Tonga's cultural group opens show at Guangdong Expo [1]
Friday, October 28, 2016 - 18:03
A Tongan cultural group was among performers from three countries opening the show at the Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo on 27 October, a four-day event that has attracted over 40 countries with more than 2000 booths and over 100,000 people at Dongguan City, People's Republic of China.
Joining Australia and Hawaii in the opening act, talented Tongan cultural dancers from Hawaii led by Walter and Telesia Tonga and the reigning Miss Heilala Laura Lauti performed traditional Tongan dances and a cultural presentation. They celebrated hrough song and dance the epic ocean voyaging stories of Tongan ancestors who in their efforts to expand a Tongan empire developed their own unique trade pathways. Sometimes along these journeys alliances were forged and other times enemies made, reported Tupouseini Taumoepeau, of Tourism Tonga, who is with the group in China.
Tonga's Olympic flag bearer Pita Taufatofua, also joined the group with local Tongan artists specialising in carving and handicrafts as well as officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Tonga.
Guangdong Province is China’s largest exporter and importer of goods, an international city of trade with a history in manufacturing and agriculture. It is also China’s largest populated region with over 108 million people.