Gaza musician bravely keeps on playing to deliver sounds of joy amid devastation

Amid the rubble and relentless hardship of the Gaza Strip, a young displaced musician refuses to let war silence his strings, playing every day to bring fleeting moments of joy to those around him.

Samih Al-Madhoon, a resilient young performer who is still only 18-years-old, has been left displaced at the Al-Shati Camp in Gaza, but his love for music burns strongly and gives him a sense of hope for the future, despite whatever challenges lie ahead.

The Israel-Hamas conflict saw him lose his home and most of the things he held dear in life, including having to leave behind his beloved musical instrument.

"I tried to stay consistent with my playing and my talent, and to stay continuing in this path, but unfortunately during this period of displacement I lost my oud. I lost my instrument, and I lost many things that belong to me in music. And I lost [the ability to play] musical notes," he said. However, when he finally returned to playing, holding his cherished oud in his hands once more, he said he cried at once again being able to express himself through music.

Al-Madhoon has continued his musical career with a sense of determination, persistence, and talent that belies the chaos he has witnessed all around him.

He said he wants to use his music to comfort his peers who are currently living in harsh conditions, and he is seen regularly performing to others as he looks to ease people's pain all around him.

"Through music, I deliver my voice and the voice of the people of Gaza Strip, and the people of Palestine in general, that we are people who love life and peace. During this period, during the war, I play to comfort them, to make them a little happier, and to change their mood," he said.

The young performer still hopes that he will be able to live a peaceful life and perhaps one day get the chance to pursue his musical dreams on bigger stages, instead of amid the ruins and rubble of the destroyed streets of Gaza.

"My wish is to live in safety and peace, build new houses for us, rebuild the home, rebuild my memories with music, return to learning music, and to be on big stages. And I hope that I can leave to complete my studies outside the Gaza Strip and become a maestro in music," he said.

Gaza musician bravely keeps on playing to deliver sounds of joy amid devastation

Chinese President Xi Jinping and visiting French President Emmanuel Macron held friendly exchanges on Friday in Dujiangyan in Chengdu, the capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Macron arrived in Chengdu on the previous evening for the second stop of his three-day state visit to China at the invitation of President Xi.

Upon their arrival in Chengdu, Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, were warmly received by Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan. Welcoming them to Sichuan, which is known in China as the "Land of Abundance", Xi recalled his visit last year to France's Hautes-Pyrenees Department at Macron's invitation. Xi said he believed that Macron's latest visit will help further deepen his understanding of China.

The two presidents together visited the more than two-millennia-old Dujiangyan irrigation system, a major water conservancy project located along the Minjiang River which was built during China's Warring States period (475-221 BC) and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Xi noted that the Dujiangyan irrigation system is the world's only ancient irrigation project still in operation today, and also one of the earliest successful practices of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, adding that its construction process fully reflects the Chinese nation's spirit of constant self-improvement, fearlessness in the face of hardships, and courage to forge ahead.

Macron is set to conclude his state visit to China later on Friday, after having held talks with senior Chinese leaders in Beijing before traveling to Chengdu late on Thursday.

The French president is currently embarking on his fourth state visit to the country, with this being a reciprocal visit following President Xi's historic trip to France last year which came as the two sides marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.

The city of Chengdu also has a long-standing relationship with France. In 1981, Chengdu and France's Montpellier became the first pair of sister cities between the two countries.

Xi, Macron visit site of ancient irrigation system in Chengdu