Belgium's Crown Prince Philippe and his wife Princess Mathilde visit the "Son of heaven" exhibition, part of the Europalia China art festival, at the Center for Fine Arts in Brussels, capital of Belgium, October 8, 2009. [Xinhua]

Europalia art festival opened in Brussels on Thursday, with China as the only guest country to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

The opening ceremony of Europalia China was held with the presence of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping at the invitation of Belgian King Albert II.

The King, the Queen and eight other royal family members attended the ceremony, which was announced open by President of Europalia International Comte Jacob de Hagen.

Before an audience of more than 400, Belgian Foreign Minister Yves Leterme spoke highly of Belgium-China relations and China's increasing importance.

He said that everybody in Belgium could see and feel that China has never before so frequently appeared "in our heart and mind" as today, concerning "our economy, interests and future."

Leterme noted that the four-month Europalia China art festival has also highlighted China's ubiquitous ness.

Chinese Vice Minister of Culture Zhao Shaohua also expressed on the occasion her hope that the grand festival could make a platform for Belgian and Chinese peoples to better know each other.

Europalia China, to be lasting till February 14, 2010, will offer the European audience a unique opportunity to get to know all aspects of Chinese culture and lifestyle.

As many as 19 Chinese provinces, cities and autonomous regions,58 museums, libraries, archeological institutes, and numerous public and private cultural institutions have contributed to the art festival, jointly organized by Europalia International and the Chinese Ministry of Culture.

In the four months to come, around 50 exhibitions and 300 performances will be presented to audience in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Luxembourg

In total, more than 1,000 artists will take part in the festival.

The displays and art performances follow four main themes, namely Immortal China, Contemporary China, Colorful China and China and the World.

Each theme is illustrated by a key exhibition:

Son of the Heaven at the Center for Fine Arts will represent Immortal China and be devoted to the emperors. On display will be some of the most beautiful works of art selected from 5,000 years of China's glorious past.

The State of Things will illustrate Contemporary China. The exhibition brings together works of 50 contemporary Belgian and Chinese artists.

The Orchid Pavilion, highlighting the theme of Colorful China, will display the origins and significance of calligraphy in the Chinese culture.

At the Royal Museums of Art and History, the Silk Road will represent the theme of China and the World, by taking the visitor on a breathtaking journey through the little-known regions between Xi'an, capital city of Shaanxi province, and the Tianshan mountain range in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwestern China.

Scores of Chinese famous artists in the fields of music, art, architecture, literature will take part in seminars and other events during the festival.

The Chinese Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) celebration will close the Europalia China festival on February 14, 2010.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (front, L4) and Belgian King Albert II (front, R4) attend the opening ceremony of Europalia China art festival in Brussels, capital of Belgium, October 8, 2009. [Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2009)