LONDON, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- BBC National Orchestra of Wales announced Thursday that it will tour China in December 2018, giving a series of concerts with principal guest conductor Zhang Xian.

Supported by the British Council China, the tour forms part of the Inspiring Women in the Arts campaign launched in China.

Director of BBC National Orchestra of Wales Michael Garvey said: "This tour is an exciting addition to BBC National Orchestra of Wales' international plans and we're looking forward to returning to China following our successful visit in 2012."

"I'm very excited to tour China with BBC NOW this year. I have conducted many Chinese orchestras. However, to tour China with a foreign orchestra is a great opportunity for the cultural exchange of ideas and experiences," said Zhang, principal guest conductor of the orchestra since September 2016.

"The campaign hopes to inspire our Chinese audience, sharing stories of the careers leading female artists have forged. In Zhang, the first ever female titled conductor of a BBC orchestra, we have a role model we are delighted to support," said Nick Marchand, director Arts China and North-East Asia, British Council.

Zhang's first season with BBC NOW culminated in a televised BBC Proms performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, anticipating the start of a two-year project devoted to the composer's complete symphonies.

She is also music director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and conductor emeritus of Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi.

For almost 90 years, BBC National Orchestra of Wales has played an integral role in the cultural and classical landscape of Wales, performing to audiences across Britain, abroad and on air. Enditem