Chinese puppet show staged in Chile in celebration of Year of Horse

Chinese performers presented a captivating puppet show in the coastal Chilean city of Vina del Mar, as part of the celebrations for the upcoming Chinese Year of the Horse.

Titled "the Charm of the Oriental Puppet," the show was presented on Tuesday by the renowned Rugao Puppet Art Troupe, whose purpose is to preserve and promote one of the oldest and most representative performing arts of China's cultural tradition.

Through music, movement and visual storytelling, the performances recreated a journey that transcend time and space through classic stories, scenes from Chinese opera and pieces full of humor and poetry. The high artistic standard left a strong impression on the audience.

"It was really amazing and wonderful. The rich and splendid performances were truly eye-opening. It was really special," said Lucila Gomez, a spectator.

Vanessa Grondona, director of the Municipal Theater of Vina del Mar, noted the overwhelming enthusiasm from the audience.

"Our theater was completely packed today, with some people even unable to get in. A full house is a testament to the audience's strong interest in Chinese culture," said Grondana.

The event also featured a promotional video for China Media Group (CMG)'s upcoming 2026 Spring Festival Gala, which has sparked anticipation for the cultural spectacle.

"Through today's Spring Festival Gala promotional video, we witnessed the fusion of traditional and modern culture, making Chinese culture more accessible to the people of Chile," said Roberto Lafontaine, director of the Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation Foundation.

Chinese puppet show staged in Chile in celebration of Year of Horse

Chinese puppet show staged in Chile in celebration of Year of Horse

Chinese puppet show staged in Chile in celebration of Year of Horse

Chinese puppet show staged in Chile in celebration of Year of Horse

China stands ready to work with Uzbekistan to usher in a new "golden decade" for bilateral relations, as the two sides celebrate the 10th anniversary of the China-Uzbekistan comprehensive strategic partnership, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday during a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2026 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Xi said that under the guidance of the two heads of state, China and Uzbekistan have elevated and upgraded their bilateral relations, reaped fruitful results in cooperation across various fields, and achieved remarkable success in building a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future.

China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to consolidate strategic mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly usher in a new "golden decade" for bilateral relations, he said.

No matter how the international landscape may evolve, China's commitment to deepening China-Uzbekistan friendship remains unwavering, Xi said, adding that China will, as always, support Uzbekistan in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions.

He called on the two countries to work together to advance bilateral cooperation.

Both sides should promote the high-quality construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, expand cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and desertification control, and uphold mutual benefit, Xi said.

He stressed the need to speed up the establishment of cultural centers in each other's country, expand cooperation in education and poverty alleviation, and foster people-to-people bonds.

It's important to make full use of the law enforcement and security cooperation mechanism between the two countries, and join hands to fight the three forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, Xi said.

As the SCO's founding members, China and Uzbekistan should work together to implement the outcomes of the Tianjin Summit, and advance regional development and prosperity, he said.

Mirziyoyev said that Uzbekistan remains firmly committed to developing relations with China and will not change this course amid shifts in the international landscape.

Uzbekistan is willing to work with China to deepen political mutual trust, expand trade and investment, strengthen cooperation in agriculture, transportation, energy, minerals, and science and technology, promote people-to-people exchanges, and fight the three forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, advancing the further development of bilateral relations, he said.

The Uzbek side firmly upholds the one-China principle, highly values the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi, and stands ready to work with China to advance the SCO development and uphold international fairness and justice, Mirziyoyev said.

Xi arrived in the Kyrgyz capital on Sunday for the SCO Summit 2026 and a state visit to Kyrgyzstan.

China ready to work with Uzbekistan to usher in new "golden decade" for bilateral relations