BEIJING, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A delegation from the
U.S. state of Wisconsin, featuring Peter Buffett, son of billionaire investor
Warren Buffett, will visit Beijing next week to discuss an array of cultural
exchange projects-to-be.
It is the hope of the U.S. delegation that the first
exchange will include in China a performance of Buffett's musical "Spirit, The
Seventh Fire," and in the United States a show featuring the art works of Gao
Zhanxiang, former Chinese minister of culture, delegation leader Einar Tangen
said in Beijing on Tuesday.
Tangen said the time, place and cast of the
performance in China were still under discussion.
A musician, composer and producer, 50-year-old Peter
Buffett had his first major success in 1991, scoring and choreographing "Fire
Dance" in the Academy Award winning film "Dances with Wolves."
Gao made his name as a poet, reviewer, calligrapher
and photographer.
The visit and exchanges are based on the friendship
between Gao and Tangen and their mutual belief that through understanding each
others' culture they can better understand each other.
"We hope these shows will lead to an ongoing program
of more unique cultural exchanges in the future," said Tangen, former chairman
of the State of Wisconsin International Trade Council.
Starting this fall, Wisconsin universities will
increase their enrollment for Chinese students, Tangen said. It will be arranged
for the students to live in the homes of high-level executives of large
corporations. They will have a special access to both very good accommodation
and lots of social practice and working internships.
"As the main force of future development, the
increasing of Chinese students who study in the United States will facilitate
the scientific innovation and commercial cooperation between China and the U.S."
According to Tangen, another purpose of Buffett the
junior's first trip to China is to finalize his plans for his personal
foundation that has an estimated 1.2 billion U.S. dollars.
He added the junior Buffett was "very interested in
the usage of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation", which Warren Buffett had
donated 37 billion dollars to in 2006, Tangen added.
Members of the delegation include Jennifer Buffet,
build member of the Spirit and NoVo Foundations; Julia Taylor, president of the
Greater Milwaukee Committee; Jodie Lee Tabak, vice chairman of the Greater
Milwaukee China Committee; Christian Bartly, president of World Trade Center
Wisconsin; and Curtis L. Carter, first vice president of International
Aesthetics Association.
They were expected to visit the 798 contemporary art
zone, the art studio of Gao Zhanxiang, the Forbidden City and the newly-built
National Center For The Performing Arts, formerly known as the National Grand
Theater during their visit from Feb. 26 to 29, according to Tangen.