the weekend with a fabulous concert, the opening of an exhibition of Renaissance paintings and a dream-like outdoor gala show at the Millennium Monument in Beijing.

Diverse performances and exhibitions celebrating Italian culture and lifestyles will be held in major Chinese cities throughout the year.

Italy is the third nation to hold a "cultural year" programme in China since 2000  and a fourth is still to come.

After the successful China-France Culture Year, China staged a well-received China Cultural Month in the United States in October.

This year is also the Year of Russia in China, and 2007 will be the Year of China in Russia. The programme for the Sino-Russian Year will include exhibitions as well as academic activities covering bilateral economic relations and other topics of common interest.

This is a trend that should be warmly welcomed.

Cultural exchanges enrich the cultural lives of audiences and visitors, and help foster appreciation of the creative talents of unfamiliar artists.

Audiences are given the chance to enjoy great works, both classic and contemporary.

Large-scale exchange programmes like the "cultural years" provide people with an opportunity to build systematic knowledge about a culture.

The cultural year programmes have highlighted the world's diversity  a wonderful prospect that some feared was threatened by globalization.

The government-led cultural exchanges are welcomed also because they play an increasingly important role in the efforts of China and other countries to develop bilateral relations.

Cultural exchanges are an indispensable part of developing friendly international relations.

In an era when people can watch events live on television and obtain all sorts of news and information on the Internet, it is often the case that a person's understanding of others can nevertheless still be shallow. Misleading stereotypes and prejudice abound.

With artistic activities as their main vehicle, cultural exchanges can be a very effective way for different people to empathise with citizens of other countries. They perform functions that diplomatic meetings and trade deals cannot.

People are different, and differences can cause friction and even conflict. But with goodwill and understanding, friction and conflict can be avoided.

Cultural programmes are the best way for people to come to understand their differences, to respect and appreciate them.

In building international relations, China follows its old motto of "gentlemen seek harmony but no uniformity."

That motto is also behind China's initiative to organize the cultural years.

Although the cultural year programmes do not last forever, it is certain they have enormous, positive repercussions.

The success of government-led activities encourages non-governmental associations, performing troupes and artists to organize exchanges of their own. Connections made during government activities often continue to develop long after formal programmes have concluded.

For audiences, cultural shows encourage learning about different cultures and help build understanding.

When the Eiffel Tower was lit up red  the Chinese colour  for Spring Festival in 2004 during the Year of China in France, the warmth the Chinese felt could not be described in words.

In return, the Chinese lit the Zhengyang Gate  a rostrum facing the Forbidden City  in the colours of the French national flag during a modern French music performance.

Cultural exchange helps create a better environment for political and economic exchanges, but the inspiring sights of the Eiffel Tower in red and Zhengyang Gate in red, white and blue bring people together.