Chinese cultural troupe performs in Ethiopia celebrating Spring Festival

ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese cultural troupe from Hunan Province has performed in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival.

The Chinese artistes staged their performances along with Ethiopian counterparts at National Theater of Ethiopia, where an audience of Chinese and Ethiopian nationals cheered in the capital of the East African country.

The Chinese troupe has staged performances including, songs, dance and other artistic shows while Ethiopian artistes did cultural dances, acrobatics and circus shows.

Ethiopian government officials from relevant offices, diplomats, representatives of different institutions and residents of Addis Ababa from different walks of life have attended the show.

In his opening remarks, La Yifan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, noted that such event would further deepen the relations between Ethiopia and China as well as further strengthen the people-to-people ties and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The ambassador told Xinhua after the performance that the event was wonderful that the Chinese artistes have performed together with their Ethiopian counterparts.

Stating that the Chinese cultural troupe was here in Addis to celebrate the Spring Festival with tens of thousands of Chinese nationals working and living in Ethiopia as well as with Ethiopians, the ambassador said the performance serves as a cultural bridge between Ethiopia and China

"They (the Chinese artistes) are also here to learn from the Ethiopian counterparts because Ethiopia is also ancient civilization with a lot of cultural heritages. I am so pleased to note that tonight the Chinese performers have performed together with the Ethiopian counterparts," he said.

Some of Ethiopians, who have attended the performance, have told Xinhua that the show was impressive and it plays a big role in strengthening cultural exchanges and people-to-people relations between Ethiopia and China.

Tesfaye Abeje is one of the residents of Addis Ababa, who have attended the performance at the Theatre hall.He told Xinhua that it was very nice and impressive performance.

Alazar wondeson, is a grade two student and he was among the performers from the Ethiopian side. Alazar told Xinhua that he was happy to perform on the stage with the Chinese cultural troupe.

Nathanael Dereje is an Information Technology (IT) engineer, and he said, "It is my first time and I got it so amazing because it gives me an opportunity to know a new culture about the Chinese; I call it wonderful."

Ethiopia and China have a long-standing historical relations, he said, adding such events enable the two countries to share culture.