To celebrate the Chinese New Year, the China-Europe Diplomats Spring Festival Gala was held in Beijing in early February. The event was jointly organized by the Department of European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions, bringing together about 300 attendees.
Multiple photos show different performances, such as songs and dances, at the China-Europe Diplomats Spring Festival Gala. (Courtesy of the Secretariat of Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries)
Hua Chunying, vice minister of Foreign Affairs, addressed the gathering, noting the stable development of China–Europe relations over the past year.
Leaders from several European countries visited China, and cooperation across a wide range of fields bore fruit, demonstrating the strong resilience and broad prospects of China–Europe relations, Hua said. She expressed the hope that, in the new year, both sides would continue to promote China–Europe relations to achieve new and greater development.
Koula Sophianou, Ambassador of Cyprus to China, extended New Year greetings to the Chinese people on behalf of European diplomats. She stated that China is an ancient civilization with a profound heritage and a major country with global influence. The European side attaches great importance to its relations with China and is willing to further advance bilateral cooperation and contribute to the maintenance of world peace, she added.
Multiple photos show different performances, such as chorus and solo, at the China-Europe Diplomats Spring Festival Gala. (Courtesy of the Secretariat of Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries)
During the event, the European ambassadors and diplomats took great interest in learning how to make dumplings and took part in traditional intangible cultural heritage activities such as painted Peking Opera masks, shadow puppetry, dough figurines and paper-cutting.
Multiple photos show guests experiencing traditional Chinese custom, such as paper-cutting. (Courtesy of the Secretariat of Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries)
Using music and dance as a bridge, the event showcased the energy and vitality of Chinese and European diplomacy and deepened mutual understanding and friendship.