China's Diplomacy in the New Era 
Chinese and American youth sing for friendship and peace in Guangzhou

The 2024 Global Bay Areas Chorus Bridge Guangzhou Concert took place on the evening of October 9 at Xinghai Concert Hall in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province.

The event featured a collaboration between the Guangdong Experimental Middle School Choir and the Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC), delivering 22 captivating choral performances.

During the concert, the Chinese and American choirs jointly performed a grand chorus, singing "A Wish from Across the Sea & The Calling of the Song".

Xie Mingjing, vice president of the Guangdong Choral Association and artistic director and chief conductor of the Guangdong Experimental Middle School Choir, elaborated that the grand chorus features two themes: one is indicated in the lyrics, "take my hand and sailing with expectation," and the other is to encourage people to move forward.

"We may encounter lots of challenges on the road, but we will see the light eventually. We move forward with courage. Although the song is for kids, we thought the lyrics are for all the people who love peace," Xie noted.

"There are wars being fought around the world. And these young people are saying: what can I do to participate and make a difference? This is what they can do, coming together and showing the world that their voice is heard. We have to give them hope for a future. This cultural exchange is preparing our future," said Francisco J. Núñez, founder and artistic director of the Young People's Chorus of New York City.