Jordan's Ambassador to China Hussam Al Husseini has praised the Spring Festival Gala staged and aired by China Media Group (CMG) for fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and the Arab world.
The gala, known as "Chunwan," is an annual television show broadcast on the eve of the Chinese New Year. This year's event on Monday delivered a more than four-hour-long feast of captivating cultural performances and entertaining variety shows to audiences in celebration of the arrival of the 2026 Chinese New Year, which is a Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac.
In an interview with China Global Television Network in Beijing on Tuesday, Al Husseini said the horse theme of the gala resonated with Arab traditions, where Arabian horses symbolize dignity and pride.
"We have a very traditional way of keeping the dynasties of the horses. The Arabic horses are very much known for a few characters that make them so special: dignity and pride. What I like about the gala this year is that there was, well, yes, there was too much about the horse, of course, the horses, but also the dose of culture that was presented in this gala was impressive," said Al Husseini.
The ambassador also said that events like the Spring Festival Gala provide a platform for China's deep-rooted traditions to reach global audiences.
He also highlighted shared values between China and Arab societies, including courage and resilience, noting that these similarities strengthen ties between the two regions.
"I think this is a right time, or maybe this is about time, that those cultures of China, those very deep and deep-rooted cultures of China could be exposed, so people will understand more about the story of China, the history of China. And also the common values that bring China to many parts of the world. We are so proud in our part of the world, in the Middle East, my country Jordan, and the Arabic culture in general, that we have so much of common values and shared values with the Chinese culture and Chinese values. But definitely when it comes to Jordan, yes, we have also that sense of speed and courage as well as resilience, I would say. There is something similar to the Chinese modernization, values that they have had," said the ambassador.
Jordanian ambassador says China's Spring Festival Gala bridges cultures
