22 Sep 2016

Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng has thanked China for their support and willingness to celebrate with Botswana in its golden jubilee.

Officiating at the China Yunnan Shangri-La Arts Troupe Performance for BOT50 on September 21, Olopeng said the performance reaffirms the close affinity between China and Botswana.

He said 40 years after the start of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the friendship continues to grow stronger.

He further noted that this was showcased by increasing visits as well as frequent cultural and people to people exchanges.

He said Botswana looked forward to further promote and protect the friendship between the two countries and build even tighter cultural ties.

Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, Zheng Zhuqiang said as partners, Botswana and China shared the same expectations and happiness as Botswana celebrates golden jubilee.

He said the performance by the Chinese arts troupe was his country’s token of celebration for Botswana’s golden jubilee.

Zhuqiang told attendants among them, Kgosi Puso Gaborone of Batlokwa that ‘Yunnan Province, located in Southwest China is famous for its beautiful landscape and rich natural resources.

“It is also well-known for its diverse ethnic minorities.”     

Currently, he said China-Botswana relations had maintained a good momentum of all-round development, highlighted by enhanced political mutual trust, fruitful trade and economic cooperation, and flourishing cultural exchanges.

Attendants were happy to see Chinese different styles of dance as some of them were more like the Shaolin movie dance moves.

At the event, artists from different ethnic minorities of Yunnan presented a show of diverse minority cultures from China.

The night was also spiced by various local traditional artists who took to stage.
China Yunnan Shangri-La Arts Troupe is a prime professional performing ensemble established in 1959.  Ends