STORY: Travelers find delight in Ethiopian airport's Spring Festival celebration
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 10, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 12, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:22
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Bole International Airport
2. various of special Chinese New Year celebration at the airport
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MESFIN TASSEW, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SHEN QINMIN, Minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia

STORYLINE:

A special Chinese New Year celebration was organized recently at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, for travelers.

The event marked the resumption of celebrations after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the lunar Chinese calendar, the New Year of 2024 started on Feb. 10.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MESFIN TASSEW, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines
"The Chinese people are our good friends, our good customers, and we are here to join them in celebrating the New Year holidays and to say congratulations on the New Year Day.
Ethiopian Airlines has been flying to China for the past 51 years. About 35 passenger flights per week. We transport a lot of Chinese customers between Africa and China."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SHEN QINMIN, Minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia
"Addis Ababa is a hub for Chinese passengers coming from China to all the other African countries. Ethiopian Airlines is truly a great gate for all Chinese people to come to Africa. A gate of hospitality, a gate of warmth, and a gate of friendship as well."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)