Guests pose for a group photo at the ceremony of 2015-2016 China-Canada Year at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts in Vancouver, Canada, April 13, 2015. [Photo/culturalink.gov.cn]

2015-2016 China-Canada Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges

The 2015-2016 China-Canada Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges was launched at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada on April 13, 2015. It was initiated by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during his last visit to China in November, 2014.

The China-Canada Year is a two-year cultural exchange program. There are 26 major cultural exchange projects with more than 100 showings confirmed as part of the event. These include Canada-China film and TV co-productions, friendship city exchanges, as well as mutual visits by each country's visual artists, craftspeople, performers, authors and museum exhibitions. As the first Chinese cultural year in the north American region, the China-Canada Year has a great significance in increasing mutual trust and promoting the development of the China-Canada strategic partnership.