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US$6 Million to Revive Kunqu Opera

China will spend 10 million yuan (about US$1.2 million) per year from 2005 to 2009 to preserve, protect and promote waning Kunqu Opera. The total for the five years would run to US$6 million.

The National Kunqu Preservation Project, initiated by the Ministry of Culture on January 1, will encourage composing, research and exchange centres for Kunqu Opera.

Kunqu Opera, sometimes referred to as Kun Opera, began in Kunshan in South China's Jiangsu Province about 500 years ago and predates the more famous Peking Opera.

"The national support of Kunqu will definitely bring new life to this ancient opera," said Ke Jun, dean of the Kunqu House in East China's Jiangsu Province. The project seeks to create 10 "superb" Kunqu organizations and to train a group of professionals.

Kunqu was named by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to its list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001.

"I'm very optimistic about the future of Kunqu," Ke said.