(Yicai) July 30 -- The National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, the venue for the annual China International Import Expo, hosted two high-end outdoor symphony concerts to begin the 100-day countdown to the seventh edition of the exhibition. 

Held in the NECC's South Plaza, the two concerts were part of a "100 Days Countdown to the CIIE" event and drew more than 4,000 attendees, including representatives from nearly 100 consulates and embassies and over 300 exhibitors. The CIIE will be held from Nov. 5 through Nov. 10.

Nearly 160 artists from the Shanghai Opera Symphony Orchestra and Shanghai Opera House Choir collaborated with several top singers active on the international stage to present nine classic opera excerpts spanning a history of over a century, including Carmen, La Traviata, and Madama Butterfly on July 27.

The day after, artists from the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra presented works from around the world to showcase the unique charm of music from different countries and cultures. Chinese artists performed French works and vice-versa as this year marks the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between China and France, with the European country being the guest of honor at the seventh CIIE.

Recordings of the two concerts were uploaded to the European Broadcasting Union platform via the Classical 94.7 frequency of the Shanghai People's Radio Station. The broadcasts are available to over a hundred radio stations and online platforms in nearly 60 countries and regions under the EBU.

The "100 Days Countdown to the CIIE" event, jointly organized by the CIIE Bureau, the NECC, and Shanghai Media Group, aims to convey through music the vision of harmonious coexistence and mutual development between China and other countries in trade, economy, and culture. It also seeks to broadcast a message of peace, friendship, and cooperation from the Asian nation to the world while showing the richness of Shanghai's urban life and its friendly business environment.

Following the development and operation of new "business + culture" products such as the "International Light Festival," SMG has taken an innovative approach by taking part in creating an outdoor music festival. By coordinating the skills of its various business units, the media group provided critical technical support for the successful run of the event and information spread.

Co-organizing the music festival shows SMG's new image as a modern mainstream full-media group with enhanced international influence, technological innovation, and industry competitiveness.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev