Officials from the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra (XPO) led by its President, Mr. Fang Yi recently paid a courtesy call on Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores at the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen.
Consul General Flores warmly welcomed the XPO officials and expressed appreciation for the visit and its initiative to explore possible cultural exchange and cooperation.
Mr. Fan conveyed their plan to visit and perform in the Philippines in the near future which Consul General Flores welcomed as a valuable initiative to strengthen cultural cooperation and exchanges between Xiamen City and the Philippines.
Relatedly, Consul General Flores floated the proposal to Mr. Fang to meet with CCP President Arsenio J. Lizaso during the latter’s visit in mid April 2019 to explore possible cooperation inasmuch as CCP is collaborating its 50th Anniversary commemorating in September 2019 and beyond. Mr. Fang warmed up to the proposal.
XPO was established in 1998. It is the first non-state-owned orchestra in China that receives permanent support from Xiamen municipal government and social sponsorship. It has been staging regular concerts known as “weekend symphonies”.
The orchestra has held more than 1,300 performances in over 80 cities in China and abroad in cooperation with more than 500 guests musicians in the past seventeen seasons. It has been honored as one of the “Advanced Social Organizations in China” as well as received over 20 other awards from the governments of Xiamen City and Fujian Province.
The Consulate General considers the said visit as an excellent opportunity to develop a partnership with the Philharmonic in light of its cultural diplomacy thrusts as well as its 25th anniversary of its establishment in 2020.
Mr. Fang was informed that the Consulate General encourages partnership with local entities, including the Philharmonic, to pursue its cultural diplomacy thrusts with the view to strengthen relations between the Philippines and Fujian.
The Consulate General is committed to support collaborative undertakings with the view of accomplishment of concrete exchange programs/visits between the Philippines and Xiamen (Fujian) institutions.
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