On October 19, the 2019 Tang Xianzu Theatre Festival & International Theater Exchange Month (Tang Xianzu Festival), jointly held by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), People’s Government of Jiangxi Province and the China Theatre Association, saw its grand opening in Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province.

Mme. Li Bin, Vice Chairwoman of the CPPCC, Mr. Yao Zengke, Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC, Mr. Wang Xiaoying, Vice President of the China Theatre Association, Mr. Xiao Yi, Vice Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the CPPCC and Secretary of the Fuzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC, H.E. Mr. Teshome Toga, Ethiopian Ambassador to China, Mr. Eduardo Escribano, Counsellor of Spanish Embassy in China and Mme. Jo Hawley, British Consul General in Guangzhou attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. H.E. Mme. Winnie N. Chibesakunda, Zambian Ambassador to China, Mme. Ivana Grollová, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of Czech Embassy in China, Jamie Fouss, US Consul General in Wuhan and other foreign diplomats as well as delegations sent from Shakespeare's hometown of British Stratford District, Livingstone City of Zambia and U.S. Sister Cities International, along with more than 300 representatives from home and abroad, also attended the opening ceremony. Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province Mme. Wu Zhongqiong moderated the ceremony.

Vice Chairwoman Mme. Li Bin delivered a speech on the opening ceremony

Vice Chairwoman Mme. Li Bin stressed in her speech that from the joint commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the death of playwrights Tang Xianzu, Shakespeare as well as Cervantes, to the annual Tang Xianzu Festival, Tang Xianzu theatre culture has gradually expanded nationwide and worldwide, becoming one of hallmarks of Chinese traditional culture and a name card for foreign cultural exchanges of Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province and even of China. By this platform, which helps China open dialogues with the world by theatre and showcases Chinese culture’s aesthetics, we can continuously promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and foreign countries and enhance Chinese people’s friendship with foreign countries.

Vice President Mme. Lin Yi delivered a speech on the opening ceremony

Vice President Mme. Lin Yi pointed out that the CPAFFC will make efforts to further Fuzhou City’s exchanges with British Stratford Distrct and Spanish Alcala City so as to foster economic and cultural cooperation among the three theatre masters, Tang Xianzu, Shakespeare and Cervantes’ hometowns, to deepen exchanges and mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign people, and to embrace the bright prospect of a community with a shared future for mankind together.

H.E. Mr. Teshome Toga delivered a speech on the opening ceremony

H.E. Mr. Teshome Toga expressed that by exchanges and mutual learning, we can explore others’ cultures, traditions, customs and languages, opening our horizons and strengthening our understanding of different societies and tolerance of others’ cultures, which promotes inter-cultural dialogues among countries, world peace and common development. It is in my hope that Tang Xianzu Festival will continuously play the role as a window for culture promotion and cooperation and that friendship provinces and cities shall have more exchanges and cooperation.

Opening ceremony and parade of Tang Xianzu Festival

The opening ceremony consisted of cultural and art performance and Chinese and foreign theatre parade, which included U.K. and Spain’s performances as well as domestic ones with strong local or national characteristics. It is also the first time for Tang Xianzu Festival’s opening ceremony that it connected to the Peony Pavilion in British Stratford and in Russian Perm City by converged media on site.
This year witnesses the fourth year of Tang Xianzu Festival, starting from October 19th to the end of November. It organizes eleven main events this year, among which are Tang Xianzu International Academic Symposium, Chinese and Foreign Classic Theatre Performances, Jiangxi Tour for Foreign Diplomats and Experts in China, China and U.K. Week of Culture and Tourism.

Excerpt of Media Coverage:
CCTV1 (XINWEN LIANBO), CCTV13 (MIDNIGHT NEWS), CCTV4 (CHINESE NEWS) and other reports

Photographed by Li Yong