On September 15, an online music exchange meeting was held in Shanghai to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of friendly exchanges between Shanghai and Jeollanam-do. It was co-hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government and Jeollanam-do International Cooperation Bureau, with media support from Eastday.com. Musicians from the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra and Jeollanam-do National Orchestra shared their understandings and perceptions of Chinese folk music and South Korean national music.

Ma Yinghui, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Kim Young-shim, chief representative of the China Representative Office of the Jeollanam-do Provincial Government of South Korea, Luo Xiaoci, director of the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, and other leaders and guests attended this online exchange meeting.

Ma Yinghui, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government

Ma Yinghui, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, said in her speech that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of friendly exchanges between Shanghai and Jeollanam-do, and is also the year of cultural exchange between China and South Korea. “This time, we are honored to invite performing artists of traditional music from both places to carry out an exchange of Chinese folk music and South Korean national music. We can feel the common pursuit of a better life from the passionate resonance of culture and art, as well as a deepened mutual understanding and traditional friendship between the two places, which is the original purpose of organizing this event,” said Ma Yinghui.

Sun Yang-kyu, director general of Jeollanam-do International Cooperation Bureau, said that companies in Jeollanam-do are currently preparing for their participation in the 4th China International Import Expo. Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China, and it is expected that exchanges between the two places will be further enriched with the efforts of all parties.
In the traditional music appreciation session, there were five performances; two were performed by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, two by the Jeollanam-do National Orchestra and one presented by the two orchestras together.

For an hour and a half, performers from the two places demonstrated programs of different styles with the same excitement. The musical exchange meeting came to a close with a program called "Silk Road", which was produced by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra and choreographed by the Jeollanam-do National Orchestra.

Luo Xiaoci, director of the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, said in her review that the two orchestras share the same original intention of "adhering to tradition and innovating bravely", and hoped that both sides can work together for the better development of Asian art.

Online music exchange between players from both places via video link

Representatives of the two orchestras' performers also shared their understandings and perceptions of the orchestra, Chinese folk music and South Korean national music respectively. They launched a sincere invitation to each other, hoping to have more opportunities for cooperation and communication after the epidemic so as to learn from each other and make progress together.

Ma Yinghui (R), deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, and Kim Young-shim (L), chief representative of the China Representative Office of the Jeollanam-do Provincial Government of South Korea, exchange gifts

Group photo of the guests

Since the establishment of friendship and exchange between Shanghai and Jeollanam-do in April 1996, governmental and non-governmental exchanges have been deepening. In June, 2021, the Jeollanam-do Provincial Government sent 14 artworks to the 11th International Invitational Exhibition of Traditional Art held by the Shanghai Art Collection Museum.
(Photos: the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government)