China congratulates Uzbekistan for its smooth parliamentary election, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Monday.
The central Asian country voted to elect the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, or the lower house of the parliament, on Sunday, conducting its first use of a mixed electoral system.
A total of 150 deputies will be elected for Uzbekistan's Legislative Chamber, half of whom will be chosen through single-mandate constituencies and the other half based on political party lists in a proportional nationwide vote.
The election drew 851 international and foreign observers.
"China congratulates Uzbekistan on the successful election of the Legislative Chamber. At the invitation of its Central Election Commission, China sent a delegation to Uzbekistan to observe the election. China believes that the election is democratic, open and transparent, which mirrors Uzbekistan's political openness and inclusiveness. China is positive of the election and sincerely wishes the Uzbek people still greater achievements on the path of national development," said Lin.
"As a friendly neighbor and all-weather comprehensive strategic partner in the new era, China attaches great importance to its relations with Uzbekistan and stands ready to work with Uzbekistan to take the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as the guidance, strengthen mutual support and strategic coordination, deepen all-round mutually beneficial cooperation and promote the high-quality development of bilateral relations," he said.
China congratulates Uzbekistan on smooth parliamentary election: spokesman
The Silk Road Carnival, an important part of the ongoing 10th Silk Road International Arts Festival, concluded on Friday in Xi'an, the provincial capital of Shaanxi in northwest China, and a starting point of the ancient trade route.
The five-day carnival that started on October 21 gathered artists from different countries and offered a visual feast with the charm of art and diverse cultures of the countries along the Silk Road. The performances of traditional dances and modern music, folk music instruments and symphonies highlighted the carnival's closing ceremony on Friday, displaying the diversity and inclusiveness of the Silk Road culture.
"It's an important event, as it promotes artistic and cultural exchanges between different countries," said Valle, a Spanish dancer.
For Zhang Zhaoyu, a Qinqiang Opera performer, the art event also provided opportunities for overseas artists and audience to understand more about the local Chinese opera.
"This is an encounter between Chinese and Western culture. Westerners are passionate and hot on stage, while our Oriental culture is characterized with subdued elegance, like what our Chinese traditional operas display. Our traditional operas demonstrate a kind of Oriental beauty. We just took advantage of such a platform [of the festival] to present the culture of Qinqiang Opera of Shaanxi to Western guests and artists, so that they could see how extensive and profound our Chinese art is," said Zhang.
First held back in 2014, this year's Silk Road International Arts Festival, sponsored by the provincial government of Shaanxi, will run until November 10.
The event has attracted artists from 15 countries and regions, while a total of 63 performances are scheduled alongside a series of activities including multiple shows and exhibitions, according to organizers.
Silk Road Carnival concludes in Xi'an
