On February 9, 2009, Vice President of the European Parliament, Mr. Edward McMillan-Scott, hosted a reception at the European Parliament to welcome the European Tour of the Divine Performing Arts. The president of the European Parliament, Mr. Hans-Gert Pottering, also sent a congratulatory note to the Divine Performing Arts. At the reception, many European VIPs said that they saw the performance last year and were deeply impressed. They strongly recommended people to see it this year.
"Tell everyone to see the performance, appreciate it and do your best to support the idea behind the show."
British member of the European Parliament Mr. Gerard Batten at the reception
British member of the European Parliament Mr. Gerard Batten saw the performance with his wife and youngest son in London last year. Talking about his feeling afterwards, he said: "I have never seen such a good performance. We had a wonderful night, and really enjoyed the performance. This is an excellent introduction to traditional Chinese culture. Anyone, regardless of their background, can appreciate this show."
Mr. Batten said he liked all the programs, that they were truly wonderful. One scene gave him an especially lasting impression - it was about people detained in prison by the Chinese Communist regime being tortured: "This scene has remained with me all the time because I know it is true. It reflects a human tragedy in this world. It has been like this since the Chinese Communist Party took power in 1949. I am deeply impressed by this scene and greatly appreciate it. It is very inspirational."
He said at the reception: "The most terrible tragedy of the 20th and 21st centuries is that China is still under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. China has such a long and glorious history and civilization in the world. We in the western society don't know much [about it]. This is why the performance by the Divine Performing Arts is so great. It displays the genuine Chinese culture."
He pointed out: "Moreover we know that the Chinese Communist Party's tyranny is doomed to end. It is impossible for it to suppress its people forever. When that moment comes, when the Chinese Communist regime collapses, it will be very difficult to rebuild things destroyed by the regime. Therefore this performance, which shows the best of the Chinese culture, will provide people a model. This is truly a great event."
He stressed: "Tell everyone to see the performance, appreciate it and do your best to support the idea behind the show."
Lastly he conveyed his best wishes for the European tour of the Divine Performing Arts this year: "We greatly appreciate the efforts by the Divine Performing Arts. I believe the performance will be a great success. I look forward to seeing the show again in London in March. I hope everyone at the show will have a good time."
"Wherever the Divine Performing Arts goes, people there will be very pleased and happy"
Jose Happart, former chairman of the Committee of the Regions of the European
Union
Former Chairman of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union Jose Happart attended the performance in Antwerp,"I think it is very interesting to experience such a performance. Moreover it is good to know there are a group of people behind the performance who want to do some very positive things. Therefore I was very pleased to go to Antwerp to see the show. I was a bit sad when the show ended."
Mr. Happart was a government minister in Belgium for twenty-five years. He is a renowned politician. About the 2009 European Tour of the Divine Performing Arts, he said: "I firmly believe if the Divine Performing Arts has a world tour, wherever it goes, people there will be very pleased and happy. Therefore we must encourage everyone to go and see the performance."
