THE Shenzhen Opera and Dance Drama Theater, established this March 28, was officially inaugurated Tuesday. Senior Party and government officials of the city attended the inauguration ceremony, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

While inspecting work at the theater, Li Xiaogan, head of the municipal Party committee’s publicity department, was briefed about the theater’s development and challenges. Li highly appreciated the rapid development of the theater over the past six months since its establishment.

Li said that the level of an art troupe represents a city’s soft power through cultural development, and setting up the opera and dance drama theater is a key step in making Shenzhen a global cultural hub as well as satisfying the people’s increasing demand for more diverse cultural events.

The head of the publicity department expects the theater to become one of the best art troupes in China and represent Shenzhen’s efforts in cultural development. Li hopes that artists hired by the theater will create art masterpieces that resonate with Shenzhen residents as well as entertain and satisfy all audiences.

The theater is located on Meihua Road in Futian District and is a State-owned cultural enterprise directly under the publicity department. The theater staged its debut performance before the National Day holiday this September.

(Zhang Qian)