OTTAWA, June 7 (Xinhua) -- China's ambassador to Canada was so impressed with an Ottawa Symphony Orchestra (OSO) fundraising event held at his residence in Ottawa Thursday that he would like it to serve as a model for the diplomatic community in the Chinese capital.

Zhang Junsai told Xinhua that embassies in Beijing could host similar events to help promote and raise money for Chinese arts groups. "Culture has no borders Oakley Flak Jacket Sunglasses," he said.

The OSO's annual Fete champetre, or garden party, was the 24th it has held at an ambassadorial residence in Canada's capital and the first time China played host.

OSO President Martha Hynna said the 100-member orchestra looks for locations that would attract patrons and knew people would be interested in coming to the Chinese ambassador's official residence in Ottawa's well-heeled Rockcliffe Park enclave.

About 200 people attended the event held on a warm late spring early evening under sunny skies. Guests had access to the main floor of the ambassador's sprawling two-storey red brick residence as well as the spacious garden area, with pool, while they sipped wine, dined on a buffet of Chinese fare and were entertained by a string quartet composed of University of Ottawa graduate music students being mentored by the OSO.

With more cultural interactions such as Thursday's OSO fundraiser, "Chinese and Canadians will make friends and develop a closer bond between each other," Zhang told the crowd.

He reminded guests that during Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to China in February, the two countries committed to holding a series of cultural activities in each other's countries in 2013 and 2014.

"That means the peoples of our two countries will have more chances to appreciate the nature of each other's culture and then develop better knowledge of and a closer friendship between each other," Zhang said.

The OSO has already had its own Canada-China cultural exchange through past collaborations with performance troupes from China, and the ambassador said he would like the Ottawa orchestra to perform in his country as early as next year.

He said Thursday's garden party could only help promote bilateral relations between China and Canada by bringing people together through something they all share in common.

"People appreciate music, whether they are Chinese or Canadian Oakley Crosshair 2.0 Sunglasses," explained 58-year-old, Shanghai-born Zhang, who indulged his love of classical music as a frequent attendee at the Sydney Opera House in Australia where he also served as ambassador prior to his appointment to Canada in 2010.

Tags: Chinese Ambassador Hosts Ottawa Orchestra Fundraiser At Official Residence

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