The international community has extended their congratulations to China on its Spring Festival being listed in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) intangible cultural heritage list.
The UNESCO on Wednesday inscribed Spring Festival -- the social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional new year -- on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The decision was made during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, taking place in Paraguay from Dec 2 to 7. The committee recognized the festival for its wide array of rituals and unique cultural elements that engage all of Chinese society.
China's Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Rao Quan, who led the Chinese delegation at the UNESCO session, expressed gratitude for the recognition. He stressed that the Spring Festival is China's most important traditional holiday, symbolizing the Chinese people's hopes for a better life, strong ties to family and country, and the values of harmony between humans and nature.
"We will continue to earnestly fulfill the 'Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage', constantly enhance the systematic protection level of intangible cultural heritage. Meanwhile, we will apply for and recommend more projects displaying Chinese characteristics, Chinese spirit and Chinese wisdom. We will tell good stories of our fine traditional culture and promote Chinese culture going to the world," said Rao.
Nancy Ovelar de Gorostiaga, chairperson of the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage praised China's contribution to protecting intangible cultural heritage, highlighting the popularity of Spring Festival worldwide.
"China has always been a driving force in the development of UNESCO's protection of intangible cultural heritage. China's intangible cultural heritage is exceptionally captivating. This time, the Spring Festival has been included in the intangible heritage list. The Spring Festival is a globally renowned cultural celebration, and people have all looked up their zodiac signs," said Gorostiaga.
Representatives from other countries extended their congratulations on China's success.
"Congratulations to China! This is the most well-known cultural tradition of China. I have watched the Spring Festival parade in France and participated in Spring Festival celebrations at a library in Bogota. Therefore, now (approaching the new year), it is the perfect moment for the Spring Festival to be included in UNESCO's intangible heritage list. My heartfelt congratulations to China," said Maria Virginia Rodriguez De Valdenebro, advisor to the Cooperation and International Affairs Group of the Ministry of Culture of Colombia.
"We celebrate the Chinese festival every year as a national festival. So for us, it has been a real pleasure for me here to know that there has been this initiative to inscribe and it has succeeded. And immediately I've sent messages to Mauritius to inform them about that event," said a representative from a Mauritian non-governmental organization.
With this addition, China now has 44 cultural elements or practices recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Int’l community welcomes China’s Spring Festival listed in UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list
Int’l community welcomes China’s Spring Festival listed in UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list
Int’l community welcomes China’s Spring Festival listed in UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list
