People in Beijing enjoyed a wonderful joint concert last night with the Israeli Naama Women's Choir and the local Chinese Feng Chao Yang Choir.

The two choirs thrilled the audience when singing the Chinese songs "Little Cabbage" and "My Country, My Mother" in Chinese and a classical Israeli folk song "Old Tune" in Hebrew together.

The concert was held at the Chaoyang Cultural Center in east Beijing. The Namma Women's Choir also sang several folk songs from various parts of the world, as well as Hebrew songs. The Feng Chao Yang Choir, composed of local Beijingers, performed some famous Chinese songs, old and new.

Song Xiaoting, the artistic supervisor of the Feng Chao Yang Choir, was delighted with the performance.

"It is fortunate that two different nations and kinds of music can be united on the same stage. The concepts of choral singing they brought us are well worth learning. Music belongs to people. It belongs to nations and the whole world. We can enhance our mutual understanding, and promote unity and peace in the world. It is a very good opportunity for us to learn the music of their nation."

It was the second time for the choir to visit China. Choir member Carmel Ronen expressed her love of China.

"We came for the first time two years ago. We had a very, very nice experience. We fell in love with your country and your people. Since then we wanted to come back and then we are happy to have the opportunity to come back for the festival. The joint concert is the continuation of tomorrow's friendship. We are longing for friendship worldwide and for a long-time relationship with Chinese people. I make this wish now, to come here once more."

Israel's ambassador to China, Shoshana Haim is dedicated to enriching cultural exchanges between Israel and China. She points out the similarities between the two countries and considers culture the best way to promote understanding.

"First we are two ancient nations. Of course we are different, we have different languages. We have different customs, we have different beliefs. We have different ways of everyday life. But, we're, I mean the Israelis and Chinese, they are looking all the time to improve themselves, to do better no matter what they are doing. Another thing is that we appreciate our pasts, and we treasure it. We base one foot on the culture of traditional ones, but with a face towards modernism, a face towards the future."

"We have cultural agreements since we start our relationship between Israel and China about 20 years ago. We think exchanging cultures is very important to know each other, and I personally think the best way of best knowing of each other is not politics, but only needs singers, dancers, artists, actors etc."

The Naama Choir has just won three first-class awards at the 7th Chinese Chorus Festival in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province. The Choir is one of the most prominent choirs in Israel, and has 25 members plus a pianist.

A series of performances of Israeli dramas will be staged in Beijing next month, and a traditional Chinese opera troupe will travel to Israel in exchange.

(CRI August 3, 2004)