China's vice minister of Culture, Zhao Xiaohua and the Australian ambassador to China, Dr. Geoff Raby signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Reciprocal Years of Culture (2010-2012) Friday between Australia and China. The memorandum hopes to usher in frequent cultural exchanges between the two countries.

"This exchange marks a milestone in the history of Australia – China cultural relations and will lead to ongoing cultural collaboration for years to come," ambassador Raby said. "We are very focused on working jointly with the cultural communities in our two countries to generate long lasting linkages at all levels, including between governments, institutions and individuals."

The Australian Government will present the Year of Australian Culture in China, titled Imagine Australia, from June 2010 to June 2011. It will be one of Australia's largest-ever international cultural promotions and the most significant ever to be staged in China.

It will showcase collaborations between Australians and Chinese in art, music, dance, performance, literature, film, fashion, design and many other cultural mediums.

As a first step, the National Art Museum of China and the National Museum of Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding last Monday to put arrangements in place for reciporocal traveling exhibitions n China and Australia during 2010-2012, facilitating an ongoing partnership of cultural exchange into the future.

During Imagine Australia, which will be launched in Beijing on June 9, the National Museum of Australia will hold the Papunya and Balgo Hills exhibitions at the National Art Museum of China.