From August 13th to 17th, a 13-member delegation of the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe visited Fiji at the invitation of the Fiji 2008 Hibiscus Committee.

During the visit, H.E. Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, President of Fiji and the First Lady received the delegation at the Government House, and enjoyed the artists' excellent performance. The delegation also performed at the main stage of the 2008 Hibiscus Festival and for local Chinese community. Their novel shows and consummate skills amazed the audience a great deal. The applause and cheer never ceased. Fiji TV and other local media reported the performances. The visit is crowned with a complete success.

H.E. Cai Jinbiao, the Chinese Ambassador to Fiji and Mrs. Cai and some other diplomats from the Chinese Embassy attended the above-mentioned events. Amb. Cai said, Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe is one of the most famous acrobatic troupes in China. During their visit here, the 29th Beijing Olympics is going on. The athletes from the whole world are competing on the Olympic arena, and the world records have been broken one after another. The artists of the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe not only stage excellent performances, but also bring the Olympic spirit to Fiji. Through their performances, they are sharing with the Fiji people the happiness that 1.3 billion people get in hosting the Olympic Games. The visit will certainly help the Fiji people better understand the Chinese traditional art, expand cultural exchanges between the two countries, and promote friendship between the two countries and their peoples.

 

 

Mr. Yuan Bintang, Chairman of Fiji's Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification of China welcomed the visit of Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe on behalf of the local Chinese communities. He said, although Fiji is distant from China, the Chinese residing in Fiji have long been looking forward to the opening of the Beijing Olympics. They are following the Games closely, excited for Chinese athletes' outstanding achievements. Mr. Yuan said, the delegation of the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe not only brings joy to the local Chinese, but also the flavor of the Beijing Olympics. Thanks to their performances, the atmosphere of the Olympics in Fiji is getting more and more ardent.

 

Mr. Josefa Gavidi, Deputy Mayor of Suva and Deputy Chairman of 2008 Hibiscus Committee gave high praise of the performances by the Chinese artists. He said, although most of the Fijian people can not go to Beijing to watch Olympic Games, it seems that these performances have moved the excitements of Beijing Olympics to the stage of Hibiscus. The future visits of Chinese acrobatic troupes will be always welcomed.

Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, founded in 1957, enjoys critical acclaim both in China and more than 40 countries and regions. It has won the Gold Lion Award at the 4th China Wuqiao International Acrobatics Festival, the Presidential Award of France, the special award at the 25th International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo, etc. During the visit in Fiji, the artists performed programmes like ballet on shoulder, diabolo playing and funny cooks.