STORY: Chinese ballet troupe mesmerizes Algerian audience in celebration of 65th anniversary of ties
DATELINE: Sept. 24, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:40
LOCATION: Algiers
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Algiers Opera House
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): SORAYA MOULOUDJI, Algerian Minister of Culture and Arts
3. various of the ballet performances
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG QUANXIN, Director of Suzhou Ballet Theatre

STORYLINE:

A Chinese ballet troupe celebrated the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Algeria with impressive performances at the Algiers Opera House on Friday and Saturday.

The captivating performances were staged by artists from the Suzhou Ballet Theatre, and were jointly sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Algeria's Ministry of Culture and Arts, and the Chinese Embassy in Algeria.

These performances were part of "many magnificent cultural events celebrating the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Algeria," said Chinese Ambassador to Algeria Li Jian.

The ballet performance featured elements of Chinese culture through ballet in an Arab country, symbolizing the merging of cultures, the universal pursuit of beauty, and humanity's shared desire for peace and happiness, the Chinese envoy said.

For her part, Algerian Minister of Culture and Arts Soraya Mouloudji emphasized the deep friendship between Algeria and China, noting that cultural exchanges based on mutual respect are a crucial part of the two countries' enduring friendship and cooperation.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): SORAYA MOULOUDJI, Algerian Minister of Culture and Arts
"We are celebrating the 65th anniversary of Sino-Algerian diplomatic relations. These ties have deep historical roots and continue to grow constantly, thanks to numerous agreements signed in various sectors such as health, education, and culture.
Therefore, we are celebrating these ties culturally by hosting the Suzhou Ballet Theatre from China. As you may know, cultural diplomacy is a fundamental part of traditional diplomacy, which means that such cultural events will strengthen bilateral relations and help the people of both nations get to know each other better."

She stated that the Chinese artists' performance in Algeria exemplified the shared commitment of both nations to building stronger cultural ties.

Wang Quanxing, director of the Suzhou Ballet Theatre, expressed his gratitude for the warm reception from the Algerian audience.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG QUANXIN, Director of the Suzhou Ballet Theatre
"This is the first time Suzhou Ballet Theatre set foot on Algerian soil to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Algeria. The performance in Algiers deeply moved us. This program mainly includes The Rite of Spring, Swan Lake, and many ballet clips with Jiangnan characteristics.
I didn't expect the Algerian audience to be so enthusiastic. As an art worker, I will continue to contribute to the Sino-Algerian friendship and hope to have the opportunity to come to Algeria again to serve the people and promote the friendship between the two countries."

He hoped that this series of performances would help introduce traditional Chinese culture, especially the distinctive culture of Suzhou, an eastern Chinese city with a rich cultural heritage. This, Wang believed, would also strengthen the enduring friendship between China and Algeria.

The Suzhou Ballet Theatre is performing in Algeria from Sept. 20 to 23, staging three performances in the capital Algiers and the northeastern province of Constantine.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Algiers.
(XHTV)