Shanghai Expo music concert receives ovation in Vancouver

VANCOUVER -?A music concert was held here Sunday night to promote the 2010 Shanghai Expo as well as to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Sino-Canadian diplomatic relations.

The concert, sponsored by the Canadian Alliance of Chinese Association, received a standing ovation with popular songs and music performed by Chinese artists from Shanghai Light Music Troupe.

To coincide with the 40th anniversary of Sino-Canadian diplomatic relations, the Chinese artists started and ended the performance with the Canadian song "Red River Valley" to express their best wishes for the development of bilateral ties.

"The 2010 Shanghai Expo is a great opportunity for all Canadians to take pride in Canada's rich cultural diversity, flourishing arts scene and leading-edge business and technology sectors which are coming together seamlessly, resulting in a highly visible and dynamic presence at Expo 2010," Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said in a message.

"This special occasion provides a wonderful opportunity to highlight Sino-Canadian ties," Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in his greeting letter to the concert, noting that Canada and China have a multi-faceted relationship with signigicant cooperation across many policy areas.

"Over the course of four decades, our two nations have enjoyed an increasingly prosperous relationship as innovative and engaged partners," he said.

Calling on Canadians to go to Shanghai for the expo, Alice Wong, a member of parliament, said she will join many Canadian ministers to visit the upcoming expo in May.