The Brazilian arm of China's State Grid recently brought together Chinese and Brazilian employees for a unique celebration in Rio de Janeiro, as the Chinese Spring Festival and Rio Carnival coincided this year.
Rio Carnival runs from Feb 13 to 17, while the Spring Festival, which marks the start of the Chinese New Year and ushers in the Year of the Horse, will begin on Feb 17.
The celebration, held at State Grid Brazil’s headquarters, blended the traditions of the Chinese New Year with the vibrant energy and music of Brazil’s most iconic festival.
The program opened with a performance by a Brazilian dance company to mark the Chinese New Year, followed by high-energy samba music and colorful Carnival costumes. Employees also received personalized souvenirs of Chinese calligraphy featuring their names and traditional well wishes.
Ramon Haddad, vice president of State Grid Holding Brazil, said the company now operates 25 transmission concessions nationwide and that fostering joy and cultural exchange is central to its workplace culture.
"We have about 1,000 employees across Brazil, and we always want to bring Brazilians and Chinese together, celebrating both countries' holidays. As a binational company, we need to focus on integration," he said.
The company noted that the overlap of the Chinese New Year and Brazil's Carnival underscores shared themes of joy, renewal and hope for the future.
Since arriving in Brazil in 2010, State Grid has expanded its transmission network, which now carries about ten percent of the country's high-voltage electricity and helps deliver renewable energy, among other sources, to major consumer centers.
Chinese, Brazilians celebrate in Rio as holidays coincide
Chinese, Brazilians celebrate in Rio as holidays coincide
Due to the pressure on essential services caused by prolonged power shortages, Gaza residents are facing limited access to water, healthcare and sanitation, further deteriorating the already fragile humanitarian situation.
In Gaza, power cuts have become a daily reality. With electricity available only intermittently, many civilians are struggling to carry out even the most basic tasks.
The consequences are widespread, affecting everything from water supply systems to critical infrastructure. As outages persist, maintaining essential services is becoming increasingly unsustainable.
"I carry water in small containers. We don't have a large water tank, not even 500 liters, so we have to keep going back and forth, and water is not always available. Sometimes my son returns without being able to fill it," Mohammad Habib, a displaced Palestinian, told China Global Television Network (CGTN).
This ongoing energy crisis has also had a severe impact on critical hospitals, which rely heavily on generators to continue operating.
"If the generators stop, it will be a catastrophe and a real danger to everyone in the hospital, especially premature babies, dialysis patients and those in intensive care, as well as blood banks. Most departments would shut down. We are sounding the alarm that hospitals will stop functioning if fuel and oil are not allowed in as soon as possible," said Mohammad Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital.
International humanitarian organizations have warned of a potential collapse of essential services in Gaza if electricity supplies are disrupted. "Hospitals and medical centers in Gaza that are still able to function work under immense pressure and at risk of collapse. These hospitals work with shortages in energy, medical supplies and equipment," said Amani Al-Naouq, spokesperson for International Committee of Red Cross in Gaza.
According to Gaza's municipality, about 75 water wells rely on electricity and are at risk of shutting down, which would worsen conditions for displaced families whose homes have been destroyed.
Power shortages intensify humanitarian crisis in Gaza
