At the invitation of the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SPAFFC), Ms. Lada Phumas, Thai Consul-General, joined other Consuls-General and representatives of Consulates-General in Shanghai in the 2023 Lantern Festival Special Program at Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe on Shaoxing Road on 5 February 2023.
At the opening, Mr. Chen Jing, President of SPAFFC thanked all foreign friends for their support to Shanghai over the past year, including COVID-19 prevention and control, and encouraged greater cooperation in 2023 in the forms of trade, investment as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
This event was highly educational as it introduced Kunqu Opera, originated in the city of Kunshan near Shanghai over 600 years ago and inscribed as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in 2008, to the consular corps and foreign guests in Shanghai.
所有嘉宾一齐参观了上海昆剧团展示中心，欣赏了昆曲选段的精美表演，并欣赏了京剧和评弹等表演及介绍。All the guests were able to visit the Exhibition Hall of Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe and enjoy the exquisite performances of Kunqu Opera excerpts and the introduction of Beijing Opera and Pingtan Opera.
Traditional tea break with Yuangxiao, Tangyuan and other Chinese desserts and tea were served. Interactive activities such as wearing costumes, applying opera makeup, paper cutting and doll painting were also provided to enhance understanding about Chinese culture at the Lantern Festival.
Consul-General Lada expressed her gratitude to President Chen, who is concurrently Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress. Active engagement and collaboration between the two sides has helped strengthen Thailand - Shanghai relations and mutual friendship between the two peoples.
