China's Xinjiang cultural week delegation has successfully concluded its weeklong performance in Sweden last Friday and is heading for Norway.

Head of the delegation Li Yi who is also vice chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region said that the purpose of the tour is to promote Xinjiang and let the world know more about Xinjiang.

"Xinjiang is a place with rich resources. It not only has a lot of oil and natural gas, but also a lot of cotton and tomatoes. Its production of tomato sauce accounts for 70 percent of the European market. "

Li Yi said Xinjiang is also rich in culture.

" Singing and dancing is part of the people's life. Xinjiang people can sing and dance as soon as they can speak and walk," said Li Yi.

Paul Lindquist, Mayor of Lidingo said he felt very honored that Lidingo had been chosen for the performance. "This is another example of long term friendly relations between Sweden and China."

Xinjiang cultural week artists' performance outside the city house

During the week, the Xinjiang delegation mainly including the artists from Xinjiang Song and Dance Company gave wonderful performances in Eskilstuna city, west of Stockholm, Stockholm and Lidingo city.

The programs they performed included Uyghur Folk Dance Kashgar Senem, Girls in Turpan, Group Girl Dance Carrying Bowls on the Head, Girls in Dabancheng, Wonderful Xinjiang and Maixilaif.

Their happy, energetic and spectacular performance won constant applauses from the audience.

Xinjiang dance-with bowls on head

Rune Sirvell from SIS Forum was one of the audiences in Lidingo.

"I have been to China several times, but this was the first time that I have watched such kind of performance. It is wonderful, really nice."

The Xinjiang Song and Dance Company was established in 1949 and composed of artists from 12 ethnic groups of China including Uygur, Kazak, Han, Hui, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Tatar, Manchurian, Mongolian and Xibo.

The troupe not only won a lot of prizes in China but also traveled and performed in more than 70 countries and regions in the world.

Located in northwest China and with over 20 million people of various ethnic groups, Xinjiang was an important hub for the ancient Silk Road in the old days and is still a passageway of information and commerce linking China with Central west Asia and Europe.

Presented in the Xinjiang Cultural Week are the songs and dances of cultural civilization of Xinjiang ethnic minorities, photographs of Xinjiang today, calligraphy, paintings, costumes, handicrafts and musical instruments reflecting the daily lives of Xinjiang people, according to Li Yi.

The Xinjiang cultural week delegation will stay in Norway for a week and then give performance in Germany for a week.

(People's Daily Online September 17, 2007)