The 2017 Festival of Russian Culture kicks off at Guangzhou

The opening concert of the 2017 Festival of Russian Culture is held at Guangzhou Opera House on Sept 12, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

The 2017 Festival of Russian Culture kicked off with a concert at Guangzhou Opera House on Tuesday. Thousands watched the show jointly performed by Chinese and Russian artists.

The festival, which has become the landmark of cultural exchanges between the two countries, was first launched in the 1990s by the Chinese and Russian Ministry of Culture. According to the 2017-2019 Cooperation Plan, both sides will enhance regional cultural cooperation together with personnel and cultural exchanges through cultural activities. The Festival of Russian Culture is one event to realize the plan.

The famous 85-year-old Russian conductor Vladimir Fedoseyev led Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra as the orchestra played many classic pieces. Artists from China and Russia also brought vocal performance of songs and arias.

China Arts and Entertainment Group (CAEG) is the Chinese organizer of the festival. Li Jinsheng, deputy general manager of CAEG, said as the scale and level of cultural exchange between the two countries has improved, the festival would further enhance high-level cultural cooperation and cultural development.