ART

The U.S. and Chinese governments Wednesday extended their 1979 cultural agreement for three years and pledged to continue sending exhibitions, performers and journalists to each other’s countries to promote understanding. The first major U.S. exhibit in China under the agreement will be a selection of paintings and sculptures from the National Portrait Gallery. The show opens Sept. 2 in Beijing and will travel to Shenyang, Nanjing and Chengdu before it concludes Nov. 23.