More than 200 guests from political and business circles in both China and the United Kingdom attend a charity concert on Feb 10 at London's Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London. [Photo provided to China Daily]
A charity concert was held on Monday at London's Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London, drawing over 200 guests from political and business circles in both China and the United Kingdom to celebrate Spring Festival.
The event, co-hosted by the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, or CCCUK, and The Lord Mayor's Appeal, or LMA, marks a key event under the UK-China Charity Initiative.
Launched in 2018, the initiative is jointly operated by the CCCUK and the LMA, organizing a series of charitable events to support local communities in both China and the UK.
Wang Qi, minister at the Chinese embassy in the UK, speaks at the charity concert on Feb 10 in London. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Wang Qi, minister at the Chinese embassy in the UK, extended New Year greetings to attendees and reflected on China's resilience amid last year's global geopolitical and economic turbulence.
Noting the recent positive developments in China-UK relations, Wang called for joint efforts to follow through on the common understanding reached by the leaders of the two countries and highlighted the potential for deeper bilateral collaboration in areas such as technology, trade, new energy, and education.
The minister also recognized the City of London's role in driving forward China-UK economic and trade ties and said the Chinese embassy in the UK looks forward to working closely with business communities on both sides to advance cooperation in areas such as fintech and green finance.
Spring Festival has become a cultural bridge between the two nations, with events like the concert fostering deeper exchanges, Wang said. Looking ahead, he expressed confidence in the continued strengthening of China-UK relations.
Charles Bowman, former lord mayor of London, speaks at the charity concert on Feb 10 in London. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Charles Bowman, former lord mayor of London, also noted the upward momentum in China-UK relations, pointing to the resumption of the China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue this January in Beijing after a six-year hiatus.
He revealed that the current Lord Mayor of London will visit China soon.
The concert, Bowman said, can bring people together to support education, social welfare, and sustainability, while deepening mutual understanding. He called for continued collaboration in social welfare to build a more inclusive and prosperous future.
Lyu Siqing (right), a Chinese violinist and president of the Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao and Tasmin Little, a British violinist and co-president of the Yehudi Menuhin School in the UK, speak at the charity concert on Feb 10 in London. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Lyu Siqing, a Chinese violinist and president of the Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao, celebrated the growing ties between the UK and Qingdao campuses of the Yehudi Menuhin School.
The Yehudi Menuhin School is a UK specialist music school that in 2022 established its first overseas presence in Qingdao, in East China's Shandong province.
As the concert marked the first visit to the UK by the Qingdao campus since its inception, Lyu described it as a milestone in China-UK cultural exchange and expressed hope for continued collaboration between the two sides to further musical interactions.
Tasmin Little, a British violinist and co-president of the Yehudi Menuhin School in the UK, echoed this sentiment. She said the concert was a historic moment that brought together artists from both the Qingdao and UK campuses for the first time, and emphasized the power of music to transcend boundaries.
Lyu Siqing performs at the charity concert on Feb 10 in London. [Photo provided to China Daily]
The concert featured captivating performances by students from both the Yehudi Menuhin School in the UK and Qingdao, showcasing classical masterpieces from China and the West.
Students from both the Yehudi Menuhin School in the UK and Qingdao perform at the charity concert on Feb 10 in London. [Photo provided to China Daily]
VIP guests take a group photo with students from the Yehudi Menuhin School in the UK and Qingdao at the charity concert on Feb 10 in London. [Photo provided to China Daily]
A charity auction was held following the concert. Funds raised from this event will be directed towards supporting charitable initiatives under the LMA.
Donations will also support Homewards, a program launched by Britain's Prince William and The Royal Foundation, to end homelessness.
A portion of the funds will contribute to a UK-China cultural exchange program, supporting UK students to embark on study tours to China.
The event was sponsored by the Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China London Branch, China Construction Bank London Branch, Agricultural Bank of China, China Merchants Bank, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, China National Tourist Office in London and Labait Accounting.
