Chinese actor Zhang Jinlai, famous for his role as the “Monkey King” in ’80s Chinese television series “Journey to the West”, recently met with Myanmar fans in Yangon, after his arrival in the former capital city on a visit to Myanmar at the invitation of the Myanmar-China Friendship Association.
Zhang Jinlai, also known by his stage name Liu Xiao Ling Tong (literally: “Little Six Year Old Child”), said: “I came here not only for meeting with Myanmar fans but also for further enhancing Paukphaw (fraternal) friendship between our two peoples.”
Zhang donated K1 million ($1,040) to Su Taung Pyae National Race Youth Development Charity School, home of more than 1,700 students, most of whom orphans or from poor families across the country.
The gathering was sponsored by ASEAN-China Center, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar and the Myanmar-China Friendship Association. Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Yang Houlan,
Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Center Ma Mingqiang and Chairman of Myanmar-China Friendship Association U Sein Win Aung were also present.
The visit of Zhang falls on China-ASEAN culture exchange year and plays a major role in culture exchange between Myanmar and China, said Ma.
Zhang later visited the new capital Nay Pyi Taw and the second largest city Mandalay.
Zhang’s Myanmar visit is the second of a Chinese actor after Hollywood star Jackie Chan visited Myanmar on a UNICEF program in 2012.
Zhang portrayed the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) in the 1986 television series Journey to the West, which was adapted from the classic novel of the same title.
