The Romanian Cultural Institute in Beijing, in collaboration with the Beijing International Club, successfully organized the event dedicated to Romania's National Culture Day, celebrating 175 years since the birth of the national poet Mihai Eminescu. The event, which took place on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at the Beijing International Club, featured a remarkable artistic program, including poetry recitals and classical music under the title "Pot-Pourri for Flute and Guitar." The event began with a graphic exhibition by artist Constanța Abălașei-Donosă, whose black-and-white works reflect her deep interest in the biography and works of the great poet. The program continued with a flute and guitar concert performed by musicians Ioana Balașa and Bogdan Mihăilescu, followed by a poetry recital.
In the opening of the event, Liviu Țăranu, the director of the ICR Beijing, welcomed the guests and emphasized the significance of Romania's National Culture Day. This was followed by a series of speeches by distinguished guests. In his speech, H.E. Dan-Horia Maxim, the Romanian Ambassador to Beijing, emphasized that Mihai Eminescu "for Romanians, holds a dimension similar to that of Confucius for the Chinese," paying tribute to Chinese personalities such as Ge Baoquang, Xu Wende, and Lin Ninglai, who contributed to the translation of Eminescu’s works into Chinese. The Ambassador stated that this event brought together three generations of artists and students from Romania and China, forming a true bridge between the two cultures and marking a significant moment in the deepening of bilateral cultural relations.
Mr. Qu Baihuai, the General Director of the Beijing International Club, underscored the importance of culture in strengthening international relations, stating that cultural diplomacy plays a crucial role in building links between nations. Professor Ding Chao, a university professor and specialist in Eminescu's poetry, highlighted the importance of Mihai Eminescu in Romanian culture, describing the poet as "the soul of Romanians" and a leading figure in world literature, with numerous references to China in his journalistic work.
The flute and guitar concert was performed by Ioana Balașa, a member of the "George Enescu" Philharmonic in Bucharest, and Bogdan Mihăilescu, a renowned promoter of the guitar movement in Romania. The musical program included works from the European, South American, Chinese, and Romanian repertoires, offering a true journey through global cultural heritage. During the concert, students Andra Săraru (master's student at Beijing Language and Culture University) and Iosua (Cui Mingzhe, second-year student at Beijing International Studies University) held a poetry recital, paying tribute to Mihai Eminescu by reading some of his most famous poems: "Ce-ți doresc eu ție, dulce Românie," "O, rămâi!" and "Peste vârfuri."
At the conclusion of the event, the ICR Beijing team presented flowers to the two musicians, and attendees were invited to enjoy a cocktail with Romanian wine. Nearly 200 guests attended the event, including H.E. Dumitru Braghiș, the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Beijing, diplomats and representatives from the Italian Cultural Institute and the British Council, journalists from China Radio International, members of the Beijing Book Fair organizing teams, representatives from the magazines "Lookwe" and "Life Tree," along with professors, students, and culture enthusiasts.
The event was repeated on January 16, 2025, at the Young Art Gallery in the Guoce International Conference Center in northern Beijing and was appreciated by approximately 50 participants, who had the opportunity to enjoy the proposed artistic program once again.
