How a night of musical excellence is building a bridge between Canadian and Chinese culture

Between the recent winter Olympics and Paralympics, Canada is in its cultural celebration era.

The Bank of China Canada (BOCC) is keeping the good vibes rolling with a historic collaboration that bridges Eastern and Western arts into an event that can be appreciated and loved by all.

An epic cultural collaboration

Attendees of the BOCC Cultural Dialogue, When Peking Opera Meets Western Classical Music. Bank of China Canada

BOCC just supported a landmark Canada tour by China National Peking Opera Company in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, which drew warm enthusiasm and highly positive feedback from audiences and local communities.

During the tour, BOCC hosted a cultural dialogue between the China National Peking Opera Company and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) for the Lunar New Year. Featuring Peking Opera masters Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu, the program included live opera. Featuring Peking Opera masters Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu, the program included live opera excerpts, artistic dialogues, and leadership remarks from the TSO, BOCC, and the Consulate General of PRC in Toronto.

“Cultural exchange is playing an increasingly important role in strengthening mutual understanding,” said Jun Deng, President & CEO of BOCC at the VIP reception in Ottawa on Feb. 8. “The China National Peking Opera’s Canada tour offers a powerful example of how art brings people closer beyond language and borders.”

Beyond economic ties, BOCC is equally committed to fostering cultural and people-to-people exchanges that deepen mutual understanding between China and Canada

This dialogue offered a meaningful opportunity for Eastern and Western artistic traditions to learn from one another and demonstrated how cultural exchange can take new and inspiring forms.

The Bank of China legacy

Peking Opera performance during the Canada Tour. Bank of China Canada

This isn’t the first time Bank of China has sparked cultural exchange. Its legacy dates back to the 1930s, when the Bank of China supported legendary artist Mei Lanfang’s historic tour across the United States, where he took the hearts of American theatre lovers by storm. At a time when worldwide economic instability led to a rise in nationalism and authoritarianism, this tour was hailed as a triumph of trans-Pacific understanding.

Mutual understanding and trust are as important today as they were back then. BOCC proudly carries on the legacy, sponsoring TSO Lunar New Year concerts since 2024 — including the recent Feb. 28 event — to merge symphonic music with Chinese traditions, and supporting world-class arts flows both ways.

TSO Lunar New Year Concert sponsored by BOCC. Bank of China Canada

BOCC remains a steadfast bridge for modern East-West dialogue, Canada-China economic cooperation, and people-to-people bonds through music’s universal language.

To learn more about how BOCC is fostering economic cooperation and people-to-people bonds between China and Canada, check out its LinkedIn or visit a branch near you.

Kendall Bistretzan

Branded Content Writer

Kendall Bistretzan is a Calgary-based writer, reporter, and coffee enthusiast. In her spare time, she loves to read, have dinner with friends, and sing in her car. She is currently querying her debut fiction novel. You can find her on Instagram @kendallbistwrites.

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