From 30 May until 2 June 2011 a delegation of the China Shanghai Arts Festival visits the Vilnius Festival. The guests participate at the festival opening performance on 31 May. The meeting symbolises the close collaboration ties that have been set up over the past years. Members of the delegation include Mr. Sheng-lai Chen, President of the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival (CSIAF); Ms. Pei-wen Zhao, Director of Performance and Exhibition Deptartment of the Center for CSIAF; Ms. Hao Jiang, Deputy Director of Administrative Office of the Center for CSIAF; Mr. Jie Ruan, Manager for International Programme of the Performance and Exhibition Deptartment of the Center for CSIAF; and Mr. Jian-guo Yang, Senior Journalist of Xinmin Evening News, WenHui XinMin United Press Group. The representatives of the China Shanghai International Arts Festival are invited to enjoy the programme of the 2011 Vilnius Festival. This year, the 15th Vilnius Festival ushers in the musical summer season with seven concerts to be presented at the National Philharmonic Hall and the National Opera and Ballet theatre in Vilnius from 31 May until 14 June 2011. An illustrious crew of the internationally acclaimed Lithuanian and foreign musicians demonstrates breathtaking musicianship and technical brilliance in diverse orchestral and chamber music programmes. Three Lithuanian composers – Vytautas Bacevičius, Vykintas Baltakas and Vidmantas Bartulis – feature among many other composers from various epochs and countries. The Vilnius Festival has visited the China Shanghai International Arts Festival several times over the past years as part of a delegation of the European Festivals Association (EFA). In 2010, a delegation of 15 EFA members had the opportunity as EFA representatives to be in Shanghai for a first direct exchange with festivals of the Asias festivals association AAPAF, the Asian Association of Performing Arts Festivals. The first joint AAPAF-EFA meeting took place on 27 September 2010 in the framework of the International Festival Conference. The gathering offered a platform for getting to know festivals’ activities and challenges better in both regions and for enhancing joint communication activities. Furthermore participants committed to “open doors” for closer collaboration in the future. During the five-day visit, more than 100 festivals from Asia and Europe met. The Vilnius Festival was represented by its General Director, Ms. Ruta Prusevičienė, and Acting Head of the Concert Department, Mr. Danas Skramtai.