Washington D.C. – On Friday, August 9, 2024, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States hosted a concert featuring young Chinese and American musicians to commemorate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. The event brought together diplomats, government officials, business leaders, Social Entrepreneurs, the Media, and music enthusiasts to celebrate the enduring friendship between the two countries through cultural exchange.
The evening began with the national anthems of both countries, performed by Danyi Ma, Chao Liu, Kerry Holahan, and Lysle Follette.
Minister Jing Quan, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy, welcomed guests and reflected on the progress made since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1979. He further spoke about recent initiatives to strengthen people-to-people connections, including visa facilitation and educational exchange programs. He announced, “In the first half of this year, we have already invited 7,200 young American students to China.” The minister also introduced the Young Envoys Scholarship Program (YES), which aims to streamline the process for U.S. students interested in studying in China.
Minister Jing Quan's- Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of P.R. of China, Washington DC- opening remarks at the Chinese and American Youth Concert in Celebration of the 45th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and the United States… pic.twitter.com/G9kQTPhztS
— DiplomaticWatch (@Diplo_Watch) August 12, 2024
Next Speaker, Marc Elrich, the 7th Executive of Montgomery County, Maryland, shared his personal experiences visiting China and the transformation he witnessed in his own community. “We have gone from a not very diverse community to a very welcoming community. The Asian community plays a very significant role in Montgomery County,” Elrich stated.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich reflected on his visits to China and the changes he observed within his own community during the 45th Anniversary of the establishment of the US China Diplomatic Relations @ChineseEmbinUS @AmbXieFeng @Chinamission2un @StateDept… pic.twitter.com/7xgeTzkCbf
— DiplomaticWatch (@Diplo_Watch) August 12, 2024
Senator Clarence K. Lam of the Maryland Senate who was the last speaker, underlined the role of young people in advancing U.S.-China relations in his speech. “It’s really the young people that will help support the continued advancement of this relationship,” Lam said. He also noted the universal language of music and its power to bridge cultural divides.
Senator Clarence K. Lam of the Maryland Senate, in his concluding remarks at the Chinese and American Youth Concert at the Chinese Embassy, stressed the crucial role young people play in strengthening U.S.-China relations. He also pointed out that music, as a universal language,… pic.twitter.com/vRPvtP5s2d
— DiplomaticWatch (@Diplo_Watch) August 12, 2024
The concert presented a diverse range of musical performances, blending Chinese and Western compositions. Highlights included a piano quartet playing “Butterfly Lovers” by Zhanhao He and Gang Chen, a string quartet performing “Profound Love and Eternal Friendship” by Dongsheng Zang, and a vocal ensemble rendition of “Under the Silver Moonlight” by Luobin Wang and Yinghai Li.
The program also featured contemporary pieces, such as a piano six-hands arrangement of “Mamma Mia” and a violin-viola duet of themes from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” demonstrating the versatility and global influences of the young performers.
Scintillating performance of Phantom of the Opera by a Vocal Ensemble at the Chinese and American Youth Concert in commemoration of the 45th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and the United States held at the Chinese Embassy last Friday.… pic.twitter.com/7D1jV0hAVY
— DiplomaticWatch (@Diplo_Watch) August 12, 2024
As the evening concluded with a performance of “My Motherland and I” by Li Zhang and Yongcheng Qin, guests were invited to enjoy Chinese cuisine and network, further strengthening the bonds between participants from both countries.
