Chinese Consulate General in Toronto hosts reception to celebrate upcoming Spring Festival

The Consulate General of China in Toronto held a reception on Friday to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival, with a host of traditional performances and colorful presentations to get the Canadian and Chinese guests into the festive spirit.

The event was held to mark the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb 17 this year, ushering in the Year of the Horse.

Various cultural and creative products from the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, a grand celebration presented by the China Media Group (CMG), made the perfect gifts for guests during the special event, thanks to their exquisite design and positive meanings.

The reception was attended by over 500 guests, including Canadian political and business figures, overseas Chinese, and representatives of Chinese-funded enterprises and Chinese students in Canada.

At the event at the Chinese Cultural Center of Greater Toronto, Chinese Consul General in Toronto Luo Weidong outlined the past year's achievements in China's development and the gratifying changes in China-Canada relations. He also extended festival greetings and best wishes for the Year of the Horse to all Chinese nationals.

Many of the guests in attendance also extended their good wishes for the festive season.

"I would like to give my very best wishes to the Canadian Chinese community and people of Chinese background all around the world for a very wonderful, happy Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year, the Year of the Horse. I'm very pleased to have a small horse with me today, but the horse is a mighty courageous animal. This is the Year of the Fire Horse. So it's even more exciting and it will be an adventurous year. Canada and China are forging a new relationship. It's a strategic partnership to make sure that we continue to advance the prosperity, the security and the well-being of people in China and people in Canada,” said Robert Oliphant, a member of Canada's Parliament.

"It's so exciting to have the Year of the Horse. May the Year of the Horse bring you elegance, speed and lots of fun. Happy Year of the Horse! Hope everything goes well. Wishing you prosperity and good health," said Jean Yip, another member of Canada's Parliament, switching effortlessly between English and Chinese.

"So let us be as energetic as the fire horse. Let's make this the best year, and I wish all of you a very healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. Happy Year of the Horse," said Frank Scarpitti, mayor of Markham, Ontario.

"It's the Year of the Horse. So you know, horse symbolizes determination, energy, full perseverance, so I'm sure that 2026 in the Year of the Horse will be a great year for the people of Canada, the people of China and our bilateral relationship," said Bijan Ahmadi, executive director and chief operating officer of the Canada-China Business Council (CCBC).

Chinese Consulate General in Toronto hosts reception to celebrate upcoming Spring Festival

African officials on Wednesday pledged to scale up investment to accelerate development across the member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at a meeting in Accra, Ghana's capital.

They made the commitment during the 24th Annual General Meeting of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), where leaders highlighted the need to expand the bank's capital base to finance transformative projects.

Ghanaian Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson stressed that timely capital payments would strengthen EBID's leverage and sustain its growth, enabling the institution to stimulate inclusive economic expansion across the region.

"Timely capital payments are critical. It strengthens EBID leverage and sustains its growth and impact across our region. Expanding our capital base is essential to strengthen our ability to finance transformative development projects and stimulate inclusive economic growth among our member states," said Forson.

EBID recorded strong achievements in 2025, with total disbursements of about 722 million U.S. dollars, up 47.7 percent from 2024. Building on that momentum, President George Agyekum Donkor said the bank remains committed to helping member states tackle poverty and close infrastructure gaps across the region.

"We aim to direct at least 63 percent of new commitments towards the private enterprises to catalyze job creation and innovation. Simultaneously, the bank would embed environmental, social and governance principles across its operations, dedicating over 41 percent of resources to climate mitigation and social inclusion projects," said Donkor.

With disbursements surging nearly 48 percent last year, EBID officials said the bank is positioned to channel more resources into private-sector growth and climate-focused projects, reinforcing its role as a driver of inclusive development across West Africa.

African officials vow stronger investment push at ECOWAS bank meeting in Accra