China Embraces Music as a Harmonious Agent

Music is a universal language that bridges civilisations and peoples. This was evident at the National Auditorium in Madrid, which hosted a concert on Thursday to celebrate the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations. The Forbidden City Quartet from China's National Symphony Orchestra performed several pieces from the country's traditional repertoire "to make a call for peace, inclusion, understanding, and mutual comprehension through music."

Liu Zhenyuan, Zhang Ning, Ma Yanchun, and Li Cheng are the members of the quartet, advocating music as a language of harmony. Their programme included pieces such as 'Dance of the Golden Snake', 'Deep Love', and 'Eternal Friendship', along with the well-known folk song 'Jasmine Flower'. In the second part of the concert, they tackled Beethoven's 'String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18'.

Founded in 2010, the quartet has collaborated with international figures such as Hideko Kobayashi, Amy Oshiro, Paul Roczek, Wolfgang Redik, and László Kuti. They have been awarded prestigious international prizes and have released an album featuring works by Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert.

Madrid joined the celebration with a performance aimed at "strengthening cultural cooperation on an international level, mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence, and cooperation among peoples." For its organisers, it is "an artistic expression of China's global vocation to respect cultural diversity and humanistic cooperation, bringing together Eastern and Western cultures under one roof."

"The musical encounter reflects a shared awareness towards peace, inclusion, understanding, and cooperation in a world where voices of hatred, division, and xenophobia are increasingly heard," stated He Yong, Minister Counsellor for Culture at the Chinese Embassy in Madrid, while presenting the concert. He highlighted how his country is willing to work with all countries and civilisations "to build a world full of peace, justice, and freedom where dialogue and mutual learning are rewarded over confrontation."

At China's proposal, the date of June 10 was established in 2024 by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations, with the support of 82 countries. The initiative underscores that "all the achievements of civilisations constitute the collective heritage of humanity." It aims to mark "a milestone in promoting respect, cultural diversity, mutual understanding, and international cooperation."

The concert was organised by the Chinese Cultural Centre in Madrid, the China Tourism Office in Spain, and the China Symphony Orchestra, with the sponsorship of the Embassy and the China International Culture Association in Spain.