From Iran, Ahmad Mohammadi, the head of Iran-China Friendship Association, attended the event where representatives of other countries, and personalities of several Iranian institutions invited by Mr. Pang Sen, China’s Ambassador to Tehran, celebrated the Festival for third consecutive year.
In his address to the participants, Mr. Sen expressed gratitude for the guests and dignitaries in the ceremony and congratulated them on Chinese New Year; “Chinese New Year, like that of Iranians, is the spring and renewal of the life on earth, and is one of the greatest traditional festivities, which is widely celebrated across China with magnificent events,” he told the participants.
Sen told the event that Chinese New Year’s Festival was almost 2,000 years old; “every spring, Chinese folk gather together to bid adieu to the old year and hail the new; Iran and China are two countries of great civilizations, and enjoy long history of ties; I hope that holding the festival would introduce Chinese rituals and culture,” he added.
Chinese ambassador also wished ‘eternally friendly relationships for both countries,’ expressing thanks to Chinese nationals, Chinese companies’ staff, students, etc., for their contribution to the event.
It was, then, Mohammadi’s turn to address the audience; he began his speech with congratulation of Chinese embassy staff, ambassador, and Chinese and Iranian participants on the New Year’s Festival, whishing a year of bounty for Chinese people; “I hope the new year will bring extended bilateral relations and improvements to ties as it did in past years,” he said.
The event displayed highly popular Dragon Dance which stole the attentions of the participants along with Chinese traditional music.
Chinese ambassador and head of Iran-China Friendship Association officially opened the New Year by painting the eyes of the dragon as a symbol of resurrection of the dragon; Mr. Sen accompanied guests in visiting pavilions designed to introduce Chinese culture and traditions.
In a sideline event, Ahmad Mohammadi spoke to the press about the role of NGOs in consolidating of nations’ relations; “NGOs would prove as a missing piece of the puzzle in governments’ plans in providing services." He also detailed about the Associations plans in culture; “the Association is a 15-year-old NGO; we work with Chinese to produce movies, translate Chinese books to Persian and vice versa; host and manage touristic and artistic delegations frequenting between China and Iran, and we have also student exchange program,” he said.
The event also displayed Red Dragon, directed by Ahmad Rastgou, and co-produced by Iran and China. A children’s workshop brought together Iranian and Chinese children through Chinese national games and entertainments.
A charity shop presented Chinese traditional handicrafts including calligraphy and Chinese miniature along with fireworks entertained the guests.
Iranian group Red Dragon also contributed to the luster of the event by show-off of individual or two-people Vosho acrobatics, which garnered plaudits from the audience.
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