Anticipation is building in the runup to the third Harbin Sino-Russia Culture and Art Exchange Week—scheduled to take place in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Aug 13-24.

It is promoted by organizers as being an important springboard to boost cultural communications and exchanges between the two countries.

The 12-day event, which aims to promote the two countries’ friendship and culture, will display the traditional cultures of the two countries through symphony concerts, dance performances, acrobatic displays, art exhibitions, movies and TV dramas.

A total of 67 professional performances from home and abroad will be staged in Harbin Music Hall, Harbin Grand Theater and Laohuitang Music Hall during the event.

Meanwhile, an impressive 16 orchestras from 13 countries have confirmed their participation in the event. These include the Russian Sverdlovsk State Concert Hall Symphony Choir, the Khabarovsko Children's Chamber Orchestra, the Japan Kanazawa Orchestra Chamber Orchestra, South Korea Busan Golden Brass Band, the Korea Gwangju Art Troupe and the Czech Prague Golden Bell Choir.

In addition, a media tour—including media agencies from Russia, Harbin and Shenzhen— will take place. It will offer media agencies a platform to get closer to Harbin's economic and social development achievements since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

It is the third time that such an activity is to be held in Harbin –– a city with a long history of cultural exchanges with Russia, due to its proximity to the country and shared influences in its local culture.

The event is sponsored by the government of Harbin, and organized by the Harbin Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau.