This year marks not only the China-Brazil Year of Culture, but also the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Beijing and Rio de Janeiro. Recently, a China-Brazil youth gala and concert celebrating the anniversary was held at Renmin University of China (RUC).

The RUC Student Art Troupe, the Copacabana Fortress Band and the Lingxin Yuefu Robot Band jointly presented remarkable performances. The program ranged from the lively and vibrant Brazilian classic Tico-Tico no Fubá to the melodious Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower; from the magnificent Chinese orchestral pieces Flying Dragon Leaping Tiger and Good News from Beijing Reaches the Border Villages to the Western orchestral works with distinctive charm including The Girl from Ipanema, Canto de Xangô, and Iris; and also featured a Peking Opera medley with classic excerpts such as Drunken Concubine and Shuangyang Princess. The two sides used music as a bridge to connect China and Brazil, presenting a symphony of friendship across mountains and seas.

The event concluded with Auld Lang Syne, which was jointly presented by the Lingxin Yuefu Robot Band and youngsters from China and Brazil. With precise algorithms and efficient coordination, the robot band presented the classic melody in an innovative form. The audience waved the national flags of the two countries and sang the song of friendship, bringing the concert to a climax.

It is reported that over the past 40 years since the establishment of the sister-city relationship, Beijing and Rio de Janeiro have carried out practical cooperation in multiple sectors. A series of achievements, including the photo exhibition “Sky of Rio” in Beijing and the laboratory for drug-resistant pathogens in Rio de Janeiro jointly established by the Capital Institute of Pediatrics and Brazil’s Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, have become vivid examples of sister-city cooperation. Going forward, both sides will strengthen exchanges, expand cooperation across more sectors, and continue to enrich the sister-city relationship.