A promotional video of the 2025 Spring Festival Gala, a grand Chinese Lunar New Year celebration presented by China Media Group (CMG), was screened at various cultural events in Australia, Costa Rica, and Greece.
The Spring Festival Gala, also known as "Chunwan" in Chinese, has been an annual tradition since 1983, aired live on the Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve.
On Friday, the Consulate-General of China in Melbourne held the 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year reception for overseas Chinese. More than 500 people attended the cultural event.
At the reception, the promotional video of the gala was screened and colorful cultural performance was staged, captivating the audience.
According to many overseas Chinese in Australia, watching the Spring Festival Gala has become a family tradition.
"Sometimes we invite some relatives and friends to our home to watch our Spring Festival Gala. This is something that we take pride in," said Zhang Jianyang, overseas Chinese in Australia.
At a reception held at the Chinese Embassy in Costa Rica on Tuesday, the promotional video for the gala attracted many people.
"Overseas Chinese people look forward to watching the Spring Festival Gala every year. Through the gala, we feel the festive atmosphere of the Chinese Lunar New Year. We are eagerly anticipating that CMG's 2025 Spring Festival Gala in the Year of the Snake will bring us even more exciting programs that we can share with our local friends," said Isabel Yung, president of Costa Rica's Chinese Residents Association.
The promotional video was also screened at a reception at the Chinese Embassy in Greece on Friday. Guests from China and other countries watched together.
"I think this promotional video is very good. It contains a lot of technological effects and elements," said Yu Shuxian, Chinese in Greece.
Promo of CMG Spring Festival Gala screened in Australia, Costa Rica, Greece
Despite pledges to strengthen cooperation, deep-seated trade issues continue to strain Japan-U.S. relations, a renowned Japanese political expert said, highlighting uncertainties surrounding the development of bilateral ties following a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
After the meeting between the two leaders held at the White House on Friday, the two sides issued a joint statement emphasizing plans to strengthen cooperation in military security, economy and trade, and regional issues.
However, Uchiyama Yu, a professor of political science at the University of Tokyo, said he believes the future of Japan-U.S. relations remains uncertain, warning that unresolved economic disputes cast a shadow over the development of bilateral ties.
"In previous trade negotiations between Japan and the United States, Japan agreed to lower tariffs on [American] agricultural products in exchange for the U.S. commitment to reduce tariffs on Japanese automobiles. But the U.S. has yet to fulfill this promise. This was an agreement between both countries, and the U.S. should honor it. As of now, this remains an unresolved issue," said the professor in an interview with China Central Television.
Trump said after the meeting that the U.S. aims to eliminate its trade deficit with Japan, which exceeds 100 billion U.S. dollars. He also revealed that Japan plans to import a record amount of liquefied natural gas from the U.S.
When asked whether the U.S. would impose additional tariffs on Japanese products, Trump responded by saying that he would later announce a policy of "reciprocal tariffs," meaning the U.S. would adjust its tariff rates to match those imposed by its trading partners. But, he did not specify whether Japan would be covered by this policy.
Japan's commitment to increasing investment in the U.S. could be a crucial factor in maintaining current tariff levels, however, if the U.S. raises tariffs on Japanese imports, it could significantly impact Japan's economy, Uchiyama Yu said.
"If U.S. tariffs increase, Japanese exports will face greater challenges. In fact, President Trump aims to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with Japan. As a result, Japanese companies seeking access to the U.S. market will inevitably have to invest more in the U.S. For businesses, entering the U.S. market is profitable," he said.
"However, if Japanese factories relocate to the U.S., domestic employment opportunities in Japan will decrease. Japan is already experiencing a labor shortage, so this will not be an immediate issue. But, in the long run, it could lead to job losses and technology outflow from Japan," he added.
Unresolved economic issues strain Japan-U.S. relations: expert