On the evening of June 26, the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, the Government of Washington, D.C., and the Chinese Embassy in the United States jointly hosted the “Beijing-District of Columbia Concert in Commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of Sister-City Relationship”. Executive Vice Mayor of Beijing Xia Linmao, Deputy Mayor of Washington, D.C. Nina Albert, Secretary of the District of Columbia Kimberly Bassett, and Charge d’affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy Jing Quan, attended the event. More than 400 people from various sectors in Washington, D.C. were present.

The concert began with Jasmine Flower, a Chinese folk song familiar to many Americans, and featured skillfully choreographed pieces played by using various Eastern and Western instruments, as well as folk songs and famous melodies of different styles. The performance reflected the integration and mutual learning of Chinese and Western cultures, winning prolonged applause. The audience were immersed in the melodious tones of Beijing folk songs Snail and Exploring the Clear River, enchanted by the profound mood of Chinese masterpieces Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon and A Moonlit Night on the Spring River, and clapped to the cheerful and bright rhythms of American country music 500 Miles, Jambalaya and Oh, Susanna. Finally, the famous Chinese tenor Zhang Yingxi improvised together with the audience to sing O Sole Mio, bringing the event to a climax.

Bassett said that over the past 40 years, Washington D.C. and Beijing have engaged in friendly exchanges and cooperation in fields such as economy and trade, tourism, science and technology, sustainable development, education, and culture, promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. They are excited about the initiative announced by President Xi Jinping of inviting 50,000 young Americans to China for exchanges and study in the next five years and encouraged by China’s “Young Envoys Scholarship”(YES) program. Washington D.C. warmly welcomes and rejoices in the upcoming arrival of a new pair of giant pandas. On behalf of the 700,000 citizens, Bassett congratulated the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship with Beijing and looked forward to even deeper exchanges and cooperation and closer people-to-people ties.

Further Reading

Over the 40 years since Beijing and Washington D.C. established their sister-city relationship, the two cities have actively carried out exchanges and cooperation in many fields, jointly creating a model for China-U.S. sub-national cooperation.

(Based on information from the Chinese Embassy in the United States)