JAKARTA, June 23 (Xinhua) — Traditional Chinese music, puppetry and folk performances captivated audiences in Indonesia on Tuesday as a Cultural Open Day celebrating China-ASEAN friendship and cultural exchanges was held in Jakarta.
The event, jointly organized by the Mission of China to ASEAN and the China Public Diplomacy Association, featured performances by the Fujian Quanzhou Arts Delegation and local Indonesian artists.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Tong Xiaoling, vice president of the China Public Diplomacy Association, said the melodies performed during the event reflected centuries of maritime connections and cultural bonds between coastal China and Southeast Asia. She expressed confidence that sustained cultural exchanges would further strengthen the China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
San Lwin, deputy secretary-general of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, said culture lies at the heart of civilizations and serves as a bridge linking peoples. He emphasized that people-to-people exchange in areas such as education, media, arts and culture is essential to fostering genuine partnerships.
Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Wang Qing said China-ASEAN relations have become one of the most dynamic and fruitful partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region, delivering tangible benefits to more than 2 billion people. He noted that cultural exchanges have connected China and Southeast Asia for over 2,000 years through the Maritime Silk Road and continue to serve as a bridge for mutual understanding.
The program showcased Nanyin, an ancient performing art recognized as an important element of Chinese cultural heritage. Audiences also enjoyed traditional Fujian puppetry, folk songs, fast clapper performances, as well as Indonesian folk music and dance presented by students from the LSPR Institute of Communication and Business.
The event concluded with enthusiastic applause from attendees, underscoring the enduring role of cultural exchange in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between China and ASEAN countries. ■
