The opening ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Committee for external relations of St. Petersburg Evgeny Grigoriev, first Deputy Chairman of the Committee on interethnic relations and implementation of migration policy in St. Petersburg Vadim Okrushko, Deputy Consul General of China in St. Petersburg Mr. Zhang Wei, leaders and representatives of religious and national communities of St. Petersburg and other honored guests.
In his welcoming speech to the participants and guests of the evening Evgeny Grigoriev noted that St. Petersburg from the first days of its Foundation was a multinational city. Representatives of more than 130 different peoples of Russia and the world currently live on the banks of the Neva. The city has developed a tradition of mutual respect for the customs and culture of each other. "China is also a multiethnic country, whose territory is inhabited by 56 nationalities, speak different languages, different religions have their own traditions and customs, – said E. D. Grigoriev. "And holding festivals that reveal the diversity and identity of each of the peoples, no doubt, help to maintain mutual interest."
During the concert were presented numbers of Kalmyks, Tuvans, Buryats, Koreans and Chinese. Demonstration performances of Wushu and chamber orchestra of folk instruments "Buffoons" of St. Petersburg state Institute of culture took place.
Also for everyone there were master classes in Chinese, calligraphy and Mahjong.