The 2025 Conference of the World Federation, along with an international Marketing and Communications Forum, comes to China for the first time!
第69届世界国际音乐比赛年度大会
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Dear Members, dear Friends and Colleagues,
It´s a great pleasure to invite you today to the 2025 General Assembly in Harbin, China. We are happy to be back in Asia, and especially excited to visit China for the first time in the Federation´s history. Harbin, a vibrant city at the crossroads of North Asia, boasts a lively history shaped by Russian, Chinese, and European influences over the past century. Once a bustling railway hub on the Trans-Siberian line, Harbin evolved into a cultural melting pot, now renowned for its music scene, with festivals and performances that echo its cosmopolitan roots and gave it the title of UN City of Music. The city’s European- style monuments, like the majestic Saint Sophia Cathedral, stand as enduring symbols of its rich past. While famed for its winter ice festival, Harbin’s summers are equally enchanting, with scenic river parks, open-air concerts, and a thriving café culture bringing the city to life. Following the succes of our WFIMC Marketing Forum in Parma last year, we are planning a similar conference this year. The first two days of the conference, open to the public, will focus on cultural diplomacy and the role of classical music in China and Asia; music education, and various marketing topics. A third conference day will be dedicated to member competitions and World Federation issues. You will find a schedule and basic conference information in these pages in order for you to plan your itinerary and reserve a hotel room. Registration for the conference is now open; more details will follow during the next weeks, along with the official assembly documents. The WFIMC Secretariat as well as our colleagues in Harbin are at your disposal for any information and help you may require- please do not hesitate to contact us.
Welcome to Harbin, China! Yours Sincerely
Peter Paul Kainrath President
Florian Riem Secretary General
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day 1 Wednesday, 25 June 2025 Shangri-La Songbei, Harbin
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Arrival at Harbin See « Access » page in this brochure for information on flights and itineraries. All international delegates will be offered car transfers from Harbin Taiping Airport to the Shangri-La Songbei Hotel.
Hotel Check-in
from 14:00
Conference Registration Shangri-La Hotel/ Lobby
from 16:00
Welcome Reception Hosted by Wang Hesheng, Mayor of Harbin Great Ballroom, Shangri-La Hotel
17:30-19:30
Photo 1 Songhua River, Sun Island and Harbin´s Songbei District 2 Harbin Baroque Quarter
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day 2
Thursday, 26 June 2025 Shangri-La Songbei, Harbin / Harbin Ballroom
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Session I Keynote and Panel Discussion: “Dialogue across Borders- the Role of Cultural Diplomacy amid Geopolitical Challenges” with Michael Haefliger, Douglas Gautier, Chantal Delli and others / Moderator: Florian Riem
09:30-11:00
Coffee and Networking
11:00-11:30
Session II Keynote and Panel Discussion “Classical Music trends in China and beyond- an inventory” with Christel Hon, Douglas Gautier, and representatives of NCPA / Moderator: Peter Paul Kainrath
11:30-13:00
Lunch
13:00-14:30
Session III Panel Discussion “Online Promotion and Marketing Strategies in a rapidly changing environment” with Tiger Lu, Victoria Tafferner and others / Moderator: Rob Hilberink
14:30-15:45
Coffee and Networking
15:45-16:15
WFIMC General Meeting I (full Members only) Alternative Program for Associate Members and Guests tba
16:15-18:00
Excursion Visit to Harbin Baroque Quarter and Dinner
18:30
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day 3
Friday 27 June 2025 Shangri-La Songbei, Harbin / Harbin Ballroom
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Session IV Panel Discussion “Advancing today´s Music Education: Chinese Universities and their international counterparts” with representatives of Shanghai Conservatory, Central Conservatory, China Conservatory, Tianjin Juilliard School, Harbin Conservatory and other institutions / Moderator: Sisi Ye
09:30-11:00
Coffee and Networking
11:00-11:30
Session V Panel Discussion “Building Sustainable Careers- best practices” with Jaques Marquis, Rob Hilberink, and others / Moderator: Päivi Pousar
11:30-13:00
Lunch
13:00-14:30
Expanding your network in China- Round Tables
14:30-16:00
Excursion Visit to Harbin Ice and Snow World (indoors) Songhua River Cruise (with Dinner)
16:30-20:30
Movie Presentation “The spirit of strings”- A documentary on Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld
21:00
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day 4
Saturday 28 June 2025 Harbin Concert Hall / Chamber Hall
Excursion Visit to Harbin Grand Theatre
09:00-11:00
WFIMC General Meeting (Full and Associate Members)
11:00-13:00
Lunch Break A variety of restaurants is available at the nearby Yuanda Shopping Plaza
13:00-15:00
WFIMC Dialogue
15:00-16:00
Bus transfer
16:00
Performance Masterpieces of Chinese Traditional Music Old Synagogue Concert hall Excursion Visit to Central Street, St. Sophia Cathedral Dinner and Return to Hotel
16:30-17:30
17:30-20:00
Photo 3 Harbin Ice and Snow World 4 Harbin- the Paris of the East
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day 5
Sunday 29 June 2025 Departure from Harbin / Visit to Beijing (optional)
Departure for Harbin Airport
08:00
Flight CA8384 (Air China) Harbin (HRB)- Beijing Daxing (PKX)
10:00-12:15
In order to join the optional tour, please make sure to use this flight on the way to Beijing. You can include it in your overall flight itinerary, or you can ask the Secretariat to book the flight for you (see the corresponding section in the GA registration form)
Tour of Beijing Forbidden City and Tien’ anmen Square Visit of NCPA Concert Hall
14:30-17:00
Check-in at Hotel (The Regent Beijing)
Dinner (Peking Duck Restaurant)
20:00
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day 6
Monday 30 June 2025 Excursion to the Great Wall of China / Departure
Excursion to the Great Wall of China (optional) / Departure
09:00
Visit to the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
10:30-15:00
Return to Beijing
17:00
Farewell Dinner
20:00
Departure for Home
Late night
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Hotel information
Accommodation Official Conference Hotel:
Shangri-La Songbei, Harbin No. 1 Songbei Avenue, Songbei Dist. Harbin 150028 PRC
Phone: (86 451) 5862 9999 E-mail: harbinsongbei@shangri-la.com
Check-in time : 2pm Check-out time : 12 noon
Facilities : 344 Guest Rooms 3 Restaurants and 24hr Room Service Health Club, infinity pool, Spa
Access: Harbin Taiping Airport (1 hour/40km by car) Downtown Harbin (Central Street): (30min/ 12km) Rates: A variety of room types are available (you can make your choice in the application form): Deluxe Rooms: from CNY 550 (EUR 70) including breakfast Club Room: from CNY 950 (EUR 121) including breakfast Suite: CNY 1800 (EUR 230) including breakfast
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harbin - direct flight connections
Access While most cities in China have a direct flight to Harbin (HRB), travel from overseas requires a transfer in China (usually Beijing or Shanghai), Hong Kong, South Korea or Japan. The following are the main flight connections available:
Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) Air China (Star Alliance, many intl. connections): up to 8 daily flights; flight time 2 hours
Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) Air China, China Southern, China Eastern: up to 11 daily flights; flight time 2 hours
Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) Air China, China Southern, China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines, Juneyao Airlines: up to 12 daily flights; flight time 3 hours
Seoul- Incheon (ICN) Asiana Airlines, China Southern: 2 flights per day, flight time 2:20 hours
Tokyo- Narita (NRT) China Southern: direct flight on 25 June, flight time 3 hours
Osaka-Kansai (KIX) China Southern: direct flight on 24 June, flight time 3:10 hours
Hong Kong (HKG) China Southern: direct flight on 22 June, flight time 4:50 hours
Local Airport Transfers Upon arrival, airport transfers from Harbin Taiping Airport to and from the Songbei Shangri-La Hotel will be provided.
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Optional Tour
Flight to Beijing In order to join the optional tour, please make sure to use the Harbin-Beijing flight indicated in the schedule: Sunday, 29 June/ Flight CA8384/ Harbin (HRB)- Beijing Daxing (PKX)
You can include this flight in your overall flight itinerary, or you can ask the Secretariat to book the flight for you (see the corresponding section in the GA registration form).
Hotel WFIMC is happy to offer very special rates at The Regent, Beijing:
CNY 1000 (EUR 128) per night/ single occupancy CNY 1100 (EUR 140) per night/ double occupancy CNY 1800 (EUR 230) per night/ suite (all rates including breakfast) Please mark your preference in the registration form.
Sightseeing and Meals Bus transfers, entrance tickets and meals will be provided courtesy of WFIMC.
Photo : The new Daxing Itl. Airport in Beijing
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Practicalities
Currency Conversion: 100 CNY (Chinese Yuan)= 13.00 EUR 500 CNY (Chinese Yuan) = 65.00 EUR
100 CNY (Chinese Yuan)= 13.70 USD 500 CNY (Chinese Yuan) = 68.60 USD
Money Unlike certain other countries, China uses hardly any cash. Credit Cards are widely in use, however there are also places such as coffee shops that will accept neither cash nor credit cards as more than 90% of the Chinese population use digital wallets and pay with their phones. We recommend to download either ALIPAY or WeChat pay from your AppStore and connect it to a foreign credit card. The service is free and works much like ApplePay or GooglePay. Electricity Voltage in China is 220V/50Hz. Sockets are type A, C and I, so many US and European plugs can be used. Appliances with 120V or 110V will need a converter, but most phone and computer chargers will work. Phone WiFi is widely available in Hotels and public areas. You can also purchase a Chinese SIM or e-SIM which will get you online in China for little money. Please be aware that, using a Chinese provider, you will not be able to access major services such as google, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram etc. If you hold a mobile plan (mobile data) from your overseas phone company, you can access the above services as usual.
eSIM plans (example): https://maya.net
Communications in China WhatsApp, Line, Kakao etc. may be blocked by the Chinese phone network. Instead, most people use WeChat- an easy to use messaging and Social Media Application. To contact virtually anyone in China, connecting via WeChat is the easiest option for foreigners. Few Chinese still have business cards- people simply connect via WeChat. Visa China currently offers visa-free travel to nationals of 38 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria, Romania, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Finland, Andorra, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, among others.
Citizens of Canada, Lithuania, Ukraine, USA and the United Kingdom will need a visa for China. Our host city (Harbin) will provide respective visa invitations.
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Practicalities
Free transit visa Most countries including Canada, Lithuania, Ukraine, USA, UK may enter China under the Visa-free transit program, however they can only use Harbin OR Beijing, not both, as the two cities are in two different zones with different regulations. If you would like to visit Harbin with the visa-free transit program, you can do so only under the following conditions: - You have to fly directly (not via Beijing or Shanghai) into Harbin Airport from outside China - You can stay a maximum of 72 hours - You have to fly directly out of Harbin to a foreign country (not via another city in China) - You cannot fly back to the same country you came from
This means, free transit visa would only work for an itinerary like Seoul-Harbin-Tokyo.
REGISTER
Registration deadline: April 30, 2025
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