On September 26, the 2024 Tang Xianzu Drama Festival & International Drama Exchange Month, co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the People’s Government of Jiangxi Province, and the China Theatre Association, was grandly inaugurated in Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province.
The opening ceremony was attended by Qi Xuchun, Vice Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Speeches were delivered by Lu Xiaoqing, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and Head of the Publicity Department; Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the CPAFFC; Chen Yongquan, Secretary of the Party Subgroup and Executive Vice Chairman of the China Theatre Association; Wei Xiaokui, Secretary of the Fuzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC; and Sarah Mann, British Consul General in Guangzhou. Other distinguished guests included Alfred Chirilo, Zambian Minister to China; Laurent Cuénoud, French Deputy Consul General in Wuhan; Constance Mulela, Mayor of Livingstone, Zambia; Dina Namubisi, Mayor of Swakopmund, Namibia; Isabel Maldonado, Deputy Mayor of Alcalá, Spain; and a Youth Delegation from the Eastern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Over 300 guests from China and abroad attended the ceremony. The event was presided over by Wan Guangming, Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province.
Yuan Mindao remarked that the Tang Xianzu Drama Festival & International Drama Exchange Month has become a significant platform for promoting cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world. It has also strengthened friendly exchanges between Tang Xianzu’s hometown, Fuzhou, and Stratford, the birthplace of Shakespeare. Yuan highlighted that art knows no borders, and culture brings shared understanding, expressing hope that the event will serve as a bridge for dialogue through drama, showcasing China’s sincere commitment and practical approach to fostering cultural exchange and cooperation worldwide.
Lu Xiaoqing stated that Jiangxi Province will continue to enhance the cultural brand of the “Tang Xianzu Drama Festival & International Drama Exchange Month”. By adhering to principles of integrity and innovation, Jiangxi aims to creatively transform and develop China’s excellent traditional cultural elements, ensuring that Chinese culture resonates globally.
Sarah Mann emphasized that literature and drama are integral parts of the deep relationship between China and the UK. Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu, the most famous poets of the two countries, lived during the same era, and their parallel lives have fostered a bond between Stratford and Fuzhou, establishing a bridge for cultural exchange between the two nations.
During the opening ceremony, artistic troupes from the UK, Spain, and other countries, along with domestic performers, presented a captivating cultural performance that seamlessly blended elements of Eastern and Western art. The 2024 Drama Exchange Month, running from September 26 to the end of October, features eight main events, including the National Theatre Carnival, the Multi-City Classic Theatre Invitation Exhibition, and the third national “Fragrant Tea of China” Tea-Picking Opera Performance.