BELGRADE, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the first China tour by Serbia's National Ensemble "Kolo" opened Thursday at the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade.
Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming said the images from Kolo's 1955 and 2025 China tours reflect the lasting friendship between China and Serbia. He noted that Chinese leaders including Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai received the ensemble during its first visit, and that bilateral ties today are at their highest level, with cultural exchanges continuing to expand.
Secretary of State for the Ministry of Culture of Serbia Lav Pajkic said Kolo has long served as a cultural ambassador for Serbia and that its repeated tours to China highlight the strong links and "ironclad friendship" between the two countries.
Director of the China Cultural Center in Belgrade Zhang Aimin said original photos from the 1955 tour were digitally restored this year. He said Kolo also joined cultural events in Beijing and Guangdong, and that cooperation platforms with institutions such as the Beijing Dance Academy had been strengthened.
Kolo Director Zdravko Ranisavljevic said the ensemble's first China tour played an important cultural-diplomatic role and that this year's performances in Guangdong Province of south China marked a new milestone. He also noted ongoing cooperation with China's Shandong Song and Dance Theatre.
The exhibition features photographs from both the 1955 and 2025 China tours. ■
