CMG Spring Festival Gala promo screened in UAE, Myanmar

Vibrant events celebrating Chinese traditions were launched in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Myanmar, highlighting China's effort to share Spring Festival traditions and deepen cultural exchanges with the two countries while featuring promotions for China Media Group (CMG)'s Spring Festival Gala.

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, falls on Feb 17 this year and marks the start of the Year of the Horse.

In Abu Dhabi, a lively celebration was held on Friday evening, drawing crowds who lingered to watch. Chinese artists captivated the audience with musical performances featuring traditional Chinese instruments such as the guzheng, erhu and pipa.

On-site screenings of the CMG Spring Festival Gala promo also drew enthusiastic audiences, who shared their excitement in interviews with the CMG.

"I watch the CCTV gala of the Chinese festival (CMG Spring Festival Gala) every year with my family. I wish everybody a happy new year," said Shi Shuyao, a Chinese-Lebanese attendee.

"It's really impressive and I can feel the energy of the dancers, of the musicals, and everything. Someday if I go to China, I want to experience the festival in China," said Berat Kar, local resident.

While in Myanmar, the Chinese embassy hosted a two-day festive event at the National Theater in Yangon on Thursday and Friday, gathering over 2,000 guests including Myanmar governmental officials, foreign envoys, overseas Chinese, and friends from all walks of life.

During the event, the venue's plaza turned into a bustling Chinese cultural fair, with booths offering traditional Chinese foods, handicrafts, customs, and interactive experiences such as horse drawing.

The CMG Spring Festival Gala promotional video was also screened in the theater.

Watching the Spring Festival Gala on television is a cherished part of the celebrations in hundreds of millions of Chinese homes.

The gala, since first being broadcast in 1983, has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched annual television program on the planet.

CMG Spring Festival Gala promo screened in UAE, Myanmar

Global food commodity prices climbed for a second consecutive month in March, driven mainly by higher energy costs linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said in report released on Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 128.5 points in March, up 2.4 percent from February and 1.0 percent above its level a year ago.

According to the report, the FAO Vegetable Oil Index and Sugar Price Index showed the largest increases, up 5.1 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively.

The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 1.5 percent from the previous month, driven primarily by higher world wheat prices, which rose 4.3 percent.

The FAO Meat Price Index rose by 1.0 percent from the previous month, and the FAO All-Rice Price Index declined by 3.0 percent in March, according to the report.

FAO stated that rising energy and fertilizer prices have been driving up agricultural input costs.

If the conflict stretches beyond 40 days, farmers will have to choose to farm the same with fewer inputs, plant less, or switch to less intensive fertilizer crops, according to FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero.

These choices will hit future yields and shape food supply and commodity prices for the rest of this year and beyond, Torero said.

Global food prices rise for 2nd consecutive month in March amid Middle East conflict: FAO