Asian art: Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing (centre) and cultural ministers from other Asian economies officiate at the launch of the ArtSIA Calendar.

The ArtSIA Calendar has been launched, offering the latest information on signature arts events in 11 Asian economies - the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - online.

Launching the website at the Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum 2007 Asian Cultural Ministers' Meeting today, Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing said it will arouse wider public interest in Asia's arts programmes, strengthen the flow of cultural information among participating Asian countries and create a clustering effect in promoting cultural tourism in the region.

The ArtSIA Calendar will encourage cultural exchange among artists and arts organisations and showcase Asian talent on a wider global stage.

"The launch of the website today is only a start. We will continue to fine-tune it to make it even more user-friendly and appealing to [Internet] surfers," he said.