From May 23 to 27, a delegation from the Academy attended the 22nd Busan International Performing Art Festival (BIPAF) in Busan, Republic of Korea, at the invitation of its organizing committee.

The delegation included Yang Shuo, Party Branch Secretary and Director of the Directing Department; Lin Weiran, Director of Domestic Cooperation and Exchange; Ju Ping, Director of Foreign Affairs; Piao Chunmei, staff member of the Foreign Affairs Office; and Li Zhipeng, staff member of the Domestic Cooperation and Exchange Office.

This year’s BIPAF, themed 'Regeneration & Balance', featured 58 theatrical productions from 14 countries worldwide. The festival focused on diverse expressions of theatrical art, cross-cultural exchange, and avant-garde creative trends, establishing a broad international platform for cultural dialogue.

On the evening of the 23rd, the BIPAF opening ceremony was held at the Busan Cinema Center. The delegation attended the ceremony and watched the opening performance of ‘Tragudia -- the Song of Oedipus’ by Sardegna Theatre from Italy.

On the 24th, the delegation met with BIPAF Director Son Baung-tae, and both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Guilin Festival and BIPAF. They exchanged insights on the evolution, featured events, and operational experiences of their respective festivals and engaged in in-depth discussions on future collaboration.

Yang Shuo signed the MoU with BIPAF Chairman Son Baung-tae

On the 25th, the BIPAF Forum took place at the Adapter Theatre. As a guest speaker, Yang Shuo comprehensively introduced the Guilin Festival —co-hosted by the Academy, the Publicity Department of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangxi, and the Guilin Municipal Government. He highlighted the festival’s successes in integrating local culture with theatrical arts and enhancing urban cultural influence. His insightful presentation drew significant attention and sparked lively discussions among attendees.

Yang Shuo delivering a speech at the BIPAF Forum

Group photo of the delegation and forum guests

On the 26th, the delegation participated in the ‘GLOBAL CONNECT’ session of BIPAF. Members engaged in face-to-face exchanges with creative teams from outstanding productions, discussing opportunities for theatrical exchange between the Guilin Festival and BIPAF. The goal is to build a richer, more diverse platform for theatrical art through resource sharing.

This visit to BIPAF fully showcased the unique charm and innovative achievements of the Guilin Festival, laying a solid foundation for future multi-level and multi-faceted collaborations. It also strengthened the Academy’s ties with international theatre organizations and festival platforms, playing a positive role in integrating China’s performance ecosystem into the global landscape and promoting the development of international theatre culture.

Delegation Visits Dongseo University

During the festival, the delegation also visited Dongseo University in Republic of Korea. They held friendly talks with university representatives, including Hahn Kyung-ho, Director of International Office, and Oh Se-joon, Chair of the Musical Entertainment Department. The delegation learned about Dongseo University’s history and educational strengths, discussed the cultivation of professionals and international exchange, and attended a performance of the physical theatre piece ‘Unanswered Question’ by the university’s Musical Entertainment Department on the evening of the 25th.