An audience of hundreds clapped their hands and cheered for about two hours as songs and dances from ethnic groups in China's southwestern Yunnan province showcased China's colorful minority cultures on Sunday night in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka.

China's Yunnan Acrobatic Troupe Company Limited and FolkArt Theater of Chuxiong performed the show themed "Charming and Colorful Yunnan" at the Confucius Institute in Bangladesh's North South University (NSU), celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of China-Bangladesh diplomatic ties.

The event also aimed to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Confucius Institute at the country's leading private university.

The audience, many of whom were young North South University students, responded with excited applause and yells in Bengali as artist Luo Bin sang a popular Bangla song Aami chini go chini to mare, O go bideshini (I know you, know you, O'my lady from an alien land) written by poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Abdur Rahim says he seldom had an opportunity to watch such an excellent performance in Bangladesh, hoping more Chinese artists could come to give shows.

"We've arranged the show to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China-Bangladesh diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of the Confucius Institute at the country's top leading private North South University," says Ma Yan, Chinese director at the NSU Confucius Institute.

She says the show is part of an initiative to introduce Bangladeshi people to the cultural diversities in China.

"We hope the show will open a new window for Bangladeshis to look into cultural diversities in China," says Ma Yan.

All the artists seemingly touched the hearts of the audience with their performing arts, such as acrobatics, martial arts, classical dance and music, among others.

Together with some 500 audience members, Rehana Rahman, a member of the NSU Board of Trustees, and Ma Mingqiang, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh and Gour Gobinda Goswami, vice chancellor of the North South University, watched the show.

The ambassador says it is to strengthen the two countries' relations which date back to ancient times.

"We're talking about the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations, which is really a short period in the history of contact between the two countries," Ma says, adding, "Our contact dates back more than 2,000 years."

He describes Yunnan as a colorful place, with colorful mountains and rivers, rich natural resources, as well as diverse ethnic groups and cultures.

"I hope that all of you have a chance to see Yunnan with your own eyes. to see people there and to see development and also enjoy delicacies there," the ambassador says.

Xinhua

(China Daily USA?11/23/2015 page9)