A boy of Valley High School Chamber Orchestra performs in a concert in Des Moines of Iowa State, the United States, Aug. 27, 2018. Midwestern U.S. State of Iowa has held a concert here in celebration of the 35th anniversary of its Sister State Partnership with China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)
DES MOINES, the United States, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Midwestern U.S. State of Iowa has held a concert here in celebration of the 35th anniversary of its Sister States Partnership with China's Hebei Province.
The 35th Anniversary Concert took place Monday night at Staplin Performing Arts Center of Valley High School in Des Moines, involving students from the high school and visiting Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School.
Before the concert, guests from China and the United States made brief speeches. Iowa State Representative Zach Nunn highly praised the 35-year friendship between the state and the province.
"We witness the friendship blossoms in all sectors of life, from culture to agriculture, business, sports, education and so on. I wish this friendly states partnership further promotes deeper understanding and closer friendship between the two states," said Nunn.
Xia Yanjun, Vice Governor of Hebei Province, extended her thanks to local American host families to accommodate students from Heibei during the past years, saying that "we can see seeds of friendship are being sowed among the young people between Hebei and Iowa."
During the concert, 16 students from Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School Folk Music Troupe performed music pieces like 'Jasmine', 'It's a small world', 'Full of Joy', 'Flying Kites', 'Do Re Mi' with Chinese musical instruments. Valley High School Chamber Orchestra performed Brandenburg No.3.
The concert culminated with a chorus "An Eternal Memory," a song about the relationship between China and Muscatine of Iowa state. All the audience stood up with applause.
"It is an amazing and wonderful concert and I hope we can have more exchange and cooperation in the future," said David Maxwell, principal of Valley High School.
