Cultural Events to Bring Africans and Chinese Closer

More than a dozen African countries are now bringing their cultures face-to-face with Chinese people in a bid to deepen cultural ties between Africa and China.

Kicking off in Beijing tomorrow (Thursday), the cultural promotion event will travel around China and last more than half a year.

Thirteen African countries, including Zimbabwe, Mauritius, and Cape Verde, are actively presenting their distinctive cultures to the Chinese public under a program called "African Culture Focus."

Julio Morais, Cape Verde's ambassador to China, invites Chinese audiences to enjoy a dazzling performance staged by two top singers from his country.

"It's our music from our continent. It looks like a sort of Brazilian samba. But at the same time it's very melodic. It's a mixture of African and Latin American music. It's very good to hear and to dance."

Co-sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture, this year's African Culture Focus is the second of its kind.
Zhao Haisheng is an official responsible for African affairs with the Ministry of Culture.

"All the cultural activities are catered to the general public. Compared with the African Culture Focus in 2008, which was held only in Shenzhen, this year's event involves more cities and lasts far longer."

The official reveals that the cultural event will last until November and involves six major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Qingdao and Shenzhen.

He adds that Chinese viewers can personally experience unique and vibrant African cultures through a variety of activities, including exhibitions, performances and movies.

"African culture is very distinctive, with simple and ebullient characteristics. The cultural event will deepen mutual understanding and friendship between peoples from China and Africa. This, in turn, will solidify the foundation of the China-Africa traditional friendship."

Morais also underlines the importance of this kind of cultural exchange.

"We think that culture is the best way for a small country like Cape Verde and a big country like China to understand each other, to dialogue with each other, to contribute this way for a more harmonious world, a world where dialogue is the main motive for people to live with."

Cultural exchange has become a focus of China-Africa relations in recent years.

Under an agreement between China and Africa, each side holds a cultural exchange event, dubbed "Chinese" or "African Culture Focus," in the other's territory every other year.

Last year, the first "Chinese Culture Focus" reached over 20 African countries, showing many aspects of Chinese tradition and culture.

For CRI, I'm Wu Jia.