Economic and trade cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has achieved fruitful results over the past decade or so, officials with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday.
Officials from the ministry, speaking at a press conference, said that trade between China and ASEAN had grown at an average annual rate of 7.5 percent since 2013.
China has remained ASEAN's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, while ASEAN has remained China's largest trading partner for four consecutive years with the cumulative two-way investment between China and ASEAN countries exceeding 400 billion U.S. dollars by July this year, according to officials.
The officials also said that the 21st China-ASEAN Expo will be held in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from Sept. 24 to 28. The 21st China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit will also be held in Nanning during the period.
China, ASEAN economic cooperation achieves fruitful results: official
The third part of China Media Group (CMG)'s Mid-Autumn Festival gala aired on Tuesday night blends traditional Chinese culture with international artistry in a diverse lineup, bringing the audience an unforgettable night of music performance and poetry recitation.
The annual gala broadcast, also known as "Qiuwan" in Chinese, was recorded in Shenyang City of northeast China's Liaoning Province, a 2,300-year-old city boasting three world cultural heritage sites and over 1,500 historical and cultural sites. The city is also one of the most well-known industrial cities in China.
Themed "Moon Bright", the third part of the grand gala features an array of classic songs, reunion-themed narratives, and touching performances. Highlights include a music adaptation of the famous Chinese poem Qing Ping Diao by Tang Dynasty Poet Li Bai (701-762), which captures the essence of ancient Chinese beauty and expression; and a middle-school chorus from the Macao Special Administrative Region, singing about their love for the country and hopes for a brighter future.
The third segment of the show also features celebrated French musician Richard Clayderman, who enchants the audience with his timeless A Comme Amour a breathtaking rendition of The Butterfly Lovers concerto. The concerto, inspired by the tragic love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, is a modern classic that intertwines Chinese folklore with romantic Western composition techniques.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the night when the moon reaches its fullest and brightest on the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar. This year, the day fell on Tuesday (Sept 17). During the festival, families reunite, admire the moon, share the traditional festive pastry of mooncakes and light up lanterns.
Part 3 of CMG Mid-Autumn Festival Gala showcases diverse lineup of performances
