Performers pose for a group photo. [Photo/Jinyun App]

A cultural performance titled Echoes of South America was held in Tianjin on June 18 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the friendship and cooperation between Tianjin and Valparaiso, Chile.

Valparaiso, Chile's second-largest city and home to the country's National Congress, established friendly ties with Tianjin in March 2016. Known as Chile's "port capital", the city shares a strong maritime heritage with Tianjin, making the partnership a natural fit.

The event featured SER O DUO, a music band from Valparaiso, who performed traditional Chilean folk music alongside original compositions. They also joined Tianjin artists on stage to perform beloved Chinese classics, including Jasmine Flower and My Motherland. Students and faculty from the Tianjin Conservatory of Music showcased the city's cultural heritage with a performance of the Tianjin-style sanxian (a three-stringed instrument) piece Yingjiajie (Welcoming the Festival).

The audience was treated to a vibrant blend of Chinese and South American musical traditions, highlighting the power of music to connect people across cultures. The venue also displayed paintings of Tianjin's cityscape by overseas Chinese youth from Chile.

Ahead of the performance, Luan Jianzhang, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government, met with the visiting musicians, expressing hope for deeper cultural exchange and encouraging more artists from Valparaiso to visit Tianjin, further strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two sister cities.