A signing ceremony of strategic cooperation between Beijing’s Economic-Technological Development Area (E-Town) and the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) took place on April 18, 2016. The ceremony was followed by the debut in the Bona Starlight Theatre of Yang Shilei, a play created by the NCPA depicting the legendary story of a craftsman’s family.

Wang Zhengming, deputy secretary and vice-president of the NCPA, delivered a speech at the launch ceremony. Wang pointed out that E-Town attaches equal importance to development of the high-tech and manufacturing industries and cultural construction. This strategic cooperation between E-Town and the NCPA best demonstrates the integration and resonance of the “two engines” of technology and art. More areas for cooperation such as art performance and play production will be explored between the two sides.

Gao Yanjie, vice-president of E-Town’s working committee, also addressed the ceremony, saying that the NCPA is the supreme venue for performing arts in China and the leader in art education and popularization. By inviting artisans to E-Town to perform high level classic arts and organizing events in the NCPA, E-Town and the NCPA will cultivate together a regional cultural life to satisfy people’s need for high level artistic expression. He stated that cooperation is bound to create a beautiful encounter between classic art and high-tech industry in E-Town.