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Bringing the Culture of the American West to China to Enhance US-China Cultural Ties
BEIJING, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Rodeo China was announced today in Beijing. The historic eight-day rodeo event will be staged in October 2011 in Beijing's National Stadium ("the Bird Nest") and will give Chinese and international audiences the opportunity to watch the best talent in rodeo today compete for the largest prize purse ever in rodeo history.
Rodeo China, an important component of the China-US cultural exchange program in 2011, is jointly hosted by Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), China International Friendship Cities Association (CIFCA), the National Stadium and Less Is Forever More Inc. (LIFM), and produced by ZZYX Entertainment, and will be staged in Beijing from October 3-10, 2011.
Li Xiaolin, Vice President of the CPAFFC, said, "Rodeo China provides an opportunity for the Chinese public to appreciate the American cowboy culture that will connect 'The Culture of the American West, Rodeo' to China. It will play an active role in promoting China-US cultural exchange and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between American and Chinese people." The event is an encouraging move after President Hu Jintao and President Barack Obama's January meeting in Washington.
Also in attendance for the announcement were Richard and Carrie Tucker, Founders of Rodeo China and Less Is Forever More Inc.; Rick Garson, Executive Producer of Rodeo China and ZZYX Entertainment; Matt Shiozawa, one of the top five cowboys in the world; and other representatives of "The Culture of American West," together witnessing a unique moment in the history of China-US cultural exchange.
The Tuckers have a proud western tradition in rodeo and over more than 30 years history with China. It was their vision and desire to create a cultural and educational experience that is at the heart of Rodeo China. "The American western cowboy culture was popularized by many movies of the 1930s when the cowboy figure was glorified and became a symbol of the American spirit. Rodeo China will create a unique cultural experience for the Chinese audience with various sports and entertainment activities. See you in the Bird's Nest in October!" said Richard Tucker, CEO of Rodeo China and LIFM.
"Rodeo China will bring together the best of the East and West to create this amazing marriage of sports and entertainment, to be viewed by an estimated two billion plus global audience, including TV, Internet and other new media. This will be the first global TV special from the Bird's Nest since the 2008 Olympics." said Rick Garson, Executive Producer of Rodeo China and ZZYX Entertainment.
On April 12, 2011, the Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both pledged to deepen the people-to-people exchange and further enhance cultural ties between the two countries, at the closing session of the second annual high-level China-US Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE) held in Washington. Clinton believes people-to-people exchange is the key to broaden and deepen the Sino-US relationship. In 2011, the State Department will encourage US private-sector organizations to share the best of US culture and society with Chinese audiences, and Rodeo China is listed as one of the Sino-US cultural exchange programs in 2011.
In 1979, during Deng Xiaoping's visit to US, he paid a visit to a rodeo in Simonton, Texas, where he rode in a stagecoach and a cowgirl presented him a "Cowboy Hat" and a "Western duster Coat". This was regarded as the beginning of the renewal of China-US focuses and cooperation on rural development issues; in 2011, Rodeo China will be introduced into China for the first time, further strengthening the strong ties already existing between China and the US. These people-to-people exchange efforts should provide growing dividends for the future of this relationship.