Zhang Wenchuan
MINSK, 14 February (BelTA) – The Spring Festival is the most important and revered traditional holiday of the Chinese people, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus Zhang Wenchuan said at a concert during the Happy Spring Festival 2026 event at Minsk’s Palace of Culture of Trade Unions on 13 February, BelTA has learned.
“As the New Year arrives, a new life cycle begins. At this beautiful time, when everything is once again ready to awaken, we have joyfully gathered together with old and new friends in Minsk to jointly launch the Happy Spring Festival 2026 event. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese embassy in Belarus, I would like to express our sincerest gratitude to the Ministry of Culture of Belarus, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, and all our partners for the enormous efforts that have made this event possible. And I want to extend my warmest greetings to you, dear guests gathered here today,” the head of the Chinese diplomatic mission emphasized.
The ambassador also noted: “The Spring Festival is the most important and revered traditional holiday of the Chinese people. It is not only the warm moments when families gather together, but also the living heritage of Chinese civilization, its roots and the heartbeat that has endured for thousands of years.”
The diplomat proudly stressed that this holiday, carrying the deep feelings of the Chinese people, was officially inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the end of 2024, becoming a common cultural treasure for the entire world. “This honor inspires us to bring the joy of the Spring Festival to different corners of the planet. Just last year, we held more than 500 festive events in over 100 countries and regions, celebrating the holiday together with the peoples of the world and sharing the unique charm of Chinese culture,” the head of the Chinese diplomatic mission said.
“Belarus is our dear friend, with whom we share this joy. More than ten years have passed since our first joint celebration of the Happy Spring Festival in Minsk in 2014. Starting as a cultural exhibition, this event has grown into a large-scale cultural event, today combining artistic performances, interactive elements of intangible heritage, and cultural and creative exhibitions, becoming a golden thread linking the hearts of our peoples,” the ambassador continued.
The diplomat said: “This year, we have prepared for you a cultural celebration at the intersection of eras and cultures, where antiquity and modernity meet, the spirit of China and Belarus. Here you will be able to get to know about the intangible cultural heritage of Beijing and appreciate the creative ideas of the masters of this ancient capital, as well as enjoy joint performances by Chinese and Belarusian artists, witnessing the harmonious fusion of two magnificent cultures. We want to show you a multifaceted, colorful China and a hospitable Beijing.”
Zhang Wenchuan noted that 2026 is the Year of the Horse according to the Chinese lunar calendar. “In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes strength, loyalty, and striving forward. In the Chinese language, there are expressions such as ‘full of energy like a dragon and horse,’ which means indomitable vitality, and also ‘may success gallop in with the speed of a horse,’ which embodies the best hopes for swift victory and good fortune. We wholeheartedly wish that relations between China and Belarus, like a horse galloping at full speed, be full of dynamism, steadily move towards the goal of shared prosperity, and rapidly achieve success,” the diplomat noted.
In his opinion, cultures become more diverse and colorful through exchanges, and civilizations are enriched through mutual learning. “May the joyful laughter and merriment of this evening merge into a beautiful wave in the long river of Chinese-Belarusian friendship, promoting the deepening of mutual understanding and the strengthening of mutual trust between our peoples through cultural exchange, so that we can together write a new chapter in the brilliant chronicle of the all-weather and comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Belarus,” the ambassador of China to Belarus wished.
Photos by Tatyana Matusevich/BelTA
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