By Xuefei Chen Axelsson， Photo Wu Ming
Nordic Spring International Peace and Culture Festival has been held in Jordbro Cultural center south of Stockholm over the weekend with Chinese cultural style.
Xuefei Chen Axelsson, President of China-Europe Cultural Association the purpose of Nordic Spring International Peace and Cultural Festival is to enhance Chinese harmonious culture, enrich people’s lives and promote cultural exchange between China and Europe and promote peace with cultural activities.
“The current world is not always very peaceful. The terrorist attack just took place in the Stockholm city center on April 7th, the tension in the Korean Peninsula aroused world wide attention. Syria and Afganistan are still facing conflict and war. Mankind faces severe challenges and choices. “ she said.
“We choose to promote peace and development with culture. Only when we have a peaceful environment, can we talk about development. We believe cultural exchange can promote understanding and trust between peoples and countries. Let’s support the “belt and road “ strategy put up forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which is believed to be possible to avoid conflict caused by geopolitics. Let’s sing and dance for peace and love. We shall also hear Bob Dylan, the Nobel winner in Literature’s lyrics criticising war.”
Nordic Spring International Peace and Cultural Festival is a peace and culture program launched by China- Europe Cultural Association, PROFOCA, Green Post, Mångakulturella Föreningen Nypånet, Chinese Teachers Association in Sweden, Swedish Shenyang Association, Sweden-China Cultural Assocition, Nataligrupp and European-Asian Peace and Culture Promotion Association.
Guo Yanhang, Councilor of Chinese Embassy in Stockholm also spoke at the opening. He said it is commendable that Chinese in Sweden hold such activities to enhance Chinese culture, to promote Sino-Swedish and Sino-European relations. To promote peace and development with cultural activities is a great effort to realize the concept of Belt and Road put up forward by Chinese President.
The festival began with a song Getting together by Huang Bingwang to make the atmosphere very warm.
Li Xinrui and Su Menghan played Joga very beautifully with admirable actions.
Yan Hongmei has sung the Yue Opera from southeast China.
Luan Dehan’s violin Fisherman’s harvest gave the audience a beautiful picture with music.
Dong Jiajun’s Hulusi play of Wedding oath and Deep in the forest gave a beautiful picture of Southwestern China’s Yunnan Province with such a beautiful melody.
Jin Xinrui played Guzheng, an ancient Chinese string instrument. The music is called Spring Morning in the Snow Mountain.
Zhai Yijia played erhu Birds words in the mountain, very vividly reflects birds singing.
Wu Jing played Spring arrives in Xiangjiang River with Bamboo flute. She also played Eklundaposkan with long flute.
Huang Yuye and Chen Xuefei played 16th style Taiji. Yang Hongyu and her four other teammates played Soft Beauty Dance.
Children from Sweden-China Cultural Society played little pine tree.
The remarkable dance was from a group of 60 year olds on average who played Tibetan dance, the Blue Plateau. It was very beautiful.
Russian Natali Grupp played Christmas Dance and Show Dance.
Nobel prize winner Bob Dylan’s song Blowing in the wind was also sung by Chen Xuefei and she also read the Chinese translation.
Li Zhanchun sang a popular song Missing Home and won a lot of applause.
Li Jia as soprano has sung the song Heavenly Road or Tianlu in Chinese. Her beautiful voice makes us enjoy it very much.
She also led all the other actors and actresses to sing My motherland while all the artists both children and adults came to the stage. That was the moment that all of us no matter which ethnic group we belong to, sing together.
The concert was hosted by Chen Yang and Åsa Zhenzi.
Natali said it was wonderful to see that all of us can stand together to sing and dance. That is wonderful to have such a great event at this time in Stockholm. In the future, there will be more cooperation between us.
The honorary guests to the festival are Wang Jianrong, President Swedish Chinese Federation of Industry and Commerce, Ye Peiqun, Executive President of Swedish Federation of All Chinese Associations, Zhu Jinchuan from Air China Stockholm, Yanhan from Bank of China , Duan Maoli professor at Karolinska Institutet and vice president of Swedish Chinese Federation of Industry and Commerce.
A total of 130 people attend the festival.