VIENTIANE, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The grand final of the fifth "Lancang-Mekong Melodies: Lao People Singing Chinese Songs" competition has been held here, bringing together more than 700 people to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and promote people-to-people exchanges.
The event, held on Friday night, was attended by officials from China and Laos, representatives of cultural institutions, and members of local communities.
In his remarks, Deng Liqiang, a counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Laos, said music is a universal language that transcends national borders.
Noting that over the past five years, the competition has become a symbol of cultural exchanges between China and Laos, he expressed the hope that the event would continue to attract more Lao young people to learn about China and develop an interest in Chinese culture.
Vansy Soukchaleurn, deputy director of the Department of Culture and Arts under the Lao Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said that the competition has helped implement the action plan for building a China-Laos community with a shared future in the new era.
Through music, the event has strengthened the bond between the two peoples and showcased the longstanding friendship between China and Laos, Vansy added.
The competition attracted hundreds of Chinese-language music enthusiasts from across Laos, with contestants ranging in age from 8 to 53. Following a series of qualifying rounds, 12 contestants advanced to the grand final.
After a closely contested final, Viengsavanh Yayongsue won the championship with the song "We Are Different."
Luo Weijian, director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Laos, said this year's competition reached a wider audience than previous editions, attracting participants from across Laos, from Vientiane to mountainous towns in the north, and from the banks of the Mekong River to the southern highlands.
Singers from diverse ethnic backgrounds and regions came together, united by their shared connection to the Mekong River. Luo said the event's growing popularity reflects the Lao people's interest in the Chinese language and culture.
The competition was hosted by the Chinese Cultural Center in Laos and supported by the China General Chamber of Commerce in Laos.
A photo exhibition marking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos was also held at the venue, along with a display of traditional Chinese culture. ■
