2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala completes second rehearsal

The second rehearsal for the 2025 Spring Festival Gala of China Media Group (CMG) was wrapped up on Friday, with performance quality improving continuously and the gala's overall organization more refined.

The gala, also known as "Chunwan" in Chinese, has been regarded as a major cultural symbol for the traditional Lunar New Year celebrations in China. It has been broadcast live annually since 1983, and will be aired on Jan 28 this year, the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The stage design of this year's gala takes inspiration from the traditional Chinese ornament Ruyi, a symbol of good luck and fortune. It links the main stage with the audience area to enhance the immersive and interactive experience.

This year, the gala will be accessible for visually impaired and hearing-impaired audiences for the first time, along with real-time program interpretation and detailed background information explanations to better service these special audiences.

During the rehearsal, the second group of guests from the "Spring Festival Gala Awaits You" campaign, were invited to watch the performances on site.

"Watching the gala rehearsal on the spot provides us an immersive experience created by the performance and allows us to feel the enthusiasm of the audience up close. Very lively, and there's a real festive feel," said Shi Haifeng, one of the invited audience.

"The gala programs highlight the vibrant spirit of the elderly, and I really enjoy it. I believe our senior citizens will find happiness and contentment. Through this rehearsal, I hope to bring the festive joy back home to inspire other elderly people to enjoy themselves," said Yang Fang, another invited guest.

On Dec 4, 2024, the UNESCO 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, marking a global recognition of this vibrant celebration and cherished cultural tradition.

The 2025 gala is the first one since the Spring Festival's successful inclusion.

2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala completes second rehearsal

2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala completes second rehearsal

2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala completes second rehearsal

2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala completes second rehearsal

The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting concluded in east China's Suzhou on Saturday, yielding fruitful results and laying significant groundwork for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.

The trade ministers' meeting focused on "building an open and predictable regional and multilateral economic and trade order" and "fostering new engines of innovative and dynamic trade and investment cooperation."

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao briefed the media on the meeting's outcomes at a press conference.

Wang said the meeting issued a joint statement titled the Suzhou Statement, and approved the latest edition of the APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Services.

All parties agreed to advance policy innovation and reform in services trade, build an open and predictable investment environment, improve regional trade facilitation and supply chain resilience, strengthen standards coordination, and enhance intellectual property protection, Wang told the media.

He also said that substantial progress was made on a framework document for regional digital trade cooperation and the ministers emphasized promoting inclusive AI development, strengthening AI-related trade, and bridging the digital divide to ensure shared benefits from digital transformation.

The minister noted that the outcomes of the meeting demonstrated strong cooperation willingness, highlighted an innovation-oriented approach, and reflected inclusiveness and shared benefits. "The fact that Asia-Pacific economies can come together, uphold the original aspiration of promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation while supporting economic growth and prosperity, and engage in in-depth discussions on the important issue of 'where multilateral and regional economic and trade cooperation is headed,' fully demonstrates that open regionalism and true multilateralism enjoy broad support, and that mutual success and shared development serve the fundamental interests of all economies," Wang said.

2026 APEC trade ministers' meeting concludes with fruitful results