Chinese artists perform during the Chinese New Year celebrations to mark the Spring Festival at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, on Jan. 11, 2020. A Chinese troupe from Sichuan Province on Saturday staged a captivating performance here at Uganda's top university, Makerere University as part of celebrations to mark the Spring Festival. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

KAMPALA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese troupe from Sichuan Province on Saturday staged a captivating performance here at Uganda's top university, Makerere University as part of celebrations to mark the Spring Festival.

The Sichuan Province Song and Dance Theatre troupe performed Chinese folk songs, acrobatics, dancing among others to an audience, which included students, business people and members of the Chinese community in Uganda.

Chinese kung fu, a happy clown-acrobatic and magic show, and a group opera dance, were some of the show's major highlights.

The show was sponsored by China's ministry of culture and tourism and the Chinese embassy in Uganda.

Chen Huixin, a Chinese diplomat, said the bilateral relations between the two countries continue to grow.

"Our mutual political trust has been enhanced significantly and our cooperation in the field of Belt and Road, industrial parks and investment has also yield substantial benefit to the people of both countries."

Barnabas Nawangwe, vice chancellor of Makerere University, said as an academic institution, Makerere needs to continue studying China, one of the oldest surviving civilizations in the world and also the world's second largest economy.

Nawangwe said as an intuition of learning, the knowledge acquired can be used to transform Uganda.

The cultural performance was held ahead of another grand show that will be held at Kololo Independence grounds in the capital Kampala.

"What intrigued most about this show were the dances, they were so fast and interesting," Mark Tumusiime, one of the Makerere University students who attended the show told Xinhua.

The celebrations are held ahead of the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year. The Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 25 this year.