China-Vietnam friendship singing contest promotes ties

The ninth edition of China-Vietnam Friendship Singing Contest, which concluded here on Saturday night, helped step up cultural exchanges between the two countries and foster music talents.

The annual event has been held alternately between the two countries since 2010 with collaboration of China's People's Radio of Guangxi and the Vietnam National Music Song and Dance Theater.

"Music is borderless. Cultural exchanges between the two countries will be further promoted through activities like this," Peng Shituan, cultural counselor of the Chinese embassy in Vietnam told Xinhua on Saturday.

Peng noted that China and Vietnam have many cultural and historical similarities, which are advantages to help better mutual understanding.

The contestants, comprised of 18 individuals and three bands, stood out in the qualifying rounds held across Vietnamese regions from Oct 5-20.

Each of them performed a Chinese song and another in Vietnamese, and the best five were selected, including three individuals and two groups. They will go to China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region for the final slated for Nov 28.