"Compared to 2014, the local response is robust. It's similar to some of the most popular events in China right now," Liu said. "It also has a very positive impact on cultural exchange in Zimbabwe. Every year, some outstanding contestants go to China to perform and gain valuable learning experiences, which is excellent."

According to Zhao Ke, founder of Dreamstar and the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Centre, the talent show's mission is to discover Zimbabwe's hidden talent and turn the artists' dreams into reality.

"Lots of Zimbabwean people have talents in arts and culture, but they do not have a platform to showcase them," he said, adding that Dreamstar has propelled many unknown artists from backstage to onstage since its launch in 2014.

Through the initiative, about 300 young artists have visited China for cultural exchange programs, and some have received scholarships to study there, said Zhao.

Zhao Zhanyu, board member of China Railway No 9 Engineering Group (Zimbabwe), which sponsored the event, said that the show has provided a platform for Chinese enterprises in Zimbabwe to further promote people-to-people exchange between the two countries.

"On the stage, the sincere connections between the two peoples have overcome language barriers," Zhao Zhanyu said, adding that Chinese enterprises will make greater efforts to organize more cultural activities to deepen the two sides' friendship in the future.

Xinhua