On the evening of October 6, China-Brazil Cultural Year Special Performance in Macao——Brazilian Body Beats was grandly staged at the Macao Cultural Centre. Chinese Ambassador to Brazil, H.E. Mr. Zhu Qingqiao addressed the event via video. Cheng Lei, Acting Commissioner of the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macao SAR and Leong Wai Man, Director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks. Consuls-General of foreign missions in Macao, representatives from Macao’s industrial, business, and academic sectors as well as associations and media attended the opening ceremony, and enjoyed the wonderful performance by Brazilian body percussion group Barbatuques together with hundreds of Macao residents.

Cheng Lei said that the China-Brazil Cultural Year is a major cultural exchange event to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of China and Brazil. Leveraging the strengths of “one country, two systems”, Macao continues to give full play to its unique role as the China-Portuguese-speaking countries Platform, making it a premier destination of the China-Brazil Cultural Year. The Commissioner’s Office will continue to make good use of diplomatic resources to promote people-to-people exchanges between China and Brazil with Macao as the platform, and better put the Global Civilization Initiative into practice.

Zhu Qingqiao noted that the first Cultural Year in the history of China-Brazil bilateral relations has witnessed the enhancement of mutual understanding between the two peoples, and injected greater vitality into building the China-Brazil community with a shared future. Nowadays, Macao’s role as a bridge between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries including Brazil has become increasingly prominent, and it will further facilitate exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Brazilian civilizations.

Leong Wai Man said that China and Brazil boast long-standing and diverse civilizations. Macao and Brazil have always maintained a special bond. With the support from the Central Government, Macao will fully exert its role as a “precise connector” between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries and more actively build bridges for cultural exchanges.

The vibrant and spectacular performance showcased the unique charm of Brazilian body percussion musical. In the final session, some audience joined the performers on stage and brought the atmosphere to a climax.

(Source: Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Macao, 7 October)