Chinese and Cambodian Students Perform Together to Celebrate 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia, Cambodian and Chinese college students staged a gala at the Phnom Penh Shikong Theatre at 6 pm on June 22nd, 2018. About 500 attendees watched the performance, including Chinese and Cambodian officials, university delegates and Cambodians from all walks of life and some overseas Chinese in Cambodia.

Sponsored by the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and Royal Academy of Cambodia, the performance was organized by Beijing Normal University and the Confucius Institute at Royal Academy of Cambodia. The distinguished guests, including Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia, Ma Jianfei, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and Deputy Director-General of Hanban, Sok Touch, President of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, and Li Xiaobing, Deputy Director of University Council of Beijing Normal University, attended the event.

Ma Jianfei pointed out in his speech that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 60 years ago, the two peoples have witnessed the deepening of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. In particular, Cambodia’s in-depth participation in the Belt and Road Initiative has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. He hopes that Chinese and Cambodian university students can fully demonstrate the unique charm of the excellent traditional cultures and arts of the two countries at the gala, and that this event will serve an opportunity to draw the two peoples closer and enhance their friendship. Phoeurng Sackona said that Cambodia-China relations enjoy comprehensive and in-depth development under the Belt and Road Initiative, especially in cultural exchanges. The joint performance of both countries’ university students is a vivid embodiment of ever-deepening cultural ties and people-to-people and cultural exchanges between both sides. Sok Touch said that the exchanges between Cambodia and China can be traced back to 2000 years ago and this joint performance promotes mutual understanding between bilateral performers and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Cambodian dance “Blessing Dance”

Classic Chinese dance “Fen Mo” (Chinese painting)

Traditional Chinese folk music “New Stories of Dunhuang”

The gala was jointly presented by 20 undergraduates, postgraduates and doctoral students from 10 departments or schools of Beijing Normal University as well as performers of the troupe of the Art Department of the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. Beijing Normal University presented 8 programs, such as traditional Chinese folk music “New Stories of Dunhuang”, Chinese classical dance “Fen Mo”, Chinese Wushu show “Whirlwind of Martial Arts”, Chinese folk song “Jasmine” and Peking Opera “The Drunken Beauty”. Those performances showcased many Chinese cultural elements such as calligraphy and Hanfu (traditional clothing of Han Chinese ethnic group), fully demonstrating the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture.

Cambodian dancers performed five unique traditional dance dramas, including peacock, mermaid and bamboo dances. It is worth mentioning that the gala concludes with a chorus of “Long Distance Separates No Bosom Friends” especially composed by the artists from the Royal Academy of Cambodia. Accompanied with traditional Chinese and Cambodian musical instruments, the melodious chorus by performers of both countries is a vivid expression of the bilateral traditional friendship, further deepening the cultural exchanges and connectivity between the two countries.

Group photo

At 7 pm on June 23rd, Students Arts Troupe of Bejing Normal University performed for overseas Chinese in Cambodia at Chenla theatre, Phnom Penh. The event was sponsored by the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban), and hosted by Beijing Normal University and Federation of Khmer Chinese in Cambodia. Professor Li Xiaobing, Deputy Director University Council of Bejing Normal University, Lord Zheng Mianfa, Vice President of Federation of Khmer Chinese in Cambodia attended and addressed the event.

This series of performances in Cambodia had attracted attention from all walks of life in Chinese and Cambodian communities. Such media as Xinhua News Agency, people.com.cn, sina.com, jianhuadaily.com covered the gala.