WARSAW, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Poland will "uphold, spread and support" the legacy of Frederic Chopin, Poland's deputy prime minister said Monday, as Warsaw is limbering up for an international competition named after the great composer.
Speaking at a press conference briefing on this year's Chopin Competition for young pianists in Warsaw, Piotr Glinski, who also serves as minister of culture and national heritage, hailed Chopin as "the greatest icon of Polish culture."
"It is very important for us, Polish society as a whole, also for the world, as Chopin is a worldwide cultural icon," he said, hinting at further efforts to promote Chopin internationally.
Chopin was born in 1810 in Zelazowa Wola, west of Warsaw. While living in Paris from 1830 until his death in 1849, he kept close ties with the Polish community in France.
The 18th Chopin Competition, also known as the International Chopin Piano Competition, will feature 164 pianists from different countries, with the largest delegation from China, followed by Japan, Poland and South Korea.
In 2000, Chinese pianist Li Yundi was awarded the First Prize of the 14th Chopin Competition, becoming the youngest and the first Chinese winner in the competition's history. This year's finals will take place in October in Warsaw.
