February 13, 2025
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – The Spring Festival is the oldest, grandest and most important traditional festival in China, carrying the longing for homeland and reunion of family of all Chinese, reflecting the eternal pursuit of peace, harmony and concord in Chinese civilisation, said Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Xiao Jianguo.
The ambassador said this during the two-day China Day and Lantern Festival at Darussalam Hall, Chung Hwa Middle School, Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday.
“With its inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity last year, and widely celebrated all over the world, the Spring Festival has increasingly become a treasure of world attention and global celebration, bringing a unique cultural experience and emotional resonance to people all over the world,” he added.
The ambassador also highlighted His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s recent state visit to China.
He said, “Last week, while people around the world celebrated Chinese New Year, His Majesty made a state visit to China and attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin. His Majesty and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting and agreed to work towards a China-Brunei community with a shared future, which pointed out the strategic direction for the development of China-Brunei relations. He said such important consensus sent a strong signal that the two countries will join hands in facing changes unseen in a century, and will navigate China-Brunei relations towards a new era of building a community with a shared future.
During the visit, the two sides also issued a joint statement and signed a number of cooperation documents in judicial, Belt and Road cooperation, economy and trade, media and other areas, which will broaden new horizons for the all-round strategic cooperation between the two countries, the ambassador said.
He said, “China stands ready to collaborate with Brunei to follow the strategic consensus reached by the two heads of state, thoroughly implement the outcomes of His Majesty’s state visit, enhance political mutual trust, expand win-win cooperation, and go all out to promote a good start in building the community with a shared future.” The event saw an array of traditional dances and lion dance performances, showcasing the rich Chinese culture.
Permanent Secretary (Youth) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Haji Zakaria bin Haji Serudin was the guest of honour.
The public can view the lantern display and participate in lantern riddle guessing games, as well as get a chance to win free return flight tickets to Beijing and Chinese-style prizes at the China Day and Lantern Festival. – James Kon
