STORY: Chinese Spring Festival celebrated with cultural events in Sofia, Bulgaria
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 8, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 9, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:23
LOCATION: Sofia
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the event

STORYLINE:

Two Spring Festival cultural events were held on Saturday afternoon in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. 
   
The Confucius Institute in Sofia hosted performances by students attending Chinese-language classes across Bulgaria, including in Sofia, Vidin, Stara Zagora, Burgas, and Montana. Prizes were awarded to winners of the institute's recent Chinese language competition.
   
Yang Tian, head of the education section at the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, addressed the event and highlighted the Spring Festival's significance as China's most festive and culturally rich holiday. The official said that the holiday symbolizes family reunion, harmony, and prosperity.
   
"This festival has become an important cultural bridge, emotionally connecting people worldwide," said Yang, who commended the Confucius Institute's efforts to foster mutual cultural appreciation through Year of the Snake celebrations.
   
In a joint speech delivered in their respective languages, Chen Ying, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, and Aksiniya Koleva, the institute's Bulgarian director, emphasized ongoing efforts to increase the number of Bulgarian youth studying Chinese.
   
Angel Apostolov, chief expert at the international cooperation department of Bulgaria's Ministry of Education and Science, shared his impressions after attending the event. He told Xinhua that his first experience of Chinese New Year celebrations came 15 years ago. "It's remarkable that the hall is always full, which reflects the growing Chinese cultural presence in Bulgaria," said Apostolov.
   
Meanwhile, another Spring Festival celebration event took place at the Toplocentrala Center for Contemporary Arts. Here, a 90-minute concert featured various Chinese cultural activities as well as performances by Chinese and Bulgarian musicians.
   
Eighteen-year-old Raya Popova traveled 310 km from Ruse to attend the event. "I came because my former Chinese teacher is here, and I want to meet her before she returns to China," said Popova, who won last year's Bulgarian national qualifications for the 17th "Chinese Bridge" competition.
   
"Chinese Bridge" is an annual international contest in which foreign students showcase their knowledge of Chinese culture and their proficiency in the Chinese language.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Sofia.
(XHTV)