The Confucius Institutes (CI) of the China University of Political Science and Law in England, Romania and Barbados held colorful New Year events to celebrate the Year of the Rooster, spreading traditional Chinese culture to distant foreign lands.
CI in England
On January 24, the Confucius Institute at Bangor University celebrated the Chinese New Year Hirael School which is located in downtown Bangor.
On February 4, the Confucius Institute at Bangor University held a large Spring Festival parade in downtown Bangor. The mayor of Bangor, Councilor Dewi Williams, attended the celebration and spoke highly of it. Two days after the event, the local newspapers Daily Post and Chronicle gave full page coverage of the celebration. The Daily Post praised it and said that:“This is a great event for bringing everyone together and learning more about the world.”
On February 11, the Spring Festival gala 2017 was held in PJ Hall (the main building of Bangor University). The gala was staged by the Bangor University Student Federation and the Confucius Institute at Bangor University. On that day, guests included the mayor of Bangor, Councilor Dewi Williams, Mr. Sun Hui from the Education Section, Embassy of the P.R.China in the Kingdom of Great Britain, Principal of Our Lady’s RC Primary School, KayO'Hanlon, and students and teachers from Bangor University.
CI in Romania
On January 21 (local time), the Open Course on the Chinese Spring Festival for children was launched by the Confucius Institute at the University of Bucharest (CI at UB). It marked the beginning of a series of 2017 Spring Festival events.
On 24 January, the CI at UB and the Iasi University jointly held a culture event at a Chinese restaurant, teaching children how to make dumplings.
On 2 February, the CI at UB held the Spring Festival Celebration in the Bucharest International School.
On 21 February the CI at UB held the Lantern Festival in the University of Bucharest to celebrate the Year of the Rooster. Mr. Deng Liming, Head of the Education Section of the Chinese Embassy in Romania, Ms. Magdalena Platis, Vice President of the University of Bucharest, and representatives from various circles of China and Romania attended the celebration.
CI at Barbados
On 4 February (local time), the third China- Barbados “Yu Long Festival” was held in Green Square of Bridgetown, Barbados. About 5000 local residents and tourists attended the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
The Confucius Institute at the University of the West Indies (CI at UWI), Cave Hill also held several cultural serial events themed “Walking into China” during the Spring Festival.
On 24 February, Kimita Jones, a journalist from the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, interviewed officials from the CI at Barbados and filmed the documentary “Aromatic Chinese Tea in the Caribbean.”
On 24 February, Fan Xiangguang, main chef from the Barbados Oriental Restaurant, was invited to participate in the “Walking into China” serial events. Mr. Fan impressed the students and teachers from the Foreign Languages Club of the UWI with his show of “Chinese Food Carving.
