There was hard-fought competition among singers from all over the world, who competed for first place, while expressing their appreciation of, and passion for, Chinese culture.

In China's capital city, the studio of Beijing TV was crowded with people of every race, color and creed, all working together for the final rehearsal of the Sixth Annual Foreigners Singing Chinese Songs Contest. More than 600 singers from over 50 countries participated in the event, and expectations this year were high. TV Stations from the U.S, Canada, Romania and Russia also took part. Twenty singers out of the original 200-plus made it to the finals.

Kim Cassidy always refers to herself as a Chinese daughter-in-law, though she comes from the United States. She married a Chinese man who loves playing guitar because she likes singing Chinese songs.

"I love Chinese songs, I've been singing them for years. My daughter loves them too, she hears me and my husband practicing all the time," she said.

Of course, there is a Chinese son-in-law as well, who sang the song called "The Most Beautiful" to his Chinese wife.

The intense competition made the show a real "battle". But these "warriors" compete through song.

They come from different cultural backgrounds, but they eloquently express the passion for their adopted Chinese arts on the stage.

As foreign friends sing Chinese songs, every note conveys the meaning of friendship, according to the Chinese audience.

Music crosses all boundaries of nationalities. If only all the world's battles could be fought with song, wouldn't it be a better place?

(People's Daily 01/22/2001)