A major global music organization is holding a key meeting in Harbin, the first time it is being held in a Chinese city.

The 69th World Federation of International Music Competitions General Assembly opened on Thursday in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. Founded in 1957 in Geneva, Switzerland, the WFIMC is a member of the International Music Council, an NGO official partner of UNESCO. It is a global network of internationally recognized organizations dedicated to identifying the most promising young talent in music.

The assembly is organized by the WFIMC, co-hosted by the Harbin Performing Arts Film and Television Group and the Schoenfeld International Music Society, with support from Harbin governmental departments.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Wang Bo, vice-mayor of Harbin, highlighted the city's deep-rooted musical legacy, and pointed out that the city is home to China's first symphony concert, first music school, and first symphony orchestra. The emphasis on music continues to this day, as the city designated Aug 6 as its annual music day.