Physically connected with ASEAN countries by land and water, Guangxi has increasingly frequent cultural exchanges with these countries. Since Guangxi hosted the China-ASEAN Expo 2004 and its provincial capital Nanning became the permanent Expo site, a broader stage and a new dynamism for cultural exchange have been created. Since 2003, there have been 62 cultural exchange events between Guangxi and ASEAN countries, involving 840 person-times, among which there were 22 outbound events involving a total of 410 people, and 40 inbound events involving a total of 430 people. The exchanges involve many levels, disciplines and forms;they include official, folk and commercial exchanges, art performances, academic communications and artist training.
There is a long and close relationship between Guangxi's ethnic groups and ethnic groups in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. The Zhuang people of Guangxi are particularly close to the Thai, the major ethnic group of Thailand, with whom they share common origins. The ASEAN countries certainly have a sense of identity and respond sympathetically to Zhuang culture because of similarities in their histories, languages and cultures. In cultural exchange with ASEAN countries, Guangxi's approach is to stress its own folk culture whilst adapting to local realities; because of the close history and cultural traditions between the parties the audience feel that they are experiencing something new, but not alien. Guangxi-ASEAN cultural exchange at official and people-to-people level is growing ever wider. In 2005, the Guangxi Acrobatic Troupe and other art groups performed in Vietnam and Thailand to good reviews; the performance of Guangxi Folk Lion Dance Group of Tengxian County proved very popular in Vietnam; the Gui Opera Troupe performed at the "Thailand-Guangxi Xinhua Books and Culture Exhibition," exploring new ways to introduce Guangxi opera overseas; the Guangxi Symphony Orchestra performed at 40th anniversary celebrations for Singapore's independence.Furthermore cultural contacts between Guangxi and ASEAN countries are changing from simple art performances to a multi-form mode that includes culture workshops, cultural fact-finding visits and artist training. These diverse approaches have moved mutual cultural communications to new heights.
Experts from the Guangxi Ethnic Culture and Art Academy have lectured frequently in Vietnam and have stimulated a passion for Guangxi culture in Vietnam's academic circles; archaeologists of the Guangxi Cultural Relics Work Team went to Kampuchea to inspect the Angkor Wat remains; a party organized by Guangxi's Bureau of Culture had discussion in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand about cultural exchange cooperation; the Guangxi Acrobatic Troupe held a two-term training course for Vietnam's Hanoi Acrobatic Troupe and trained a score of acrobats;the Guangxi Association for External Cultural Exchanges took the film Beautiful and Wonderful Guangxi on a road show to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and other ASEAN nations. All these activities improved knowledge of Guangxi in ASEAN countries and further promoted mutual contacts. Artists from ASEAN countries are invited to attend the annual Nanning Inter- national Folk Song Arts Festival. The Northern Vietnam Song and Dance Troupe also performed in Guangxi at the Huashan Culture and Arts Festival in 2004 in Chongzuo, and at the First Border Area International Tourism Festival in 2003.
In 2004 and 2005, one of the main events of the Nanning International Folk Song Arts Festival was the large-scale spectacle -- Southeast Asia Night. The evening program included original acts from all ten ASEAN countries such as the Sunglasses Dance from Brunei and the Country Ballet from the Philippines, bringing to life on stage the authentic environments, folk cultures and customs of China and ASEAN countries.
Improving mutual understanding, spreading friendship, increasing agreement and enhancing a sense of oneness, cultural exchanges between Guangxi and ASEAN play a positive and valuable role in developing friendship between the ASEAN nations and China as a whole.
