国内英语新闻:Anthology of bamboo-themed poems published

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- An anthology of 100 bamboo-themed Chinese poems has been published, which features a foreword and a poem written by former president Jiang Zemin.

A launch ceremony for the book, The Charm of Bamboo, was held Saturday in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, with the presence of State Councilor Liu Yandong, and Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

In the preface, Jiang said China's long history of growing and using bamboo led to the formation and development of unique bamboo culture.

"Poets of different generations have sung in praise of the plant for its great contribution (to people's life), strong vitality and unyielding integrity," the preface reads.

Jiang said bamboo poems written to express sentiments and aspirations embody the nation's spirit of unswerving self-improvement.

The publication of the anthology, in both Chinese and English, is part of events held to mark the 15th anniversary of the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, a Beijing-headquartered non-governmental organization founded in 1997.