'China is my second home': Foreigners celebrate Chinese Spring Festival

By Huang Fang

(ECNS)--A group of foreigners from France and Switzerland were invited to a cultural event last Friday on Little New Year, or Xiaonian in Chinese, in Beijing to welcome the Chinese Spring Festival and the upcoming Year of the Dragon.

From Chinese calligraphy to dumpling making, various activities enriched the cultural event, immersing attendees in a festive ambiance.

French expert Francois Morin enjoyed making dumplings. He has been living and working in China for nearly 30 years and can speak fluent Chinese.

“China is my home. We are getting close to Chinese New Year, so I'm getting happier every day," he added.

France and China have had a long history of communication, and the collaborations have been spread in various fields, said Francois, hoping that both countries maintain good friendship in today's complex international situation. "We can deepen the bilateral ties in cultural communication and other aspects," he said.

"It is the day of friendship, of love, of sharing. I love that!" Olivier Grandjean, French-language TV presenter and writer, expressed his love for the Spring Festival.

"China is my second home," Grandjean emphasized that French and Chinese cultures share a lot in common, such as food, art and family values. "Loving each other is watching in the same direction," he said, adding that it was quoted from The Little Prince, written by French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

“In this particular year, we must make more and more sharing of cultures," he emphasized. "With these peaceful minds and generosities in our two counties together, we will share a better and shining future."

The foreign friends were also invited to visit Soong Ching-ling's former residence and Shichahai Lake and take part in other cultural activities.

 The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic ties and is also the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism. This event is one of the Sino-French people-to-people cultural exchanges, in which foreigners will deepen their understanding of Chinese traditional culture through immersive cultural activities.