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Musicians from the China National Opera House take a curtain call after the concert "China meets West" in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 2, 2018. A gala concert titled "China meets West" was held Friday evening at the Palais des Nations, the headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, attracting more than 1,000 diplomats, international organization officials and local audience. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)

GENEVA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- A gala concert titled "China meets West" was held Friday evening at the Palais des Nations, the headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, attracting more than 1,000 diplomats, international organization officials and local audience.

The concert, jointly sponsored by the Permanent Mission of China to the UN in Geneva and the UN headquarters in Geneva, was performed by some 60 artists from the China National Opera House, together with a few local European artists.

The nearly 20 music works being performed during the concert include arias from famous operas, Chinese and western piano and violin pieces, and famous folk songs from China, Italy, Russia and some other countries.

Yu Jianhua, the Permanent Representative of China to the UN Office at Geneva, said after the concert that Chinese and Western musicians have teamed up to perform Chinese and Western classics, reflecting the openness and tolerance of Chinese culture and the mutual understanding of civilizations of all countries.

"This concert also shows the excellent situation of the harmonious development of China's socialist spiritual civilization and material civilization since the reform and opening up, the blending and cultural prosperity of all ethnic groups," he noted.

The year 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the China's reform and opening-up.

Zhao Yuan, the general art director and conductor of the concert, said that in this concert, such famous Chinese songs like "My Motherland" "On the Field of Hope" were warmly received by the audience, showing that culture is the best messenger, and music is the bridge among hearts from different nations.

"I believe this concert will definitely leave an important page in the hearts of many audience," Zhao said.