Ambassador Xie Xiaoyong attends 'Embracing the Chinese New Year' Overseas Chinese symphony concert to welcome and celebrate Chinese New Year in Belarus and delivers the speech

Ambassador Xie Xiaoyong attended "Embracing the Chinese New Year" the Overseas Chinese symphony concert held at the national concert hall of Belarus to welcome and celebrate Chinese New Year on second of Feb. The concert was sponsored by Chinese Embassy, Overseas Chinese Society in Belarus and Chinese Cultural Center in Minsk and performed by Belarus Philharmonic and Huaxing Art Troupe. Over 800 people, including Gromada, first deputy minister of Belarus Ministry of Culture, representatives from all walks of life, overeseas Chinese and Chinese companies and students in Belarus attended the concert.

Ambassador Xie first expressed thanks to all the performers and paid tribute to the Ministry of Culture and the National Concert Hall which has been supporting and promoting the cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries. He said Chinese New Year, China's most traditional festival, is for family reunion and reflects China's traditional values of harmony, peacefulness and prosperity. Spring Festival is bursting with happiness and bears Chinese best wishes of Bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new and good fortune. Spring Festival is the very important symbol of China's traditional cultures. It is the spiritual sustenance of the Chinese nation and emotionally bonds all the Chinese both at home and abroad. This concert is rich and impassioned. I believe it will bring impressive artistic enjoyment and joyful festive mood and will become the very memorable ceremony to welcome the year of dragon in 2024.

He pointed that this year marked the 32nd anniversary of the Establishment of China-Belarus Diplomatic Relations and this concert without doubt is the special gift to this important event in bilateral relationship. In the past 32 years, the bilateral relationship has achieved fast development and reached to the new height of All-weather comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides have a high degree of political mutual trust, firm support for each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and achieve fruitful international coordination. Bilateral trade reached a new high of $8.443 billion last year, with an increase of 67.3 percent over the previous year, which is 139 times that of the early days of the establishment of diplomatic ties. China-Belarus cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative is making solid progress, and the economic benefits of key projects such as the China-Belarus Industrial Park continue to emerge. People-to-people exchanges and sub-national cooperation between the two sides are bearing fruits. The 32-year history of China-Belarus diplomatic ties proves that the sustained and in-depth development of China-Belarus relations fully conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples and is also conducive to regional and world peace and stability.

Gromada, first deputy minister of Belarus Ministry of Culture, first expressed best wishes to all the people present and all the Chinese. He said the friendship and communication of the presidents of the two countries is of significant importance to the development of the bilateral relationship. Despite the vast distance between Belarus and China, the two countries have established close and efficient cooperative relations. China-Belarus cooperation in the field of culture is also an important part of bilateral relations. Large-scale celebrations under the framework of "Happy Spring Festival" have been held in Belarus for many years and have become a good tradition. Celebrations of the Chinese New Year, including tonight's Overseas Chinese Symphony concert, have allowed our people to better understand China and its festival culture, bringing the two peoples closer together. Talking about China always brings to mind the bright history of ancient and educational significance. The many world-famous scenic spots and historic sites in China embody the amazing creativity and profound Chinese wisdom of the Chinese people. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon in China and the "Year of Quality" in Belarus. It is believed that in this special year, the two sides will more actively implement joint cultural and creative projects rooted in the outstanding traditional values of the two countries. I wish the Chinese friends good health, all the best in the New Year, peace, prosperity and a happy Spring Festival.

The scene atmosphere is friendly and warm, festive and happy. The audience was immersed in the great enjoyment of the vigorous, warm, cheerful and beautiful symphony, and did not want to leave for a long time.