Written by: Staff Report
Posted on: October 22, 2020 | 
| 中文
A Scene from a previous iteration of CIYAF
Young people around the world are gearing up for the 13th edition of the China International Youth Art Festival (CIYAF). While this prestigious program is mainly set in Beijing with other sub-venues all around China, this year it will go virtual, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The festival will be broadcasted Thursday, 22nd October at 7:30 PM (Beijing Time) for the whole world to watch and enjoy.
CIYAF is a multilateral exchange activity that is primarily driven by the artistic talent of the global youth. It is co-organized by the International Exchange and Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd.(CAEG), Yanqing District People's Government of Beijing Municipality and Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Young people see it as an opportunity to interact with other youths around the world, and enjoy dazzling art performances from around the world.
This festival started in 2008 as the first international youth-oriented cultural exchange led by the Government of China. Since then, it has blossomed into an annual opportunity for young people to come together and showcase the culture of their countries with performances, workshops and video blessings.
A Peformance of 'Shrek' during an iteration of CIYAF
The past few iterations of CIYAF have focused on promoting diplomatic ties with the young people in places like Russia and Taiwan. It provides people the opportunity to perform various songs, dances, plays on a global scale, and attend training camps to cultivate their talents. The last few events have also largely focused on the international cultural exchange that has come about through the Belt and Road Initiative, with many of the performances centered around the Silk Road.
This year, the festival will feature 50 troupes from 26 countries, and the theme will be “Hope Through Music.” The event will open with a special performance by the Sunshine Children’s Choir, with a message from the People’s Republic of China to the European Union. Other interesting performances include a dance performance by the Moiseyev Dance Academy in Russia, and a musical rendition of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ from the UK.
The world’s top solo percussionist Li Biao, who will open this year's CIYAF
Pakistan’s contribution to CIYAF is a folk medley titled, “Mein Hoon Pakistan” (I am Pakistan), selected by the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA). It features 12 local performers, dressed in their national outfits and singing the same song in twelve of its many regional languages. According to PNCA, the main aim of the song is to hope for a stable and prosperous future, celebrate the friendship between the regional groups of Pakistan, and join together to praise the diversity that Pakistan has to offer.
Sindhi Performers
CIYAF is not just a great opportunity to learn of and enjoy various art forms around the world, but also a great achievement on China’s part to promote diplomacy through youth-led cultural exchanges. One can hope that Pakistan continues to take part in such important initiatives which will both help local performers bring their crafts to an international level and incorporate the country into a global network of artists and performers.
Pashtun Singers
Those interested can watch the performance on the following link (please be patient as there may be some slight internet lag). For more updates of upcoming Chinese festivals, please follow The Chinese Embassy on Twitter and China Cultural Centre in Pakistan on Facebook and Instagram.
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