From June 15th to 20th, 2025, the Chinese opera cultural exchange performances, titled "Resonance of the Silk Road, Echoes of the Timeless Opera," took place successfully in the Novi Sad and Belgrade in Serbia, as well as in Meknes and Rabat in Morocco.
Guided by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC) and other organizations, and hosted by the China Theatre Association (CTA), with co-organizers including the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theatre, the event coincided with the 70th anniversary of China‑Serbia friendship and the celebration of the inaugural International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, making the performances in Serbia all the more significant.
On June 15th, the first performance was held in Novi Sad Svilara Cultural Station. When it ended, the audience refused to leave, prompting the artists to return for an encore performance of "Ode to Lychee." On June 16th, the second show took place at the China Cultural Centre in Belgrade. It opened with a traditional dance from the Serbian folklore ensemble "KOLO", followed by spectacular programs from the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theatre. Highlights included Cantonese opera martial piece "The Siege of the Valley" demonstrating the vigor of martial arts, famous Guangdong music tunes conveying the charm of Lingnan culture, "Southern‑style Cantonese Opera Martial Arts Showcase" blending opera and martial arts, "The Flower Princess" telling a moving love story, a Serbian singer's soulful guitar performance adding local flavor, long silk dance "Glamour of Cantonese Opera" evoking grace and a climactic scene from "The Story of the Burning Incense" (duet by Li Jiayi and Li Weicong) bringing the event to a thrilling peak.
On June 19th in Morocco, the first show took place at the Muhammad Mounir Cultural Center, where the grace of the Cantonese performances enthralled the audience. At the end, the entire hall rose in applause and joined in singing a traditional Moroccan song in appreciation. The final performance on June 20th was hosted at the small theatre of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art and Cultural Animation (ISADAC) in Rabat, attended by over 200 students and faculty who had interactive exchanges with the performers.
Through these exchange performances, audiences experienced the distinctive charm of Cantonese opera and witnessed cultural integration between China, Serbia, and Morocco. This artistic medium helped foster a friendly atmosphere in bilateral relations and continued to write a new chapter in "Belt and Road" cultural cooperation.