The growing interest in China globally has led to a boom in culture exchanges, and now a new initiative aims to take the country’s traditional music to foreign audiences.Chen Nan reports. Visitors to the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta last month were surprised to find more than a dozen Chinese, wearing traditional clothing playing bamboo flutes and Chinese stringed instruments like the erhu, guzheng and pipa. On May 8, a crowd gathered on the roof terrace of leading investment firm Goldman Sachs in New York and listened to the same group play century-old traditional Chinese songs with ancient instruments.   A group of young performers entertain audiences with a waist-drum dance show at US  Disneyland in February. Photos Provided to China Daily "Trees cannot grow into the sky, but music can," said one audience member after the show. The musicians who surprised and delighted people throughout the United States, are members of the China National Orchestra. Their performances in the US were part of a project run by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Called Qin Tai, which literally means "the table of Chinese traditional stringed instruments", the project aims to connect China to the world by introducing traditional Chinese music to foreign audiences. Li Xiaolin, president of the association, says the name of the project came from three historic sites named after Qin Tai in Sichuan, Hubei and Shandong provinces. Each place embodies the spirituality and elegance of traditional Chinese music. The phrase Qin Tai is also the name of the place in an old Chinese legend. It is where Yu Boya played his instrument, a zither, with his friend Zhong Zhiqi, a woodcutter. Zhong was the only one who understood Yu’s music. After Zhong died, Yu broke his zither and never played it again. "In that legend, Yu calls Zhong his zhi yin, or soul mate. We hope to share the beautiful ancient Chinese sounds with people, who are our zhi yin, around the world," Li says. "Chinese language is well promoted by the Confucius Institutes globally. We want to make learning about traditional Chinese music a delightful and pleasant experience as well," Li says. Li notes that when Chinese musicians playing traditional instruments travel abroad, they usually find themselves performing in concert halls or at big galas. With the Qin Tai project, shows and workshops will be held in public places, such as squares, parks and schools, which will enable the culture of Chinese instruments and music to move closer to the people. In February this year, more than 20 children from Yan''''an city, Shaanxi province, performed a yangko dance and a waist-drum dance for five days in Disneyland, Los Angeles, to celebrate Chinese New Year. "It’s quite challenging because those ancient instruments are being threatened by contemporary music. Foreign audiences rarely have the opportunity to enjoy traditional Chinese music. But we''''ve been seeking various approaches to promote traditional Chinese music not just domestically but also internationally," says Xi Qiang, president of the China National Orchestra. In 1997, the orchestra performed with the renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma at Carnegie Hall in the US. In 2014, when US pop singer Katy Perry performed in China and visited the orchestra, more than 90 musicians performed the singer’s hit, Roar, with traditional Chinese instruments. "Those crossover performances enable traditional Chinese music to connect with today’s audiences," Xi says. "With the Qin Tai project, I believe the world will get to know more about our musical heritage."   Chinese musicians tour the United States with performances of Chinese traditional music, as part of a culture exchange program.

On June 6, 2015, the Third Round-Table Summit of “Global CEO Council” initiated by the CPAFFC was held successfully at Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Premier Li Keqiang met with 14 CEOs attending the summit and had an in-depth communication with them. President Li Xiaolin and Assistant Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang attended the summit.   Premier Li Keqiang said, under the background of economic globalization and trade liberalization, China’s economy and global economy are deeply integrated. A new-round high-level opening up is taken place in China. China will be further opened to the world. We welcome foreign companies to participate in China''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s Modernization. We will continue to build a fair competition environment for Chinese and foreign enterprises by taking more mutual beneficial measures on market access, financial service and intellectual property protection etc. CEOs appreciated for Premier’s insight into China’s economy, and further reform and opening-up policy. Focus on the theme of “Enhance China’s Overall Competitiveness in the New World Pattern”, CEOs had an open dialogue with Premier on the topic of  “Made in China 2025”, “streamline administration and institute decentralization”, “Popular entrepreneurship and innovation” and “Investment environment and related policy in China”. Both sides fully exchanged views in a relaxed atmosphere.     President Li Xiaolin met with CEOs before the summit. She appreciated for multinational companies’ participation in the people-to-people exchange project initiated by CPAFFC, such as “Rainbow Bridge” project, “Golden Key” project and “Qin Tai” Program. She believed that through these project, CEOs could have better understanding of China’s development pattern and learn about the trend of China’s economy development, which could help them take opportunities and realize win-win cooperation.   In order to enrich the content, CPAFFC added “China Track” into the summit for the first time. Dr. Pan Wei, Professor of School of International Studies, Peking University, was invited to give a one-hour lecture on “Institutional Civilization in China”. By this mini class, these CEOs who have significant influence in the world economy would have better understanding of Chinese culture, thinking method, ways of act, as well as political system, social system and China’s economic development.   And CPAFFC also made an exhibition to highlight the achievements of “Rainbow Bridge” project, “Golden Key” project and “Qin Tai” Program. It helped CEOs learn about their company’s involvement in these projects and encourage them to have more practical cooperation with us in the future. Media Coverage: CCTV News: http://news.cntv.cn/2015/06/09/VIDE1433848881963932.shtml Morning News: http://news.cntv.cn/2015/06/10/VIDE1433896942379364.shtml China Daily: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-06/10/content_20954893.htm People’s Daily: http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2015-06/10/nw.D110000renmrb_20150610_1-03.htm?ADUIN=358574688&ADSESSION=1434078499&ADTAG=CLIENT.QQ.5353_.0&ADPUBNO=26381

On June 5th, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, met with Ms.Michelle O’Neil, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Northern Ireland,UK and her delegation. Mr. Song Jingwu welcomed the delegation and expressed CPAFFC’s willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Northern Ireland in fields including agriculture for win-win results. Ms. Michelle O''''Neil thanked CPAFFC for receiving the delegation and made an introduction of the development of agriculture in Northern Ireland and noted that Northern Ireland will further agricultural cooperation with China through CPAFFC.

Lin Yi, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, met with Mr. Maram Stern, Vice President of Jewish World Congress on June 2nd. They recalled their exchanges more than 20 years ago, and held discussion on the future cooperation, especially the activities commemorating 70 Anniversary of the Victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. 

On invitation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland and Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU) in UK, CPAFFC delegation visited Ireland and UK from May 27 to June 2. During the stay in UK, Vice President Song Jingwu delivered a speech in the celebration conference marking the 50th anniversary of SACU, and presented a commemorative plate on behalf of CPAFFC to SACU. The delegation met with Mr. Stephen Perry, Chairman of the 48 Group Club, and Lord Michael Dobbs, Member of the House of Lords and author of House of Cards. While visiting Ireland, the delegation met with Ms. Ann Phelan, Minister of State at Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Chrity Burke, Lord Mayor of Dublin, and officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The two sides have exchanged views on carrying out cooperation in the framework of MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON A FRAMEWORK FOR JOINTLY ENHANCING PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGE AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CHINESE PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION FOR FRIENDSHIP WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE OF IRELAND. Vice President Song Jingwu delivering a speech at the Conference Marking the 50th Anniversary of SACU Presenting a Gift to Chairwoman of SACU Ambassador Liu Xiaoming and Vice President Song Jingwu at the Conference Marking the 50th Anniversary of SACU CPAFFC Delegation meeting with officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Meeting with Lord Michael Dobbs, Member of the House of Lords and author of House of Cards Meeting with Mr. Stephen Perry, Chairman of the 48 Group Club

On June 2nd, Vice President Song Jingwu met with Mr. Samir Hadzic, Chairman of Montenegro-China Friendship Association (MCFA), and Ms. Dijiana Dukaj, Vice Chairwoman of MCFA at Friendship Pavilion in the CPAFFC. The both sides signed Agreement of Cooperation between CPAFFC and MCFA. At the banquet, Friendship Art Exchange Association of the CPAFFC presented art works to the MCFA. The both sides expressed wishes of strengthening friendly contact between the artists of the two countries. The delegation of MCFA will visit Beijing and Shanghai, then attend the China-CEEC Investment and Trade Expo at Ningbo at the invitation of The People’s Government of Ningbo City.

On June 1st, Vice President Hu Sishe met with the 8 presidents and senior executives of the U.S. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Delegation. Vice President Hu Sishe said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, the official educational exchanges and cooperation between the two countries have been developing steadily with the joint efforts of both sides. Up to now, the number of Chinese students studying in the U.S. has reached to 490,000, making China the largest source of international students in America. The number of American students studying in China is about 24,000, and China is also American students’ most favored destination to study abroad in Asia. Hu also said that the educational exchanges and cooperation between the two countries are helpful to advance economic, scientific and technological development, to enhance understanding and friendship between their people, and to develop bilateral relations between China and the U.S. CPAFFC will continue to contribute to the development of the educational exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. David Wilson, the president of Morgan State University in Maryland, also the head of the delegation, introduced the development of the HBCUs, current situation of the development of Morgan State University and its advanced subjects. He pointed out that the HBCUs have made great efforts to provide more education opportunities to African students, with an emphasis on cultural differences and the degree of internationalization, etc. In addition, other members of the delegation introduced their schools respectively, including school size, research progress, education ideas, etc,. They said that the exchanges between HBCUs and Chinese colleges and universities have become more and more frequent in recent years, and that cooperation projects also gradually increased. They hope to further enhance mutual exchanges and cooperations with their Chinese counterparts through this visit.

 On May 29, Ms. Hu Chunmei, Deputy Director General Level Counsel of Department of European and Asian Affairs of the CPAFFC met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Manassarian.  The two sides had in-depth exchange of views on promoting people-to-people friendship relations, and cooperation of local governments.  Ms. Tian Erlong,Chinese Ambassador to Armenia attended the meeting.

On May 29, 2015, Vice Premier Liu Yandong of the State Council of China, who was paying a visit to Indonesia, visited the site of the Bandung Conference in 1955 and the photo exhibition --Zhou Enlai and the Bandung Conference, accompanied by Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xie Feng and main leaders of Indonesia-China Economic, Social and Cultural Cooperation (AICESCC). Vice Premier Liu said that the Bandung Conference convened 60 years ago played an important role in establishing the new order of international relations, and the close cooperation between Chinese and Indonesian leaders at the Conference also became a much told tale in the history of China-Indonesia friendship. The Bandung spirit centered on seeking peaceful co-existence as well as common ground while shelving differences still exhibits strong vitality. The Chinese side is willing to work with Indonesia to continuously intensify unity and cooperation among vast developing countries, make greater contribution to the noble cause of world peace, development and prosperity, and inherit and carry forward the Bandung spirit with practical actions. Sponsored by CPAFFC and AICESCC, this itinerant exhibition was inaugurated in Jakarta on April 23, 2015.

The Japanese Delegation of Soka Gakkai led by Vice President Ikeda Hiromasa came to visit China from May 25th to 28th at the CPAFFC’s invitation. On May 27th, State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with the delegation at Chengwudian of Zhongnanhai. Yang Jiehchi said, both China and Japan are major countries in Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. China attaches great importance to people-to-people exchanges and cooperations between the two countries. Recently, President Xi Jinping made the remarks during a gathering with over 3000 Japanese visitors in Beijing to support China-Japan exchanges at the Great Hall of the People, in which he pointed out that the China-Japan friendship is rooted in the peoples, and the future of the bilateral relationship is in the hand of the peoples. China would like to take history as a mirror and look forward into the future, and work with the Japanese side to boost biliteral ties based on the four political documents between the two countries. China-Japan relationship is now improving step by step. We hope that the two peoples especially the youths will further advance their exchanges. Yang Jiechi positively evaluated the efforts Soka Gakkai has made to promote friendly relations between two sides and encouraged them to continue to play the advantages as a traditional friendly organization toward China as to make more contributions to China-Japan friendship from generation to generation. Ikeda Hiromasa thanked Mr. Yang for meeting the delegation. He said, all circles of Japanese society responded positively to the remarks made by President Xi, which inspired many of the Japanese friendly organizations. Japan and China are neighboring countries of mutual importance and thus Soka Gakkai will follow the tradition and continuously devote for the improvement and development of people-to-people exchanges and biliteral relations. President Li Xiaolin and Vice President Hu Sishe of the CPAFFC were present at the meeting.