The biggest-ever Chinese cultural festival, named as Experience China in South Korea 2006, opened in Seoul on Thursday.

In a congratulation letter to the opening ceremony, Chinese President Hu Jintao said, "The Experience China in South Korea 2006 provides an important opportunity for the South Koreans to get close to China, experience and understand China. It will play a positive role in boosting the traditional friendship between the two peoples and promote friendly cooperation between the two nations."

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun also expressed his congratulation in a letter, in which he said South Korea will further expand friendly cooperation with China and expects the two nations could iron out differences, promote trust on the ground of mutual respect and join efforts to create common peace and prosperity.

Cai Wu, minister of the Chinese Information Office of the State Council, said at the opening ceremony that he hopes South Korean people can feel Chinese people's desire to seek peaceful development and cooperation with other countries through the event.

Kim Chang-ho, minister of South Korea's Government Information Agency, and Chey Tae-won, president of the festival's sponsor of SK group, both expected the event could be a good opportunity for closer exchanges and deeper understanding between the two neighbors.

Following the opening ceremony, a display of about 500 photos revealing the 14-year relations between China and South Korea since 1992 was launched at the Olympic Park in Seoul.

The cultural festival, jointly hosted by the Chinese Information Office of the State Council and South Korea's Government Information Agency, is being held under an agreement by Hu Jintao and Roh Moo-hyun during the APEC summit in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan in last November.

During the 10-day events, about 300 Chinese will stage a variety of performance, including traditional Chinese music, Tibet dances and martial arts performances, in Seoul.

Representatives from the two countries will also hold journalist and business forums during the event.

Editor: Yan