Chinese President Xi Jinping has replied to a letter from Matias Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

In his reply, Xi said he was delighted to learn that the Philadelphia Orchestra comes to China in November for the 13th time and cooperate with Chinese to organize a series of performance and exchange activities, commemorating its first visit to China in 1973 and continuing the musical friendship spanning half a century with the Chinese people.

Fifty years ago, the orchestra embarked on an "ice-breaking journey" of cultural exchange between China and the United States, which was of great significance in the normalization of China-U.S. relations, Xi said, adding that in the past 50 years, the orchestra, as a "cultural ambassador" actively shuttling between China and the United States, has visited China 12 times, playing a positive role in promoting the development of China-U.S. relations.

Today, fifty years later, the Philadelphia Orchestra, along with the China National Symphony Orchestra and singers from various countries, will perform in China, which will undoubtedly become a precious story in the history books, he added.

Xi said that music transcends borders, and culture builds bridges. Hoping that the Philadelphia Orchestra and artists from various countries, including China and the United States, will adhere to the principles of equal civilization, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness, he called for close communication and cooperation to promote artistic prosperity, and to continue the new chapter of cultural exchanges and friendly relations between the Chinese and American people.

In September 1973, the Philadelphia Orchestra visited China for the first time, becoming the first American orchestra to visit the country after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Recently, Tarnopolsky wrote a letter to Xi, reviewing the history of the orchestra's exchanges with China and introducing the situation of the commemorative performance and exchange activities to be held in China in November to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the orchestra's first visit to China. The letter expressed the hope that through music, the orchestra can continue to build a bridge of communication between the people and cultures of the two countries.

(Cover: Matias Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, receives an interview with Xinhua in Philadelphia, the United States, January 6, 2023. /Xinhua)