Tan Sri Tan Sri, Puan Sri Puan Sri, Datuk Seri Datuk Seri, Datin Seri Datin Seri, Datuk Datuk, Datin Datin, tuan tuan dan puan puan yang dihormati sekalian.

Your Excellences Ambassadors and High Commissioners,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to thank all those present in this hall for your kind participation in tonight's event. I also want to express my sincere gratitude to our sponsors - the "JW Marriott" hotel - our old and kind friend, for the magnificently decorated hall in which tonight's event takes place, as well as the "Yamaha" company, which has made great efforts to deliver such a grand piano to the 6 level to enthrall us with its sound. I believe that it would probably be impossible to hold this concert without their active participation.

This piano recital is remarkable and unique in its own way, and I will explain why. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Malaysia, as well as the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Russian-Malaysian agreement on cultural cooperation. By noting these two anniversaries, we recall the rich history of friendship between our countries and peoples, their mutually respectful and beneficial cooperation in the fields of politics, trade, science, culture and education.

Tonight's piano recital is the third big event after the reception on April 3, 2017, and the opening of the art exhibition at the National Visual Arts Gallery on May 11, 2017, which were also dedicated to this memorable date. Music is the universal language of mankind, music unites people of different nationalities, music can change the world, because it can change people. So let this concert be a synergy of culture, diplomacy, friendship and love for creativity.

The well-known Danish writer Hans Christian Anderson once said: "Where words fail, music speaks". Music, art and culture know no bounds indeed. Claudia Yang, who will perform her solo concert this evening, is well known in many countries as a talented pianist. She was born in Malaysia, in the state of Johor, where her musical education began. At the age of 6 she performed her first concert. She continued her education in Austria, at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts, and was recognized as the best pianist of 1997. Then there were touring to Hungary, master classes in China, Slovakia, Venezuela, performances with the orchestras of the Philippines, Prague and London.

Currently, Claudia lives and works in Beijing and travels a lot around the world, including Russia. Claudia has special love for Russian classical music. She will perform some of the masterpieces of the famous Russian composers especially for you tonight.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Claudia Yang as the initiator of this concert in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Malaysia.

Let’s give a warm welcome to Claudia and invite her to the stage.