The closing performance of the Hong Kong Arts Festival features the Chinese-French ballet "In the Mood for Love"

China News Service, Hong Kong, March 23rd (Xinhua) The closing performance of the 52nd Hong Kong Arts Festival was held at the Hong Kong Cultural Center on the evening of the 22nd. It specially presented the large-scale original Shanghai-style ballet "", which was jointly created by top Chinese and French artists and performed by Shanghai Ballet. "In the Mood for Love" uses oriental style as the cultural background and Western ballet as the cultural carrier, embodying artistic innovation and cultural integration.

"In the Mood for Love" is set in Shanghai in the 1930s and 1940s. It combines dance elements such as ballet, jazz and folk dance, and uses Shanghai's iconic Shikumen as the backdrop to fully present the style of old Shanghai. That night, a large number of celebrities and citizens came to watch the performance. When the actors took their curtain call, the theater burst into applause.

Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Chan Kwok-kee (middle), Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Association, Mr Lo King-man (third from left), Chairman and Executive Director of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia), Liu Yaqian (second from left), and others presided over the toasting ceremony. Photo courtesy of the Information Office of the SAR Government

That night, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong SAR Government Chen Guoji, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Arts Festival Association Lu Jingwen, Chairman and Executive Director of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Liu Yaqian, Director of Charity Affairs Department of Hong Kong Jockey Club Ye Qiaoer were also present.

Chan Kwok-kee said that the Hong Kong Arts Festival is a major cultural event in the international arts scene. In the past month, it has presented more than 45 programs and more than 150 performances, covering dance, opera, musicals, music, drama and opera, etc., providing a wide range of art lovers. Presenting top performing arts programs from around the world not only enriches the cultural life of Hong Kong citizens, but also promotes cultural and artistic exchanges and development between China and foreign countries.

Chan Kwok-kee said that the SAR government will continue to work with Hong Kong, the mainland and the international cultural and artistic circles to promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning by organizing a variety of performances and exhibitions, and consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's strategic positioning as a center for cultural and artistic exchanges between China and foreign countries. Tell Chinese stories and tell Hong Kong stories well.

This year is the 12th consecutive year that Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) has exclusively sponsored the closing performance of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Liu Yaqian said that ICBC (Asia) is very honored to enrich the cultural life of citizens through financial power, promote the high-quality development of Hong Kong's cultural and artistic undertakings, and help Hong Kong build a hub status as a cultural exchange center between China and foreign countries. "The needs of the country, the strengths of Hong Kong, and ICBC "What Asia can do" is put into practice. (over)