The China-Bangladesh Culture & Art Night was held with great success in Dhaka on Saturday.

The program was organised by the Embassy of China in Bangladesh and presented by Kunming National Song & Dance Theater, with the support by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).Liaquat Ali Lucky, Director General of BSA, Yao Wen, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh, Md Abul Monsur, Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh, and Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury, Secretary (West) of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, addressed the event.

Audience of more than 500 people from all walks of life in Bangladesh, foreign missions in Dhaka and the Chinese community enjoyed the performance.

In his remarks, Ambassador Yao underscored the significance of this event as the very first non-virtual art performance presented by Chinese art troupes in Bangladesh since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic since three years ago, which presses the “reset button”for China-Bangladesh people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Friendship, which derives from close contact between the people, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations. The future of China-Bangladesh relations lies in deepening understanding and recognition of each others’ cultures, promoting convergence and integration of people-to-people and cultural cooperation, and consolidating understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

He also said that as China optimizes its epidemic prevention and control policy and lifts all the travel restrictions, there will be flights between China and Bangladesh on a daily basis from this month on. This serves as a great opportunity to usher in more exchange visits of cultural, education and youth groups. “A year’s plan starts with spring”, as an old Chinese saying goes. It is now the season of spring in Bangladeshi calendar, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Bangladesh will usher in spring with new vigor and vitality.Md. Abul Monsur, Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh, addressed the event as chief guest.

He said that the historical linkage between China and Bangladesh traces back to the visit of Xuan Zang, the Chinese Buddhist monk, to this part of the world in the seventh century. Since then, commercial and cultural exchanges have been flourished between China and Bangladesh. Cultural exchanges play a crucial role in cementing the friendship bond. Last year, the two countries signed the MoU on the 2023-2027 Culture and Tourism Exchange Program, which sets up framework for cooperation in the relevant fields.

Liaquat Ali Lucky, Director General of BSA expressed his gratefulness to China for the great cooperation in the field of acrobatic training.