Artists from China and Belarus staged a concert in Brussels on Thursday to celebrate the friendship between the two countries, drawing an enthusiastic audience that included mostly diplomats and overseas Chinese.

Chinese and Belorussian artists performed 18 music pieces that included the well-known folk songs Swan Goose from China and Katyusha from Belarus. Other classic opera selections and violin works also won warm applause.

The concert was jointly sponsored by the embassies of China and Belarus in Belgium and the Chinese Cultural Center in Brussels.

"Music is a common language. I believe that our artists tonight will create sparks igniting a strong engine driving forward the China-Belarus friendship and cooperation," said Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Cao Zhongming in his opening remarks.