From November 2 to 7,the second Asian Performing Arts Festival was held in Delhi. A 68-member delegation consisting of Beijing Peking Opera Troupe and China Puppet Art Troupe, led by Mr. Zhang Heping, Vice Chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Beijing Committee, attended the Festival.

On the evening of November 2, Mr. Vijai Kapoor, Lieutenant Governor of the Delhi Government, inaugurated the festival at the Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi. Mr. Hua Junduo, Chinese Ambassador to India was present at the inauguration and watched the performances. Artists from Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Delhi performed in succession during the inauguration. Beijing Peking Opera Troupe performed "Fighting through the Three Passes", a traditional play of Peking opera. The consummate performing art of the Chinese artists demenstrated the unique charm of Chinese art.

On the evening of November 4, Beijing Peking Opera Troupe performed "the Legend of the White Snake", a traditional play of Peking opera. Ambassador Hua Junduo watched the performance and met with all the performers. Nearly one thousand people, including Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government, Indian friends from all works of life and foreign diplomats in New Delhi were invited to watch the performance. On the evening of November 5, China Puppet Art Troupe performed 7 puppet shows and made exchanges with Indian puppet troupes.

In the past few days, the performances of Chinese artists were warmly welcomed and highly spoken of by the Indian audience. The delegation held a seminar on Chinese traditional drama and an exhibition of Beijing culture and art during the festival, which gave the Indian audience a glimpse into excellent Chinese performing arts.

(Chinese Embassy in India)