Cultural salon in Xi'an showcases traditional Chinese arts to international audience

A cultural salon event titled "Tea Chat with Ambassador Exploring Xi'an Yisu Theater" was held on Saturday in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. More than 100 participants attended, including the ambassador of Zambia to China, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives from Africa, as well as teachers and students from Xi'an universities.

During the event, they experienced a unique tea art performance, and watched intangible cultural heritage projects such as Qin opera and shadow puppetry.

"Zambia was the first country in southern Africa to establish diplomatic relations with China," said Iven Zyuulu, ambassador of Zambia. "The traditional friendship between the two countries is profound, and bilateral friendly cooperation continues to develop."

"This event, using tea as a carrier, is quite innovative, which provides us a chance to experience Chinese tea culture and have face-to-face exchanges with more Chinese friends," he said. "The year of 2024 will mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Zambia is willing to further strengthen cooperation with China, continuously consolidate bilateral traditional friendship, and promote a stable and harmonious bilateral relationship."

"Since the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2021, China and Africa have worked together to implement the 'Nine Agreements' that benefit both peoples," said Ma Fulin, ambassador of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "In 2023, the Belt and Road Initiative marks its tenth anniversary. China and Africa will continue to strengthen strategic alignment, deepen cooperation in various fields, and work together to build a community of shared future for China and Africa."

"The Qin opera performances gave me an extremely wonderful feeling," said Md Shakhawat Hossain, a Bangladeshi student at the Xi'an University of Finance and Economics. "I hope to participate in more such activities in the future, to understand Chinese culture and the Chinese people better."

"I have been in Xi'an for two years, and this is the first time I have experienced Qin opera and traditional Chinese opera culture," said Qaisee Kanij, a Bangladeshi student at the university. "I am very interested in it, and I enjoyed the storytelling in the performance."

As one of the new platforms for cultural exchanges between Chinese and foreign people, the cultural salon aims to promote the excellent Chinese culture via tea tasting, a series of interviews, and intangible cultural heritage performances.