On May 17, 30 young artists from the University of British Columbia (UBC) Opera Ensemble came to Suzhou for the “Discover Jiangsu—International Youth Exchange Program”. Together with 67 students from Soochow University Symphony Orchestra, they presented a Chinese opera adaptation of the classic play Thunderstorm.

Yang Shubing, Deputy Director-General of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, attended and addressed the event. Also present were Liu Bo, Vice Mayor of Suzhou Municipal Government, and Zha Zuoming, Vice President of Soochow University.

Deputy Director-General Yang noted that Jiangsu has maintained close educational exchanges with Canada. Soochow University has signed cooperation agreements with over ten renowned Canadian universities including UBC.

"The performance of this Chinese classic play Thunderstorm by Canadian artists in Mandarin, accompanied by Soochow University musicians, is not only a tribute to art but also a vivid reflection of cultural exchange." Yang said. 

During the visit, the delegation will visit cultural sites in Suzhou and Nanjing, and present another performance at Nanjing University of the Arts on May 19.

Over the past ten years since the launch of the "Discover Jiangsu" program, more than 2,000 international teenagers have been invited to Jiangsu for exchanges, making it an important platform for cultural exchanges.