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China Media Group holds a prelude to the Spring Festival Gala in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, January 26, 2025. /CMG
The UAE session of the "Prelude to the Spring Festival Gala: Global Celebration" event, organized by the Middle East Station of China Media Group (CMG), was successfully held in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, marking one of the key events to embrace the upcoming Chinese New Year.
Shen Haixiong, vice minister of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and president of CMG, delivered a video address highlighting the global recognition of the Spring Festival.
Shen highlighted that CMG's Spring Festival Gala, now in its 42nd consecutive year, has become an essential cultural "New Year's Eve dinner" for over a billion Chinese people and a shared cultural memory and spiritual home for Chinese communities worldwide.
CMG President Shen Haixiong delivers a video address at a "Prelude to the Spring Festival Gala" event in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, January 26, 2025. /CMG
As the first gala since the Spring Festival was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage, Shen stated that this year's event would fully leverage CMG's advanced capabilities in broadcasting across 82 languages and its cutting-edge technological innovations in "5G+4K/8K+AI."
The gala aims to deliver a joyous and festive cultural feast filled with "happiness and prosperity" to audiences at home and abroad, showcasing the rich flavors of Chinese culture while uniting people around the world to celebrate this cherished tradition.
Zhang Yiming, Chinese ambassador to the UAE, delivers an address at a "Prelude to the Spring Festival Gala" event in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, January 26, 2025. /CMG
Zhang Yiming, Chinese ambassador to the UAE, emphasized that CMG's Spring Festival Gala is an indispensable part of Chinese New Year celebrations, serving as a unique cultural symbol and emotional bond for people worldwide.
He noted that bringing the Spring Festival Gala to the UAE not only allows the nearly 400,000 Chinese expatriates and diaspora in the UAE to feel the warmth and care of their homeland but also provides Emirati citizens with an up-close opportunity to experience and understand Chinese culture through this special window.
Jamal Al Kaabi, director-general of the National Media Office, speaks at a "Prelude to the Spring Festival Gala" event in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, January 26, 2025. /CMG
Jamal Al Kaabi, director-general of the National Media Office, highlighted the significance of the Spring Festival as China's most important traditional celebration, with a long history and unique charm that symbolizes hope, reunion, and happiness.
He commended China Media Group (CMG) for hosting the "Spring Festival Gala Prelude: Global Celebration" event in the UAE, stating that it not only allows local residents to experience the beauty of Chinese traditional culture but also fosters closer people-to-people connections.
China's intangible cultural heritage is highlighted at the event held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, January 26, 2025. /CMG
At the event, intangible cultural heritage practitioners showcased exquisite paper-cutting art, bringing traditional Chinese craftsmanship to life. Chinese calligraphers from the Chinese diaspora in the UAE also performed live demonstrations, writing festive Spring Festival couplets and offering CMG's New Year blessings to the attendees.
As night fell, the nationally recognized Zigong Lantern Show, an intangible cultural heritage from Sichuan Province, captivated large crowds of local residents with its dazzling displays.
A man performs at the event held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, January 26, 2025. /CMG
At the CMG cultural innovation exhibition booth, a variety of high-quality, creative products stood out, drawing enthusiastic attention from the audience.
Among them were the elegant "Ruyi Spring Bowl," the sophisticated "Four Seasons Fortune Plate," and the adorable "Prosperity Snake" figurine. These items not only embodied traditional Chinese aesthetics but also showcased the ingenuity of CMG's cultural creations.
The event reached its climax with screenings of CMG's Spring Festival Gala promotional video and the special documentary, "China in Intangible Heritage—Spring Festival Edition".
Attendees at the event pose for a photo in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, January 26, 2025. /CMG
These videos offered a vivid glimpse into the rich and diverse customs of the Chinese New Year and highlighted the enduring charm of Chinese intangible cultural heritage.
The seamless blend of ancient craftsmanship with the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival deeply resonated with the audience, leaving a lasting impression.
The event underscored the power of cultural exchange, showcasing the beauty of Chinese traditions while fostering mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations.