Cultural events held in countries around world to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival

New Zealand, Poland and the Republic of the Congo hosted vibrant cultural events on Friday to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, offering local people a taste of traditional Chinese culture.

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, falls on Saturday this year. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar to commemorate the ancient Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC).

A Dragon Boat Festival-themed cultural event was held in Christchurch, New Zealand. Co-hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch, the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury, and local Chinese communities, the event attracted over 600 overseas Chinese and people from all walks of life across the country.

The event came alive with captivating performances blending Chinese and Western musical instruments, enchanting children's dances, and hands-on cultural workshops, creating a vibrant atmosphere of cultural exchange.

"That is special because it teaches us about the values of this particular culture and about remembrance and about unity and about family and about celebration. And it's very deep and it's very rich and it's very special. And it's nice for us to share this because these values, they go across all of our cultures. When we share traditions like this, it's about sharing our cultures and it's about uniting us and learning from each other," said Victoria Henstock, a resident.

Guided by the Chinese Embassy in Poland, a cultural exchange event between Chinese and Polish youth was held in Warsaw. The event was jointly organized by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association in Poland and the Student Union of SWPS University.

Chinese students from the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music and the University of Warsaw delivered outstanding performances of Chinese classical pieces, including "Fisherman's Song at Dusk" and "Li Sao."

The event also featured a traditional cultural experience, where Chinese and Polish students made zongzi -- a dumpling made of glutinous rice and wrapped in reed leaves, typically eaten on Dragon Boat Festival.

"II think this event was truly wonderful and the preparation was excellent. Today, I participated in all kinds of activities, such as tea brewing, making tea bags, scented sachets, and zongzi. I also enjoyed many outstanding talent performances. I thought it was incredibly meaningful," said a local student, speaking in fluent Chinese.

In the Republic of the Congo, nearly 100 students attended a Dragon Boat Festival celebration at the Confucius Institute of Marien Ngouabi University in Brazzaville, where they assembled dragon boat puzzles and ate zongzi. Many also expressed a desire to study in China and explore more of Chinese culture.

"I participated in the Dragon Boat Festival activities today and experienced the charm of the festival. By taking part in this event, we learned a lot of history, including the history of Qu Yuan. I hope to learn more about Chinese culture and gain a deeper understanding of many aspects of China," said Elenga Gedeon Succes, a student who was also able to express himself in the Chinese language.

Cultural events held in countries around world to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival

Cultural events held in countries around world to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that the highest priority is to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, adding that China appreciates the consistent calls from Gulf countries for dialogue and negotiation.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

The Kuwaiti foreign minister briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments in the regional situation, stating that although Kuwait is not a party to the conflict, it has still been impacted by the warfare, adding that Gulf countries, including Kuwait, remain committed to resolving disputes through dialogue but will not relinquish their legitimate right to self-defense.

He said that Kuwait highly appreciates China's position and efforts and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to jointly promote the restoration of security and stability in the region at an early date, adding that Kuwait attaches great importance to and will continue to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel and institutions.

Wang noted that China has always stood for settling disputes through political and diplomatic means, stressing that the ongoing fighting is a war that should not have happened and serves no one's interests.

The United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran without authorization from the United Nations, while negotiations between Iran and the United States were still ongoing, constituting a clear violation of international law, Wang said.

Meanwhile, the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Gulf countries must be fully respected, and any attack on innocent civilians and non-military targets should be condemned, he noted.

China commends the Gulf countries for their consistent calls for dialogue and negotiation, Wang said, adding that China will continue to make efforts for peace.

The Chinese government's special envoy on the Middle East issue has already left for the region to mediate and will strengthen communication with Kuwait and other countries, he said.

Wang expressed his hope and belief that Kuwait will ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel.

Chinese FM calls for ceasefire in Gulf region as soon as possible