Image Source: FJTV

On 6 August 2023, the ASEAN-China Film Week @ Fuzhou and the ASEAN-China Gourmet Carnival were sponsored by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), in cooperation with Fujian Province and Fuzhou City. H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC, Ambassador Djauhari Oratmangun of Indonesia to China and Vice Mayor Wu Yi of Fuzhou addressed the launching ceremony. H.E. Vice President Sommad Pholsena of the Lao National Assembly and other distinguished guests invited from ASEAN Member States (AMS) and AMS Embassies in Beijing attended the event. 

Image Source: FJTV

At the launching ceremony of the ASEAN-China Film Week @ Fuzhou, all attendees watched a video clip of the 6 films to be screened, namely Traveler Trinity, Imperfect and Susah Sinyal produced by Indonesia and 30 Fabulous, Dear Galileo and Final Score recommended by Thailand. 

Image Source: FJTV

Secretary General Shi Zhongjun pointed out that film is an artistic reflection of life and a critical cultural envoy enhancing the communication among different nations and civilizations. The films to be shown during the Film Week will tell a beautiful story and show the local audience the amazing landscape and culture of the producing country, which will certainly give the local Chinese audience a unique insight into AMS and further enhance the mutual understanding between the people of ASEAN and China.

Image Source: FJTV

Ambassador Djauhari noted that film has a unique power to transcend borders, languages and backgrounds. In an intercultural communication context, films are an entertaining way to convey one’s culture to another. For those reasons, the ASEAN-China Film Week @ Fuzhou is crucial because it allows us to show our ASEAN culture to Chinese viewers. It is hoped that this Film Week will be a celebration of unity, creativity and friendship between ASEAN and China, thus better enhancing people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding between ASEAN and China. 

Image Source: FJTV

Following the launch of Film Week, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun, Ambassador Djauhari and Deputy Mayor Wu Yi cut the ribbon and launched the ASEAN-China Gourmet Carnival together. All the guests enjoyed various specialty delicacies from 10 AMS and China afterwards. 

Left-Middle Image Source: Fujian Pictorial

On the same evening, the ACC also presented to the distinguished guests the ASEAN-China Symphonic Concert: “the Legend of Maritime Silk Road” at the Fujian Grand Theater. H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC and Director General Lin Xiangdong of Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism delivered the opening remarks before the concert. They stressed the Year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Fuzhou is one of the important starting points and birthplaces of the “Maritime Silk Road”. The concert, held tonight in Fuzhou, is of special significance and will offer opportunities for guests to appreciate the unique charm of ASEAN and Chinese arts. 

The Concert, as one of the highlights of the ASEAN-China Week 2023, lasted about 2 hours and turned out to be a complete success. The famous Malaysian pianist and composer Ms. Claudia Yang, along with Fuzhou Strait Symphony Orchestra, presented a musical and visual feast. The fusion of artistic elements from all AMS and China in the concerto was well received by the audience and the professional and wonderful performances by the pianist and orchestra won standing ovations from time to time. All the guests believed that such cultural performance will do a lot in better improving mutual understanding among the peoples of the countries along the Maritime Silk Road.