COLOMBO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Guangxi Cultural Week, organized by the Chinese Cultural Center in Colombo along with the Chinese Embassy, got off to a colourful start here on Monday with traditional Chinese dances, concerts and acrobatics.
The events on the week-long agenda will depict China's cultural and ethnic diversity, especially from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Speaking at the launch of the cultural week, Sri Lankan Minister of Culture S.B. Navinna said that ties between Sri Lanka and China date back to ancient times and have since been beneficial to both nations.
He thanked China for its strong and continuous support and appreciated its efforts to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang said at the event that Guangxi was chosen this year because of its rich cultural diversity.
He highlighted the strong cultural ties between China and Sri Lanka, adding that he was keen to further strengthen these ties.
Director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Colombo Yue Liwen said that a plan has been made to introduce to Sri Lanka one Chinese province or region each year to give the people of the island an idea of the diverse culture in China.
The dance troupe, musicians and artistes who have arrived from China to take part in the cultural week will also perform in Malabe on the outskirts of the capital and Anuradhapura, the capital city of Sri Lanka's North Central Province.
