STORY: New landmark in DRC embodies China-Africa friendship
DATELINE: Sept. 18, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:21
LOCATION: Kinshasa
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the project
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): TANG WENSHENG, Chinese architect
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): TANG WENSHENG, Chinese architect
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): TANG WENSHENG, Chinese architect
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (French): MWENDANGA MUSENGO DESIRE-SALOMON, General director, National Institute of the Arts, DRC

STORYLINE:

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): TANG WENSHENG, Chinese architect
"My father once worked and lived in Africa, so I have felt some kind of connection with the continent. When I heard this project was in Africa, I really wanted to be part of it."

Chinese architect Tang Wensheng is the chief designer of the China-aided Central African Cultural and Arts Center project in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The center, a new landmark, is taking shape.

Its core building resembles the shape of an African drum, an inspiration that comes from Tang's own experience.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): TANG WENSHENG, Chinese architect
"My father told me about local cultures and traditions, about how people performed singing and dancing with African drums. I'm deeply impressed. The African drum is an important instrument, and in Chinese culture, the circle represents reunion. As the project is an embodiment of China-Africa friendship, I think the shape of a circle is very suitable to use in this project."

According to Tang, the design has not only combined different cultures, but also taken local climate conditions into consideration.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): TANG WENSHENG, Chinese architect
"The cement lattice bricks are particularly suitable for Africa's climate and environment. They allow the air to flow freely and provide shade from the sun. Some auspicious patterns in Chinese culture are also used in making the bricks. So it's a kind of communication between Chinese culture and African culture. On the facade of the buildings, we use the local river sand as part of the wall paint, producing a plain visual effect. I think this is also a respect for the local culture."

The Central African Cultural and Arts Center is one of the projects under the eight major initiatives put forward at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in 2018.

China and Africa have deepened cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, delivering benefits to the people of both sides.

SOUNDBITE 4 (French): MWENDANGA MUSENGO DESIRE-SALOMON, General director, National Institute of the Arts, DRC
"When you walk into the cultural and arts center, you can feel Africa. The center is about to become a confluence for cultural and artistic exchanges among regional countries."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kinshasa.
(XHTV)