Jilin Culture Week travels world teaching its history, traditions

Global relations deepen thanks to exchange and education events

The 2017 Russia-China Tour, Jilin Culture Week marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Russia-China Friendship Association.

Jilin province in Northeast China is keen to strengthen ties with Russia via cultural exchanges, aiming to enhance the friendship between the two countries, a senior official said.

"As a crucial window facing China's neighbors to the north, Jilin has actively carried out cultural exchanges to promote understanding between China and the world," said Su Fangqiu, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Russia.

On the theme of "reading China through Jilin's story", Jilin Cultural Week took place Oct 23-27, with an array of activities held in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The activities involved traditional Chinese arts, intangible culture heritage demonstrations, literature and films, connected to Jilin's charming culture, arts and social economic development.

"We hope to let the Russian people sense Jilin's beauty and happiness, and to deepen the friendship between China and Russia through the event," said Ma Shaohong, director of Jilin Provincial Department of Culture.

It was the third time the event has taken place in Russia. Ma said Jilin has held the event in Moscow, St. Petersburg in 2011, and in Khabarovsk and Vladivostok in 2016, bringing Chinese culture in the form of songs, TV dramas and books into Russia.

The event was initiated in 2011, aiming to reflect the characteristics of Jilin culture. It has also traveled to Mongolia, South Korea, the United States, Canada, Germany, France and other countries.

This year, the event created more distinctive content to help people learn more about Jilin in Russia.

Havoc in Heaven, a classic Peking Opera show, won high praise at the Moscow National Theater. According to Ma, it was the second time the Jilin opera delegation has showed this unique example of Chinese culture in Russia.

"The art of Peking Opera was quite amazing. I admired the Chinese actors' kung fu. The show has set up a bridge between China and Russia to deepen cultural exchanges," said an audience member at the show.

To spread classical culture, Chinese and Russian students co-chaired a reading and singing performance, incorporating poetry recitals, musical performances and singing.

Co-hosted by the State Council Information Office, Jilin provincial people's government and the China-Russia Friendship Association, the event lasted for five days and fully demonstrated China's and Jilin's image.

"The cultural week has both traditional and contemporary culture. There are exchanges and cooperation. I believe that through these activities, the Russian people will learn more about China and learn about Jilin," said a temporary official of the Chinese embassy in Russia.

A promotional activity for books published in Jilin saw multiple copyright agreements signed. The books cover Chinese and Jilin's history, customs and tourism. They can help Russian people to learn Mandarin and attract them to travel and invest in Jilin province.

Jilin's Northeast Asia Publishing Media Group selected a total of 500 books in various types and put them at Jilin Books Corner. The corner will be permanently set up at the Chinese Cultural Center in Moscow, providing various books and related publications as needed.

In addition, the Changchun Film Studio showed five classic films: Tung Tai, The Great Sun, Old Auntie, Cableway Doctor, as well as Xinyi Brothers.

These films were dubbed or subtitled in Russian and screened at sites including the Moscow Chinese Cultural Center, the Moscow Institute of Asia and Africa, Baltic National University of Technology in St. Petersburg and the permanent exhibition hall of the sixth National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

During the Cultural Week, all members of the Jilin cultural delegation visited the permanent exhibition hall of the sixth National Congress of the CPC with an admirable mood, and carried out a patriotic education campaign.

"In recent years, Jilin province has actively carried out cultural exchanges with other countries and enhanced mutual understanding with people across the world. With the new level of China and Russia relations, the exchanges and cooperation between Jilin province and Russia will have significantly broader development prospects," said a representative of Russia.

Contact the writers at hanjunhong@chinadaily.com.cn

Clockwise from top: The paintings created by Jilin artists during 2017 Jilin Culture Week are appreciated by Russian people. Jilin papercut artist Yan Xueling creates artwork during 2017 Jilin Culture Week. Jilin calligraphers send their works to representatives of the Russia-China Friendship Association to celebrate its establishment 60 years ago. 2017 Russia-China Tour, Jilin Culture Week takes place Oct 23 to27, with an array of activities held in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Photos Provided to China Daily

(China Daily 11/09/2017 page19)