China, Laos mark 54th anniversary of diplomatic ties with performance from Hunan province
China, Laos mark 54th anniversary of diplomatic ties with performance from Hunan province
Governors of Hunan province, China, and high-ranking Lao officials and people recently held a ceremony in Vientiane to mark the 54th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Laos, with Chinese businesses being urged to make a greater contribution to socio-economic development in Laos.
Organised by the Hunan Chamber of Commerce, the “Intimate China, Attractive Hunan, Young Loudi” performance was held on October 29 to showcase Chinese cultural charms. The event was sponsored by the Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese in Hunan province and the People's Government of Loudi City, Hunan province.
More than 1,000 people attended this ceremony including member of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao National Institute of Social Sciences Dr Chaleun Yiapaoher.
Lao Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Chaleune Warinthrasak, Vice Mayor of Vientiane Saithong Keoduangdy, Officer of the Economic and Commercial Counselor's Office of the Embassy of China in Laos Zhao Wenyu, Vice-chairman of the Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese in Hunan province Sun Minsheng, Vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of Loudi City, Hunan province, Xi Fuying, and members of theHunan Chamber of Commerce, representatives of Chinese enterprises, overseas Chinese and local people also attended the event.
Song Jiefeng, Vice-chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Vice Executive Chairman of the Hunan Chamber of Commerce, made the opening remarks. He expressed gratitude to the Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese in Hunan province for bringing the concerns and regards from their hometown to Chinese people in Laos.
He pointed out that Laos is a country with political stability, sincere people and a rapidly developing economy. Over the past 54 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, our political, economic and cultural cooperation and exchange have been continuously deepening and relations between Laos and China are at t he best stage in history.
The Chinese government is carrying out the great strategy of “One Belt, One Road” which will have great and deep influence on economic and social development. He suggested that all Hunan people in Laos integrate into this society, seize the opportunity of the “One Belt, One Road” strategy and develop business with full enthusiasm, so as to make contributions to the development of the Lao economy and the cooperation and friendship between the two countries.
The performance was full of Hunan characteristics such as the Song of Serving Tea, which is a type of National Intangible Cultural Heritage, presented by the inheritor Chen Fuyun.
In the melodious singing, the performers distributed tea from their hometown to the audience, making lots of Hunan people homesick.
When a singer sang Liuyang River, the audience interacted and all the people sang together, bringing the performance to stirring heights. The concert ended with the song My Heart of China sung by all the members of the Hunan Chamber of Commerce. Located in south central China, Hunan province is famous for its tourism resources and industry due to its elegant and unique scenery, profound historical and cultural connotations and colourful folk traditions.
Hunan is also the birthplace of the founder of China, Mao Zedong (Chairman Mao). Well-known attractions such as the World Natural Heritage Zhangjiajie scenic spot, World Natural Heritage Langshan Mountain scenic spot, one of the Five Mountains in China Hengshan Mountain, and one of the most beautiful cities in China Fenghuang Ancient City, will make people linger on without any thought of leaving.
With the carrying out of the “One Belt, One Road” strategy and the propelling force of the China-Asean Free Trade Area, the future of cooperation between Laos and Hunan becomes more and more promising.
According to statistics, more than 100,000 Hunan people are doing business and living for long term in Laos and more than 140 enterprises are invested by Hunan people.
On August 31, Lao Airlines opened a direct flight from Vientiane to Changsha, the capital city of Hunan province, with two round-trip flights on Mondays and Fridays, which take only 2 hours and 10 minutes. This new flight route provides an air corridor for Lao people to travel to Hunan and also bring new opportunities for cooperation and exchange between Laos and Hunan so as to make the relationship closer and closer.
