Spring Festival Gala promo immerses Algerians in charm of Chinese culture

The promotional video of the China Media Group (CMG)'s 2026 Spring Festival Gala took center stage at a cultural event in Algiers, capital of Algeria, enriching the occasion with a vibrant festive atmosphere and offering local audiences an immersive audiovisual experience that allowed them to deeply appreciate the unique charm of the Chinese New Year.

The event, held on Wednesday and Thursday, attracted nearly 3,000 guests from various sectors, including diplomats stationed in Algeria and local overseas Chinese.

Chinese Ambassador to Algeria Dong Guangli and Algerian Minister of Culture and Arts Malika Bendouda attended the event.

Dong extended New Year greetings to the guests in his speech. He said that this New Year celebration has become a vibrant hallmark of cultural exchanges between China and Algeria, connecting the hearts of the two peoples.

Bendouda praised the profound cultural significance carried by the Spring Festival. She expressed the hope that art, as a universal language transcending borders, would further enhance mutual learning and exchange between the civilizations of Algeria and China.

A highlight of the event was a series of performances showcasing distinctive Chinese culture. Chinese artists took to the stage one after another, presenting brilliant performances including dance, traditional instrumental music, and acrobatics. Their exquisite skills drew admiration from the local audience, who responded with warm applause.

"I hope I can watch the show then. The programs are fantastic, blending various elements of Chinese culture including dance and acrobatics -- showcasing both strength and courage," said Brahimi, an Algerian audience member.

"It's an honor to witness this festival. I've gained a deeper understanding of Chinese culture through it -- like hanging red decorations, eating dumplings during the Spring Festival, and family reunions. As the Spring Festival approaches, I'd like to extend my festive wishes to the Chinese people and encourage them to keep striving forward in all fields, just as we have seen them do," said Walid, another local audience member.

Known as "Chunwan" in Chinese, the Spring Festival gala has been broadcast live annually since 1983 and is regarded as a major cultural symbol for the Chinese New Year celebrations in China.

Spring Festival Gala promo immerses Algerians in charm of Chinese culture

Both Chinese and British companies expect to deepen economic and trade cooperation across sectors, following British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's call for stronger dialogue and deeper engagement between businesses and institutions in the UK and China at the opening ceremony of the UK-China Business Forum in Beijing.

Starmer pointed to what he described as "real progress" during his visit to China from Wednesday to Saturday, citing China's decision to cut tariffs on Scotch whisky. He also urged guests to strengthen exchanges and turn dialogue into practical cooperation.

The forum was co-organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the British government. It brought together more than 300 guests, including over 60 business and cultural delegates across different sectors accompanying the UK Prime Minister. Healthcare and pharmaceuticals were among the key focuses.

According to Wang Xingli, co-president of Fosun Pharma, China-UK cooperation in healthcare is moving beyond market access, toward cooperation across research, clinical development and manufacturing.

"With their science, our productivity, our technology know-how, as well as AI capabilities, I think we can produce big blockbuster drug together," said Wang.

Financial cooperation also featured prominently.

As a long-established global financial center, the UK plays a key role in international banking and capital markets, while China is expanding its cross-border financial services to support trade and investment with the world.

"We've already seen that London has become the biggest hub for RMB clearing offshore from China. The volumes today are tremendous, about 350 billion RMB's worth of trading and clearing that's going on through London," said Tim Skeet, chief institutional relationship officer at the London Branch of the Bank of China.

"All the major Chinese banks are represented in London, and similarly, most of the UK banks have a presence in China. So there's that cooperation between the two centers is very important for the mutuality of interest that we share in terms of the financing of trade, the financing of investment," said Brendan Nelson, group chairman of HSBC.

Chinese, British companies see great potential for cooperation in various sectors