STORY: Lunar New Year celebrated in various countries
SHOOTING DATE: Recent footage
DATELINE: Feb. 9, 2024
LENGTH: 00:07:53
LOCATION: Ulan Bator/Bratislava/Yaounde/DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania/Amman/Jakarta
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of celebrations
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Slovak): CAI GE, Chinese Ambassador to Slovakia
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): KANA AIME ROSS, Student at Confucius Institute of University of Yaounde II
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): PENDO MALANGWA, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor University of Dar es Salaam
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): EDIGER LYOMBO, Student at Confucius Institute
6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Arabic): MOHAMMAD JAD, Student
7. SOUNDBITE 6 (Indonesian): NESY ANGGRAENI, Visitor
8. SOUNDBITE 7 (Indonesian): EKA SEPTIADI, Visitor

STORYLINE:

As the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year approaches, a variety of activities have been held in various countries to celebrate the occasion and welcome the Year of the Dragon.

The Mongol Post, Mongolia's national postal service, has issued a special postage stamp to welcome the Year of the Dragon.

The stamp displays a pair of silver dragons discovered by Mongolian and Chinese archeologists in the central-west Mongolian province of Arkhangai.

A concert celebrating the traditional Chinese New Year was held in Bratislava, Slovakia. Musicians from the Chinese Chamber Orchestra of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music presented a wonderful performance.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Slovak): CAI GE, Chinese Ambassador to Slovakia
"According to the Chinese zodiac, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. In Chinese culture, the dragon is the symbol of luck, success, and vitality. I wish everyone good luck in the Year of the Dragon."

In Yaounde, Cameroon, the Confucius Institute of the University of Yaounde II organized a ceremony celebrating the Year of the Dragon on Thursday, attracting many Chinese language learners to feel the unique charm of Chinese culture.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): KANA AIME ROSS, Student at Confucius Institute of University of Yaounde II
"I am very interested in today's activities, and I have learned a lot through these activities, such as how to perform dragon and lion dances and how to make dumplings. Thank you."

Tanzania's Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam on Wednesday celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year in style as students learning Mandarin danced, sang, and staged Kung Fu performances.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): PENDO MALANGWA, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor University of Dar es Salaam
"It is my fervent hope that today's event will bring a huge, positive and important impact on both Tanzanian and Chinese people. Also, I believe this will encourage our students and guests to learn the Chinese language and acquire knowledge of its culture and traditions. I can see everyone here is smiling and happy because we are celebrating Chinese New Year."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): EDIGER LYOMBO, Student at Confucius Institute
"Chinese Spring Festival is one of the biggest events I have ever participated in. Because we Tanzanians and Chinese come together to participate in this day or this event, it's very unique to me and I also participated as one of the singers of a Chinese song. With my Chinese friends and teachers, we come together and share the unique things which they have and we also see how their culture or the traditions of China are to other people. They are very charming and very encouraging (for) us to participate in their culture and tradition."

Also in Dar es Salam, a virtuosic gala performance Wednesday night by 37 artists from China has feted Tanzanians and Chinese alike.
   
A Chinese New Year Gala was also held at TAG-Confucius Institute in Amman, Jordan on Thursday. 

Singing, dancing, martial arts performances, poetry reading, and games. people attending the gala enjoyed a pleasant night and learned about some Chinese traditions during the Spring Festival.

SOUNDBITE 5 (Arabic): MOHAMMAD JAD, Student
"I learned about the Chinese festival and we played games and danced."

Six professional divers staged an underwater lion dance on Thursday at Sea World Ancol, an aquarium in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The underwater show will be performed twice a day during the Spring Festival.

SOUNDBITE 6 (Indonesian): NESY ANGGRAENI, Visitor
"It is amazing to get introduced to the Chinese New Year tradition by the host. She explained what was so unique about the festival. Some visitors may not be aware of the details of the festival before, like the importance of fireworks. The show introduces the culture."

SOUNDBITE 7 (Indonesian): EKA SEPTIADI, Visitor
"My son has been a fan of lion dance from a very early age. He even purchased the costume. Therefore he asked me to watch it. He knew the event from social media."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ulan Bator/Bratislava/Yaounde/DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania/Amman/Jakarta.
(XHTV)