Chinese Culture Festival 2025 Launches with Diverse Performances to Showcase Traditional Arts

Speech by CE at Opening Ceremony of Chinese Culture Festival 2025 (with video)

​Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Opening Ceremony of the Chinese Culture Festival 2025 today (June 13):

I would now like to turn to our English-speaking friends.

Welcome to the opening reception of the Chinese Culture Festival 2025.

Launched last year by the Government, the Chinese Culture Festival aims to showcase the remarkable virtues of traditional Chinese culture to the world. In 2024, we successfully presented over 250 performances and activities, attracting a substantial attendance of 900 000.

This year, the second edition of the Chinese Culture Festival will present more than 280 programmes and activities. To kick-start the Festival, this evening we are presenting a contemporary dance drama to you. Titled "Dongpo: Life in Poems", this performance is brought to you by the China Oriental Performing Arts Group, and uses a variety of innovative means to present Chinese poetry, calligraphy, painting and music.

Other Festival programmes include Chinese operas, local performances as recognised by the China National Arts Fund, as well as specially curated programmes co-organised with the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association and arts and cultural organisations.

Under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong is the only world city that enjoys both the China advantage and the global advantage. We will make full use of Hong Kong's position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange to promote the beauty of Chinese culture.

An important strategic direction featured in the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development, published by the Government last year, is on the promotion of the profound traditional Chinese culture. I am confident that the Chinese Culture Festival will become a new major annual cultural event in Hong Kong, attracting not only local residents but also Mainland and overseas tourists with its vibrant programme.

I wish the Festival a resounding success, and all of you an enjoyable evening. Thank you.

HKETO Berlin Supports Berlin CityCup Dragon Boat Races

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin (HKETO Berlin) supported the 26th Berlin CityCup dragon boat races on July 5 and 6 (Berlin time).

The event saw enthusiastic participation with a total of more than 1 000 racers joined the competition. As one of the highlights of the CityCup, 60 teams joined the Hong Kong Cup sponsored by the HKETO Berlin on July 5. The Acting Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Billy Leung, presented trophies to the winning teams after the race.

"In Chinese culture, dragon signifies strength, courage, and resilience. Today, dragon boat racers from diverse cultural backgrounds have showed the power of teamwork and fighting spirit together." Mr Leung said.

Mr Leung added that Hong Kong possesses world-class sports, cultural and recreational facilities. With the opening of Kai Tak Sports Park in this March, a series of mega sports events as well as concerts have been held.

HKETO Berlin also set up a promotional booth at the race venue to showcase Hong Kong's forthcoming major events, and promote Hong Kong's advantages as an ideal place for work and study.

About HKETO Berlin

HKETO Berlin is the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

HKETO Berlin Supports Berlin CityCup Dragon Boat Races Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKETO Berlin Supports Berlin CityCup Dragon Boat Races Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases