An intangible cultural heritage (ICH)-themed event kicked off in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Tuesday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year, which falls on Jan. 29.
The event featured nearly 100 types of intangible cultural heritage crafts, cultural creations, and traditional foods from across the country. "I feel an increasingly strong festive atmosphere here, and I hope friends from all over the country will come to Xi'an. Welcome to Xi'an!" said Cheng Lanxin, a local resident.
"Welcome to Xi 'an to experience our splendid traditional culture," said Duan Weigang, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor.
The 52-day-long cultural fair will introduce 173 special New Year customs activities, including the Chang'an Lantern Festival and cultural research programs. These efforts aim to inherit and promote excellent traditional Chinese culture, stimulate consumption, and offer another festive cultural tourism feast full of Xi'an characteristics for residents, domestic and international tourists.
"We add traditional Chinese symbols of auspiciousness, good luck, fortune, emolument, longevity, happiness to our paintings, combining them with modern cartoons to create something that appeals to both refined and popular tastes. In this painting, the seven colors -- red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple -- represent sunshine and passion. This serves as a way for everyone to engage closely with the inheritance of our national culture," said Li Haihong, fourth generation inheritor of intangible cultural heritage cotton batting painting.
The fair set up 90 booths, showcasing a total of 110 representative projects. In the paper cutting area, representative inheritor Tu Yonghong from Xi'an presented a set of paper-cutting related to New Year customs.
"Paper cutting is essential to the festive atmosphere. We should attract more young people and help them to understand it and carry on the tradition," said Tu.
Ancient city Xi'an holds cultural event for Chinese New Year
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
