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President Hu Jintao and other senior leaders have attended the opening ceremony of the fourth Minorities Art Festival of China at the Beijing National Stadium.

Prior to the performances, Hu and other senior leaders met with some of the performers, including renowned folk artists from ethnic regions, as well as those coming from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

President Hu Jintao and other senior leaders on Tuesday attended an opening ceremony for the fourth Minorities Art Festival of China at the Beijing National Stadium.

Hu urged the artists to continue to perform for the mainstream theme of ethnic unity and progress and make more contributions toward the prosperity and development of minority art.

The opening ceremony included dance performances, singing, acrobatics and other forms of ethnic art. The festival will last until July 6th. It’s being jointly sponsored by the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Culture, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the Beijing municipal government. More than 6,700 performers will participate in the festival.

Artists of the Hani ethnic group give performance at the opening gala concert of the fourth National Ethnic Minorities Art Festival in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2012. The fourth National Ethnic Minorities Art Festival opened in Beijing on Tuesday evening. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Artists give performance at the opening gala concert of the fourth National Ethnic Minorities Art Festival in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2012. The fourth National Ethnic Minorities Art Festival opened in Beijing on Tuesday evening. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Artists of the Tujia ethnic group give performance at the opening gala concert of the fourth National Ethnic Minorities Art Festival in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2012. The fourth National Ethnic Minorities Art Festival opened in Beijing on Tuesday evening. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Artists of the Dai ethnic group give performance at the opening gala concert of the fourth National Ethnic Minorities Art Festival in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2012. The fourth National Ethnic Minorities Art Festival opened in Beijing on Tuesday evening. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)