Chisinau hosts event dedicated to Chinese New Year

19:58 | 05.02.2016 Category: Culture

Chisinau, 5 February /MOLDPRES/ - A vast manifestation dedicated to the Chinese New Year took place at the National Library today.

Attending the event were Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of China to Moldova Zhang Yinghong, wife of the ambassador, First Secretary of the Embassy, Mrs. Zhang Yanjun and the director of the Confucius Institute at the Moldovan Free International University (ULIM), Wang Yifeng. The Chinese officials spoke about the significance of this holiday in the Great Dragon Country and the current year – the Fire Monkey Year.

In his speech, Ambassador Zhang Yinghong said the Chinese New Year was the Spring Festival, marked in 2016 by the sign of monkey, which is intelligent, courageous and can drive away evil spirits.

Contacted by MOLDPRES, the Chinese diplomat said the relations between Moldova and China would witness a deeper development in the new year.

“Our bilateral relations will develop in multiple fields – economic, social, social, cultural and political. As for the economy sector, I would like to stress that, in 2015, the export of Moldovan wines to China grew by about 90 per cent and the overall volume of goods – by 10.4 per cent. In the culture area, Chinese artistic bands participate in the Martisor International Festival, and bands from Moldova make tours to China. Also, 20 young people from Moldova go to study to China annually,” Ambassador Zhang Yinghong said.

At the event, pupils from several Chisinau-based lyceums recited poems in Chinese language and presented Chinese dances, sayings and proverbs. In the end, they were given presents on the behalf of the embassy of China.

Marked all over Asia, except for Japan, the Chinese New Year also brings a scrupulous observance of traditions and customs. In 2016, the Chinese New Year starts in Chisinau on 8 February (in America and Europe - on 7 February) and ends on 27 January 2017. The calendar is lunar and is not always celebrated on the same date. The New Year event is named Spring Festival, and marks the end of winter and the coming of the new season, which means return to the agricultural works. The holiday lasts 15 days and ends with the Lantern Festival, which is the most important Chinese traditional holiday.

(Reporter N. Roibu, editor M. Jantovan)

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