The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, was celebrated at the “Ion Creangă” National Children’s Library. Children, young people and their parents participated in several creative workshops where they got to know some Chinese traditions. On this occasion, thematic exhibitions were also opened.
The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Yan Wenbin, said that the Chinese New Year was marked in the Republic of Moldova even during the pandemic, in online format, without interrupting the tradition. “The Spring Festival is the most important traditional celebration of the Chinese people, which announces the arrival of spring, like March in Moldova, symbolizing happiness and hope. I hope that today’s activities will bring these nice children attending the event closer to China, understand China, and become witnesses and continuers of the friendship between our countries. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Moldova will support and promote, as always, various cultural exchange activities and will play an active role in promoting mutual understanding between our two peoples”, said the Chinese diplomat.
In 2022, the Embassy and the “Ion Creangă” Library decided to establish a center for cultural exchange between young people. “I am very happy that this center can play an important role, becoming a base for friendship exchanges between young people from China and Moldova, providing a platform and a window through which children can get closer to China and learn about the oriental culture. Here, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Moldova, please allow me to express my sincere thanks to the “Ion Creangă” National Children’s Library for its contribution to the promotion of cultural exchanges between the two countries”, added the Chinese diplomat.
Eugenia Bejan, general director of the Library, said that last year the Library received around 100 books from China and such donations arrive every year. The collection includes many guides, textbooks for studying Chinese, for different ages. It also includes Chinese literature translated into other languages. The books are useful for those studying Chinese. Those who do not speak but are interested in this country also have the opportunity to learn about Chinese history and culture. “We have many schools where the Chinese language is studied, there is an increased interest and the library supports this interest through various means and activities”, noted the library director.
“With the People’s Republic of China, and especially with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China here in Chisinau, we have been cooperating for many years. It’s already been 17 years since we celebrated Chinese New Year in the library. Children and young people are especially invited to this event. For children, it is also very important what they learn at school about China in the given case, but also what they can discover through the book collections we have here donated in full by the Chinese Embassy, through creative workshops or craft workshops that we organize”, Eugenia Bejan said.
The Chinese Spring Festival has a history of about 4000 years. Activities carried out during this period are meant to bring luck and prosperity.
