New year celebrations and Wales-China friendships

The seat of the Welsh Government, the Senedd, welcomed in Chinese New Year on 29 January, showcasing Wales-China relations within business, culture and academia.

Attendees from all walks of life were present, including a number of staff from Cardiff Confucius Institute. They enjoyed art and poetry by Welsh schoolchildren, an exhibition organised by the institute that depicted the friendship between the two countries. Guests also had the chance to watch a colourful and entertaining Dragon Dance, an important part of Chinese culture during Lunar New Year. Chinese dragons symbolize wisdom, power and wealth, and are believed to bring luck for the coming months.

The event was hosted by Eluned Morgan AM, the Minister of International Relations and Welsh Language, and the Chinese Envoy Wen Chen also made a speech. Both expressed their sympathies to those affected by the Coronavirus outbreak, offering words of support and encouragement. The Welsh Royal Band also performed the Chinese song ‘Tomorrow Will Be Better’.