Members of the G. Veryovka Ukrainian National Honored Academic Folk Choir fill the stage during a performance at the Erqi Theatre in Beijing, Sept 25, 2018. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A special performance by the G. Veryovka Ukrainian National Honored Academic Folk Choir was held at the Erqi Theatre in Beijing on evening of Sept 25.

It was an important activity under the framework of Ukrainian Culture Day, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the China Arts and Entertainment Group.

Du Jiang, a member of the Party group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Evgeny Nisoc, head of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, attended the performance and addressed the audience.

In his speech, Du said Ukraine is a big country participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and has rich historical and cultural backgrounds. A special performance by the G. Veryovka Ukrainian National Honored Academic Folk Choir demonstrates to Chinese audiences the unique charm of Ukrainian traditional art and the spiritual pursuit of Ukrainian culture.

He pointed out that cultural exchanges can help people of different countries and nationalities cross geographical and linguistic barriers and build a bridge between the people of two countries. He also believes that the success of Ukrainian Culture Day will help to consolidate the foundation of China-Ukraine friendly society and play a positive role in the further development of the China-Ukraine strategic partnership.

According to Nisoc, Ukrainian Culture Day was an important achievement of the fourth meeting of the Sub-Committee on Cultural Cooperation of the China-Ukraine Cooperation Council. To narrow the gap between the Ukrainian and Chinese people, the cultural day launched a series of activities with unique Ukrainian national cultural characteristics.

Nisoc believes that the performance will prove that the language of music and dance is a common bond, contributing to proximity and mutual understanding among nations and promoting respect for the diversity of cultures and forms of self-expression.

The evening's performance was brilliant, showing the hospitality, singing and dancing of the people of Ukraine. These songs and dances were often performed at Ukrainian harvest celebrations, weddings and during the Christmas season.

The G. Veryovka Ukrainian National Honored Academic Folk Choir, founded more than 70 years ago, is a unique performance ensemble, which represents all the best from the inexhaustible source of folk art from all ethnographic regions of Ukraine by their perfect art. In the ensemble repertoire, each group fully reproduces vocal music and folk dance culture from all regions of Ukraine. Each piece of music is performed in its original form.

The performance will promote the attention of the Chinese people to the achievements of Ukrainian cultural creation, and in the future help broaden the cooperation between the two countries in the field of culture and art.