On the evening of January 17th, 2024, the Voices of Spring & Golden Dreams Spring Festival Gala Dhaka Session was held with great success at National Theater of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). The program was organized by the Embassy of China in Bangladesh together with the Information Office and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province of China. H.E. Dr. Dipu Moni, Honorable Member of Parliament and Minister of Social Welfare, graced the event as Chief Guest. H.E. Mr. Yao Wen, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh, attended the event and delivered welcoming remarks. Mr. Peng Bin, Vice Minister of Publicity Department of Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Mr. Liaquat Ali Lucky, Director General of BSA, also addressed the event. Audience of more than 800 people from all walks of life in Bangladesh, foreign missions in Dhaka and the Chinese community enjoyed the performance.
Ambassador Yao cited the old Chinese saying that “A year’s plan begins with spring,” to illustrate the hope for new and better life heralded by the Spring Festival, the most festive and widely celebrated season in Chinese culture. Noting the successful conclusion of the 12th National Parliamentary Election of Bangladesh and the formation of the new Cabinet, Ambassador Yao expected new historical opportunities for China-Bangladesh traditional friendship. As a recent survey on China’s national image in Bangladesh reveals, the China-Bangladesh relations is widely and increasingly supported by the Bangladeshi people. It is against this background that the Yunnan Cultural Exchange Delegation renowned for its high level art performance is invited to Bangladesh to join artists from BSA and students from Sylhet Sofir Uddin High School and College to hail the China-Bangladesh friendship and its bright future. Their joint efforts in promoting inter-cultural exchanges are much appreciated. Ambassador Yao also cordially welcomed Bangladeshi artists to visit China and take the unique culture and art of Bangladesh to the friendly Chinese people, thereby usher in new chapters for people-to-people exchange between the two countries. With the 50th anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties in sight, the China-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership of Cooperation under the joint care of their respective leaderships and joint efforts by people from all walks of life is expected to be uplifted to a new height.
Dr. Dipu Moni said the Bangladesh-China relations have achieved significant progress under the joint guidance by the two leaderships. China has always extended its firm support to Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and opposing external interference. Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier of State Council Li Qiang sent congratulatory messages to Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her reelection. Last year, the Bangladesh-China Belt and Road cooperation has seen a harvest season. The Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke highly of the BRI that it has opened a new door for Bangladesh’s development. The cultural exchanges are a key part of Bangladesh-China traditional friendship. The Chinese artists are warmly welcomed to perform with their Bangladeshi partners and the young students. Long live Bangladesh-China friendship!
Mr. Peng Bin and Mr. Liaquat Ali Lucky also expressed their readiness to promote cultural and art exchanges between Bangladesh and China, in particular Yunnan Province, to carry forward the long-established relationship between the two peoples.
Artists from the Yunnan Cultural Exchange Delegation presented fantastic performances of dance, instrumental music, acrobatics and magics of Chinese genre, which conveyed to the audience the excitement and happiness of people when celebrating the Spring Festival.
Artists from BSA and students from Sylhet Sofir Uddin High School and College also performed brilliant dances.
The Gala concluded in the Ode to China-Bangladesh Friendship sung performed by artists from both countries.
At the end of the event, Dr. Dipu Moni, Ambassador Yao Wen and other distinguished guests took group photos with all the artists.
The Voices of Spring & Golden Dreams Spring Festival Gala Chattogram Session will be performed on January 19th.