Wuxi Deputy Mayor Wang Jinjian gave a speech at the ceremony, in which he expressed his appreciation for the visit of the group from Japan and his hope that the friendship between their two countries can continue flourishing in the future.
Representatives from the Consulate General of Japan in Shanghai and the Japanese city of Akashi then addressed the ceremony in Chinese, telling stories about their experiences in Wuxi, winning applause from the audience on several occasions.
An array of cultural performances was staged after the ceremony, including recitals by musicians playing the Japanese bass drum and Chinese erhu.
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Musicians from Japan perform recitals of traditional music on stage during the opening ceremony of the 2017 Wuxi International Cherry Blossom Week on March 28. [Photo provided to China Daily] |
A series of cultural exchange events will also be held over the coming days as part of the annual Wuxi Taihu Cherry Blossom Festival, which ends on April 20.
