On the evening of January 10, 2025, “The 3rd BRLC New Year's Concert & Marco Polo: 700 Years Later” was grandly held in Hangzhou. This event was guided by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, co-hosted by the UCLG ASPAC, the BRLC, and the Italy-China Link Association. The concert, themed " New Silk Road in New Era," gathered over 600 guests, including representatives from foreign-funded enterprises, foreign business institutions, and international organizations in Hangzhou, foreign investors, foreign experts and scholars, and media representatives, to witness this important moment together.
A Musical Feast of Sino-Western Cultural Integration
The concert, presented by the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, featured a blend of symphony, opera, and traditional Chinese music. The opening program specially invited the Yue Liang Children’s Vocal Ensemble to perform the acapella song "Red Flag Flying High." The concert began with Li Huanzhi's "Spring Festival Overture" and Zhou Dafeng's "Tea Picking Dance," leading the audience into a festive atmosphere. Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" and Georges Bizet's "Carmen" suite showcased the elegance and splendor of Western classical music. Especially notable was Mascagni's "Intermezzo" from the opera "Cavalleria Rusticana," which was not only a highlight of the concert but also symbolized the profound history of Sino-Italian cultural exchange.
The Continuation of Marco Polo's Spirit
2024 marked the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's passing. In his speech at the concert, Miao Chengchao, Vice President of the BRLC, emphasized: "Over seven centuries ago, Marco Polo embarked on a journey from distant Italy, driven by his deep interest in Eastern culture. Following the ancient Silk Road, he arrived in Hangzhou, China. He not only built bridges of cultural exchange between the East and West, but also made remarkable contributions to the mutual learning of civilizations. Today, we inherit and carry forward his spirit by promoting local cooperation and exchanges on a global scale through the ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative." It is worth mentioning that in 2024, several Italian cities joined the BRLC, increasing the total of Italian membership to over 20. This fully reflects the positive support and participation of Italian local cities in the "Belt and Road" Initiative, marking deeper and more substantial local cooperation between China and Italy.
55th Anniversary of Sino-Italian Diplomatic Relations
Italy and China, located at the ends of the ancient Silk Road, are both ancient civilizations with long histories. 2025 witnesses the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy. This is a milestone worth celebrating and an important opportunity to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation. The BRLC stated that in this important year, it will continue to facilitate friendly exchanges between the two peoples, jointly promote deep exchanges in the fields of economy, culture, education, and further unleash the potential of local cooperation between China and Italy.
New Year Blessings and Future Vision
The concert concluded with the cheerful melodies of the "Festival Overture" and "Blooming Flowers and Full Moon." The encore performances of "Hunter's Polka" and "Lift Your Veil" once again pushed the atmosphere to a climax. Guests exchanged New Year blessings amid the music and looked forward to future development together. This New Year's concert was not only a high-level artistic feast but also a grand event of Sino-Western cultural exchanges. Through the universal language of music, different cultures collided and created brilliant sparks, bringing hearts closer together.
“Tonight’s performance reminds me of the peaceful and tranquil villages near Florence,” said Leonardo Lazzari, an Italian student studying in Hangzhou. “Chinese music and Italian music both share a sense of relaxation. Music is a universal language that we all naturally inherit, allowing people to find resonance easily.”
It is believed that under the continuous promotion of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, cooperation and exchanges between China and Italy and among BRLC member cities will become deeper and broader, jointly composing a new chapter in the Silk Road of the new era.
The UCLG ASPAC Committee on the Belt and Road Local Cooperation (abbreviated as BRLC) was established in 2017 to promote local cooperation and cultural exchanges under the “Belt and Road” Initiative. Through various activities, including New Year's concerts, forums, exhibitions, project training, and study tours, the BRLC builds a platform for exchanges among local governments, enterprises, and social organizations, promoting cooperation in economic development, cultural education, rural revitalization, and youth exchanges, thereby fostering mutually beneficial development. The New Year's concert has become a signature event of the BRLC, attracting both the local community as well as expatriates residing in Hangzhou. The event celebrates the New Year through classic melodies, explores future cooperation opportunities, and enhances the sense of belonging and fulfillment of these "new Hangzhou residents."
UCLG-ASPAC Committee on the Belt and Road Local Cooperation
CONTACT US
Secretariat of UCLG-ASPAC Committee on the Belt and Road Local Cooperation
Floor 18, Building C, Civic Center, 18 East Jiefang Road, Jianggan District, Hangzhou
secretariat-brlc@hzfao.gov.cn
Zip code: 310026
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On the evening of January 10, 2025, “The 3rd BRLC New Year's Concert & Marco Polo: 700 Years Later” was grandly held in Hangzhou. This event was guided by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, co-hosted by the UCLG ASPAC, the BRLC, and the Italy-China Link Association. The concert, themed " New Silk Road in New Era," gathered over 600 guests, including representatives from foreign-funded enterprises, foreign business institutions, and international organizations in Hangzhou, foreign investors, foreign experts and scholars, and media representatives, to witness this important moment together.
A Musical Feast of Sino-Western Cultural Integration
The concert, presented by the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, featured a blend of symphony, opera, and traditional Chinese music. The opening program specially invited the Yue Liang Children’s Vocal Ensemble to perform the acapella song "Red Flag Flying High." The concert began with Li Huanzhi's "Spring Festival Overture" and Zhou Dafeng's "Tea Picking Dance," leading the audience into a festive atmosphere. Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" and Georges Bizet's "Carmen" suite showcased the elegance and splendor of Western classical music. Especially notable was Mascagni's "Intermezzo" from the opera "Cavalleria Rusticana," which was not only a highlight of the concert but also symbolized the profound history of Sino-Italian cultural exchange.
The Continuation of Marco Polo's Spirit
2024 marked the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's passing. In his speech at the concert, Miao Chengchao, Vice President of the BRLC, emphasized: "Over seven centuries ago, Marco Polo embarked on a journey from distant Italy, driven by his deep interest in Eastern culture. Following the ancient Silk Road, he arrived in Hangzhou, China. He not only built bridges of cultural exchange between the East and West, but also made remarkable contributions to the mutual learning of civilizations. Today, we inherit and carry forward his spirit by promoting local cooperation and exchanges on a global scale through the ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative." It is worth mentioning that in 2024, several Italian cities joined the BRLC, increasing the total of Italian membership to over 20. This fully reflects the positive support and participation of Italian local cities in the "Belt and Road" Initiative, marking deeper and more substantial local cooperation between China and Italy.
55th Anniversary of Sino-Italian Diplomatic Relations
Italy and China, located at the ends of the ancient Silk Road, are both ancient civilizations with long histories. 2025 witnesses the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy. This is a milestone worth celebrating and an important opportunity to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation. The BRLC stated that in this important year, it will continue to facilitate friendly exchanges between the two peoples, jointly promote deep exchanges in the fields of economy, culture, education, and further unleash the potential of local cooperation between China and Italy.
New Year Blessings and Future Vision
The concert concluded with the cheerful melodies of the "Festival Overture" and "Blooming Flowers and Full Moon." The encore performances of "Hunter's Polka" and "Lift Your Veil" once again pushed the atmosphere to a climax. Guests exchanged New Year blessings amid the music and looked forward to future development together. This New Year's concert was not only a high-level artistic feast but also a grand event of Sino-Western cultural exchanges. Through the universal language of music, different cultures collided and created brilliant sparks, bringing hearts closer together.
“Tonight’s performance reminds me of the peaceful and tranquil villages near Florence,” said Leonardo Lazzari, an Italian student studying in Hangzhou. “Chinese music and Italian music both share a sense of relaxation. Music is a universal language that we all naturally inherit, allowing people to find resonance easily.”
It is believed that under the continuous promotion of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, cooperation and exchanges between China and Italy and among BRLC member cities will become deeper and broader, jointly composing a new chapter in the Silk Road of the new era.
The UCLG ASPAC Committee on the Belt and Road Local Cooperation (abbreviated as BRLC) was established in 2017 to promote local cooperation and cultural exchanges under the “Belt and Road” Initiative. Through various activities, including New Year's concerts, forums, exhibitions, project training, and study tours, the BRLC builds a platform for exchanges among local governments, enterprises, and social organizations, promoting cooperation in economic development, cultural education, rural revitalization, and youth exchanges, thereby fostering mutually beneficial development. The New Year's concert has become a signature event of the BRLC, attracting both the local community as well as expatriates residing in Hangzhou. The event celebrates the New Year through classic melodies, explores future cooperation opportunities, and enhances the sense of belonging and fulfillment of these "new Hangzhou residents."
