REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MEDAN - Medan hosted a Chinese Xinjiang Cultural Night, presenting songs and dances of ethnic Muslim Gurneys on Friday evening. Among those performing were noted Xinjiang singer Izzat Ilyas, the Nazirkum dance group, and the Hayrat Azi acrobatic group. In addition to singing Uygur`s "Qebiyat Mukam" songs, Izzat Ilyas also sang a famous Indonesian song entitled "Bengawan Solo".

The cultural night was held at the Foreign Language Institute-Asian International Friendship (STBA-PIA) and acting North Sumatra Governor Gatot Pujo Nugroho was in attendance. Nugroho, in his remarks, said he was pleased that the Xinjiang cultural night had been organized in Medan. The event demonstrated the close ties between China and Indonesia, particularly between Xinjiang and North Sumatra.

North Sumatra lawmaker Brilian Moktar, who was also present, said the cultural night was expected to help continue strengthen relations between China and Indonesia. Meanwhile, Chinese Consul General in Medan Yang Ling Zhu, in a written statement, noted that China and Indonesia are both multi-cultural and multi-ethnic nations.

Zhu explained, China had 56 ethnic groups, including 10 Muslim ethnic groups such as Uyghur. There are about 20 million Muslims in China.

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