Kurt Karst, chairman of the Society for German Chinese Friendship Mainz-Wiesbaden, led students from the Mainz School of Music to visit Beijing International Studies University (BISU) on Aug 25. An art exchange event was held, with the German students and BISU's student art troupe participating.

Wang Yanxia, vice-president of the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (BPAFFC), welcomed the delegation. 

Over the years, the BPAFFC, BISU, and the Society for German Chinese Friendship Mainz-Wiesbaden have jointly conducted numerous music exchanges in Beijing, as well as Trier, Mainz, and Cologne in Germany, said Wang. She expressed her hope that more future cooperation will contribute to the longstanding friendship between the Chinese and German people.  

Wang Yanxia, vice-president of the Beijing People's Association for Friendship, delivers a speech.  

Zhang Yan, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC BISU Committee and vice-president of the university, welcomed Karst and the students. He noted that the youth of both sides have forged deep friendships through art, and expected the event to showcase both the unique charms of Chinese and German cultures and the shared ideals of peace, friendship, and cooperation.

Zhang Yan, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC BISU Committee and vice-president of the university, addresses the audience.

Karst expressed his gratitude to the BPAFFC and BISU for their warm reception. He stated that the Society for German Chinese Friendship Mainz-Wiesbaden has always been committed to promoting Sino-German cultural exchanges and people-to-people friendship, saying that the cooperation between the society, the BPAFFC and BISU has enhanced friendship between the youth of the two countries through music.

Kurt Karst, chairman of the Society for German Chinese Friendship Mainz-Wiesbaden, gives a speech.

Karst said he believes the exchange event marks a new start for the cultural exchanges, manifesting the friendship between the two countries, and hopes the music brought by the delegation will help deepen mutual understanding and build bridges of trust and respect.  

The event opened with the Chinese folk music piece "Dance of the Golden Snake". Peking Opera, classical Chinese dance and percussion performed by BISU's student art troupe created a lively atmosphere. David, a master's student from the Mainz School of Music, presented Schumann's suite and a Chinese song named "Homesickness".

Students perform traditional Chinese music.

The event culminated with a joint performance of "Jasmine Flower" and "O schöne Nacht" ("O Beautiful Night") by the Chinese and German students.

Commemorative certificates were presented to the German students after the event.   

Before the performance, the delegation, accompanied by BISU's graduate students, toured the campus and the student activity center.