There’s a joke among us Filipinos in Jeddah that Balad, a commercial center in the southern side of the city, belongs to us, while the neighboring Sarafiya center belongs to the Indians: Sa inyo ang Sarafiya, amin ang Balad.

A singing and dancing performance staged by the Taiwan Aboriginal Art Group at the 6th MIFA International Exchange Festival in Tokyo on Sunday earned the acclaim of the audience.

In his meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Ivanovich, Deputy PM Nhan said he hopes that the two countries will continue to implement bilateral agreements and conclude negotiations for the signing of an agreement on credit provision for Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant project.

While President Barack Obama met with Chinese leader Hu Jintao at the White House, first lady Michelle Obama took the opportunity to encourage students to study abroad in China, in hopes of strengthening ties with the economic powerhouse and fostering cross-cultural exchange.

Wang Yi, minister of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Tuesday the mainland and Taiwan should seize the opportunity to set up a systematic mechanism for cultural and educational exchanges.

The Information Communication and Culture Ministry will hold 140 communalising of arts and culture events nationwide in line with the 1Malaysia concept this year.

As Taiwan celebrating the nation’s 100 years old birthday, President Ma, Ying-jeou, had delivered his national address in the name of “Empowering Taiwan and Invigorating Chinese Culture. He specially pointed out that the next 10 year is a critical moment for the nation to step into a more advanced stage.

Russia and Spain will have 2011 as their cross-cultural exchange year to host 700 events to boost mutual cooperation in science, education, culture and economics. Diplomatic relations between Russia and Spain started in 1667. The two nations have faced many hardships since then and it was not always easy to keep a high level of cultural cooperation.