Press Conference of 2006 China Pingyao International Photography Festival
　

Date: March 3rd, 2006

Location: Asian Fusion Gallery at New York, 15 E 40th street, NY 10016

　　由山西省副省长宋北衫率领的山西文化交流代表团3日在曼哈顿亚洲文化中心召开“平遥国际摄影大展精品展”北美地区新闻发布会，并于当晚在联合国举办了摄影展开幕式。

　　据代表团成员表示，他们此次是应联合国副秘书长陈健邀请，经联合国文娱理事会摄影协会副主席江融的策划，在山西省政府、平遥国际摄影大展组委会和中国常驻联合国代表团的共同主办下，特地来联合国总部举办此次展览，以让更多的国际友人欣赏到中国平遥古城的美丽风光。他们并邀请了陈健副秘书长以及王光亚大使和夫人丛军出席昨晚的开幕仪式。
　　据介绍，此次平遥摄影展展出的作品共有80幅，全部是从过去五年来积累的近4万幅平遥国际摄影大展（PIP）参展作品中挑选出的精品。
　　中国平遥国际摄影大展开始于2001年，由中国摄影家协会、中国艺术摄影学会、山西省文化厅、山西省对外文化交流中心、平遥县政府、山西日报报业集团主办。
　　平遥国际摄影大展每年举行一次，从2001年至2005年已经举办五届，每届展览都吸引了数百名中国和世界其它国家与地区的优秀摄影师和摄影机构携带作品参加，参赞作品达上万幅。而每次前来观看展览和参加各项活动的专业摄影家和业余摄影爱好者都多达近10万人次。
　　此次的山西省文化交流代表团一行由14人组成。出席昨天记者会的人员包括平遥国际摄影大展组委会副主任王健武、山西省旅游局副局长韩和平、晋中市委宣传部部长刘志宏、PIP艺委会主席王悦，“接触”图片社(Contact Press Images)总裁普雷基等。
　　据摄影大赛组委会副主任王健武介绍，今年的平遥国际摄影大展将于9月份在山西平遥古城举行。今年的主题是“多元·和谐”。所谓“多元”，是指不局限于个别门派独有的思想、理论和代表作品，不局限于某种风格张扬的个性，不拒绝其它艺术形式的介入和渗透。所谓“和谐”，则是提倡当今社会的和谐发展，这一主题不仅仅应当体现在自然和社会生活中，也应当体现在摄影作品的方寸之间。另外，大赛组委会也希望通过举办这一盛大活动，为2008年北京奥运会培养大批优秀的专业摄影师。

The 2006 Pingyao International Photography Festival hosted by Shanxi Province government will start in United Nations this week.

Shanxi that is one of important birthplaces of Chinese civilization is acclaimed as “Museum of Chinese Ancient Architecture” and “Chinese Ancient Art Treasury.” Thanks to its 119 major historical and cultural sites under state protection, Shanxi now ranks first in China.

Pingyao, as a famous ancient city, is the sole ancient city with the Hans’ style in China listed as a World Cultural Heritage. Initially founded in the Western Zhou Dynasty (C.1100-771.B.C.), the ancient city wall of Pingyao with nearly 3,000 years of history, at present, basically keeps the original appearance of city wall constructed in early Ming Dynasty. Apart from the city wall, there are a number of draft banks, Wushu houses, pawnshops, shops and more than 400 well-preserved siheyuanr in the ancient city of Pingyao that wholly consists of the ancient city walls and moats, old streets, and ancient architectural complex.

In 2001, we firstly held the Pingyao International Photography Festival (PIP) according to the international practice, supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Information Office of the State Council and Shanxi provincial Party committee and government. Pingyao’s unique feature is to mingle with simple and unsophisticated folkways as well as various photographic activities via the domestic and international connection and the traditional and modern interaction, which has created a great sensation at home and abroad.