The 179 programs for "French Culture Year" will begin next month, showing Chinese audiences a new and creative France.

Alain Lombard, commissioner general of the France-Culture Year, announced this here Tuesday, at a joint press conference for the forthcoming French Culture Year.

According to him, the culture event will begin Oct. 10 with French President Jacques Chirac 's visit to China. On the opening day, artists from both China and France will perform in the Forbidden City. The French aerobatics flight team will give a show. The Zhengyang Gate will be decorate in red, blue and white, representing the French national flag.

French F group, a famous fireworks company whose work was seen at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Athens, will give a show in major Chinese cities. At the end of next April, Chinese will have chance to enjoy a picnic of French cuisine on the Great Wall.

Besides, Lombard said, a series of exhibitions will be staged in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, introducing French achievements in fields of photograph, architecture and city development.

To show different aspects of French society, the French Culture Year will also include film festival, lectures and symposium on law, literature, architecture and technology.

"All these activities will greatly promote exchanges and cooperation between France and China in an all-round way," said Lombard.

Editor: Donald