Emotion is a universal human experience that allows us to see and compare ourselves with each other

On Sept 17, young representatives from China and the UK presented River Moon and Summer's Day: A Dialogue Across a Millennium at China Daily's Vision China event in London. After the performance, British Shakespearean actor Ethan Bareham reflected, "Emotion is a universal human experience." For him, bringing Chinese and Western classics together on the same stage is not merely an interplay of languages, but a dialogue across time between their spiritual cores. By weaving together Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 and A Moonlit Night on the Spring River by Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Zhang Ruoxu, the performance gave centuries-old texts new life on today's stage. More importantly, such artistic dialogue across borders allows us not only to appreciate the cultural treasures created by others, but also to see ourselves more clearly through exchange and resonance — and truly listen to each other.