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Seoul citizens enjoy Chinese folk performances in 3rd China Day

Xinhua, October 31, 2015 Adjust font size:

Seoul citizens on Saturday enjoyed traditional Chinese folk performances at downtown Seoul in celebrating the third China Day event held here.

Some 12 performance groups and 41 organizations from the two countries participating in the event.

The event coincided with a visit by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to South Korea. Li arrived here earlier in the day to pay a three-day official visit to the country and attend the sixth trilateral summit between China, Japan and South Korea.

Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Qiu Guohong expressed his hope in a video message that the people of Seoul will learn more about both traditional Chinese culture and a modern China.

"As an old Chinese saying goes, state-to-state relations thrive when there is friendship between the peoples," he said, adding such activities are good opportunities for South Korean and Chinese people to enhance mutual understanding and deepen friendship.

His words were echoed by Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, who said in a separate video message that he hoped the event would become a bridge of understanding and communications between Seoul citizens and Chinese traveling or living in the city.

According to organizers, the event aimed at promoting traditional and modern culture exchanges between China and South Korea, as well as providing a chance for Seoul citizens to learn and experience Chinese art and culture first-hand.

Shi Ruilin, head of the China Cultural Center in Seoul, an organizer of Saturday's event, told Xinhua that culture is a bond pulling Chinese and South Koreans closer.

"Friendly relations between the two peoples are a foundation of good bilateral ties in all fields," said Shi, who is also the culture counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul. "More cultural exchanges will definitely boost comprehensive development of bilateral cooperation."

Saturday's event also came amid closer ties between Beijing and Seoul. Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Park Geun-hye have had frequent meetings and reached important consensus in recent years, while the signing of a free trade agreement earlier this year is expected to provide broad opportunities for the two countries' businesses. Endit