In a vibrant celebration of shared heritage, artists from the Chinese mainland, India, Pakistan, and Russia recently converged under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) banner to perform a groundbreaking drum ensemble. The event showcased China's thunderous tanggu drums and narrative-rich Jingyun Dagu, India's intricate tabla rhythms, and collaborative improvisations with Pakistani dholak and Russian buben players.
Held in Beijing, the performance symbolized the SCO's growing role as a platform for cultural diplomacy. 'When our drums synchronize, differences dissolve,' remarked one participating artist, highlighting how traditional instruments became conduits for cross-cultural dialogue.
Analysts note such initiatives align with the SCO's 2023-2027 cultural cooperation agenda, which prioritizes people-to-people exchanges alongside economic and security collaboration. The festival attracted diplomats, cultural scholars, and over 2,000 attendees, with livestreams reaching audiences in 15 SCO member states and dialogue partners.
For business observers, the event underscores Asia's growing soft power infrastructure – a factor increasingly influencing regional tourism and creative industry investments. The Taiwan region's folk music groups sent observers, reflecting cross-strait cultural engagement trends.
