Performers from Dragon Dance Troupe of Wellington Chinese Sports and Cultural Centre stage a dragon dance during the Parliamentary Chinese Dragon Boat Festival Celebration at Wellington, New Zealand, June 21, 2021. The parliamentary celebration on China's traditional Dragon Boat Festival held in New Zealand has been expected to boost the understandings and cultural exchanges between the two countries.(Photo: Xinhua)

An "East Meets West" orchestral concert was held at the Opera House in New Zealand's capital Wellington on Monday night, attracting over 1,000 people.

The concert was offered by Chinese and New Zealand artists together and conducted by leading New Zealand conductor Brent Stewart.

Several traditional Chinese musical works were presented, including "The Torch Festival" and "Chinese Sights and Sounds." The musicians also presented The Drysdale Overture created by a New Zealand composer, and the traditional Maori song "Pokarekare Ana."

A Chinese tenor and a New Zealand soprano sang together a well-known Chinese song "The Song of Yangtze River" at the concert, which culminated in the piano concerto Yellow River with applause from the audience.

Wang Xiaolong, Chinese ambassador to New Zealand, said in a welcome message for the performance that the concert, with a high-quality lineup and famous works, played the music of the friendship between China and New Zealand and promoted the cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Wellington's Mayor Andy Foster said that Wellington has played an important role in achieving fruitful results in exchanges between New Zealand and China.

"Wellington city has 10 sister or friendly city relationships, three of them in China," the mayor said.

The concert has enhanced the friendship between the people of China and New Zealand and built a bridge for cultural and artistic exchanges between the two countries, said the mayor.

New Zealander Charlotte Smith said the concert was "amazing," and "music has the power to cross borders, races and languages and it brings us together and closer."

The concert is one of a series of activities marking the 50th anniversary of China-New Zealand diplomatic ties.

The concert is part of "Image China," a cultural exchange initiative presented by the China Arts and Entertainment Group, which aims to introduce traditional and contemporary Chinese performing arts to audiences worldwide. 

Xinhua