As the Chinese New Year is approaching, the China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC) hosted the "Dragon Dance – Spring Festival Carnival" in Beijing on Feb 2. Over 120 guests, including diplomats to China and international students from more than 30 countries, participated in the event. They immersed themselves in the Chinese culture and celebrated the upcoming Year of the Dragon. 

The event featured 12 experience areas showcasing Chinese intangible cultural heritage such as calligraphy, rubbings, paper cutting, dough figures, tea ceremony, and traditional costumes.

During the event, the guests learned about the "Chinese Dragon", the customs of the Spring Festival, and the details of wearing Hanfu and Tang suits. They engaged in cultural exchange and enjoyed performances by the China Ethnic Song and Dance Ensemble.

Nepali Ambassador to China Bishnu Pukar Shrestha expressed his pleasure to participate in the carnival on the day of Xiao Nian, Little New Year, with Nepali international students in China and emphasized the role of youth in sustaining Nepal-China friendly relations. He expressed hope for deeper exchanges among youth of the two countries. 

Jamaican Ambassador to China Arthur Williams, who recently presented his credentials, highlighted the longstanding friendship between Jamaica and China. He expressed hopes for increased exchanges between the youth of both nations to contribute to the development of bilateral relations.

Chargé D'Affaires of Sri Lanka in China K.K. Yoganaadan conveyed Chinese New Year greetings to the Chinese people through the event, reaffirming the enduring friendship between Sri Lanka and China. He pledged to contribute to bilateral exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, culture, technology, and youth affairs.

For Katyusha, a Kazakhstani international student studying at Beijing Film Academy, this was her first time to experience the Chinese culture. Wearing traditional Chinese attire and carrying a lantern with the character "Fu" (fortune) printed on it, Katyusha immersed herself in the event. Majoring in photography, she said she wants to showcase the unique Chinese traditional culture through photographic works. 

Mary, a Kenyan international student studying civil engineering at Beijing Jiaotong University, dreamt of studying railway construction in China. She said that studying in China as an international student will be the most unforgettable memory in her life, adding that she will introduce the authentic and multifaceted aspects of China to the world after graduation, and serve as a bridge between China and Africa.

Liu Aiping, Chairman of the Governing Council of the CIYEC, said in her address that the United Nations General Assembly officially listed the Spring Festival as a UN floating holiday recently, and that the Spring Festival culture will serve as an important link in promoting friendly exchanges among young people worldwide. 

She expressed hopes that through immersive experiences like the carnival, participants could explore the charm of traditional Chinese culture and foster cultural integration and diversity. Looking ahead, the CIYEC looks forward to leveraging cultural ties to collaborate with embassies of various countries in China and international students to create new signature events in international cultural exchange, and foster deeper understanding of China among young people worldwide, she said. 

She added that increasing efforts will be made to promote exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign youth in the fields of economy, trade, culture, sports, innovation, environmental protection, and public welfare, seeking to inject youthful vitality into the world peace and development.