Group photo of the guests at the event site. Photo by People's Daily reporter Cao Shiyun

The opening performance, "The Beauty of China: Guangxi's Zhuang Ethnic Charm", featured a symbolic dance and connected it with a classic excerpt from the Caidiao Opera "Liu Sanjie", including the "Antiphonal Song", creating an artistic masterpiece that blends Eastern poetry with innovative ingenuity. The Chinese instrumental performance, "Chinese Chic Performance for Celebrating the Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse", featured erhu and suona as the main instruments, playing classic melodies such as the theme song from "Journey to the West" and "Black Myth: Wukong", converging into a "National Trend IP Music Festival". When Guangxi ethnic instruments, the maguhu (horse-bone fiddle) and the bolie, met Indonesian gamelan, Chinese and Indonesian musicians jointly performed classics like "Jasmine Flower" and "Folk Songs Like Spring River Water" demonstrating the cutural exchanges between China and Indonesia and creating a lasting artistic resonance. 

Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, stated in his video address that the Spring Festival has evolved into a global celebration. Within ASEAN, many member states celebrate the Spring Festival, reminding people of the deep emotional bonds that transcend national borders. As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we hope everyone will embrace the elegance, vitality, and forward momentum that the horse represents, and embark on the new year together with hope, resilience, and unity.  

Wang Qing, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN, stated in his address that the Spring Festival symbolizes reunion, joy, and harmony. Celebrating the holiday together exemplifies the close bonds between the people of China and ASEAN, the integration of our civilizations, and our harmonious coexistence. In the new year, he extended heartfelt wishes for China-ASEAN friendship and cooperation to surge forward like galloping horses, unstoppable in its momentum.