China embraces Spring Festival with various folk activities

Cities and towns across China are celebrating the approaching Spring Festival with vibrant folk performances, festive activities, and spectacular light displays. From China's north to south, celebration activities are staged with distinctive regional traditions.

In Altay of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, dragon dance parades featured horse riders and performance with Dombra, a traditional music instrument of the local Kazak people. In the Huize Ancient Town of Yunnan Province in southwest China, intangible cultural heritage shows and interactive folk activities in the historic alleys brought visitors a fresh Chinese New Year experience.

Holiday markets have opened nationwide. In Mudanjiang City in Heilongjiang Province in northeast China，a large fair has attracted residents and tourists with festive goods and local delicacies. In Changxing county in east China's Zhejiang province, visitors have been enjoying a traditional "fish and mutton banquet" featuring authentic local Chinese New Year flavors. Meanwhile, in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, a century-old flower market has been crowded with shoppers seeking to bring springtime blooms into their homes for the holiday.

From urban centers to rural areas, the festive atmosphere permeated day to night. In Beijing, colorful lights adorn 300 sites, ranging from historic landmarks to modern skyscrapers. Shopping districts in Shanghai have featured lanterns with auspicious themes. In Shangrao in east China's Jiangxi Province, residents of an ancient town paraded a 100-meter dragon lantern through historic streets.

This years' Spring Festival falls on Feb 17, ushering in the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

China embraces Spring Festival with various folk activities

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing said Tuesday that China is willing to collaborate with all parties to ensure nuclear energy better supports the development and prosperity of all nations.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris which he attended as Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative.

Zhang said China has always adhered to a sensible, coordinated, and balanced nuclear security strategy proposed by President Xi and has made concrete contributions to promoting the global development of nuclear energy.

China is willing to work with all parties to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, and promote nuclear energy innovation-driven development, safety foundation building, industrial collaboration and win-win cooperation, so that nuclear energy can better benefit the development and prosperity of all countries, he said.

Zhang noted that China stands ready to join hands with all parties to make new contributions in building a clean, beautiful and sustainable world and a community with a shared future for humanity.

Heads of state, government leaders and senior representatives from over 30 countries, as well as heads of relevant international organizations, attended the summit and issued a joint statement titled "Safe and affordable nuclear energy for all."

Chinese vice premier calls for global nuclear cooperation