The Chinese Embassy in Zambia hosted the 2025 Zambia-Chinese Spring Festival Temple Fair on Sunday, showcasing a vibrant display of Chinese culture in anticipation of the upcoming Spring Festival, which marks the first day of the lunar calendar.
Held at the Levy Shopping Mall in Lusaka, the event was organized in collaboration with the Zambia Chinese Association and drew a diverse crowd, including Chinese nationals, local residents, officials from both the Chinese embassy and the Zambian government, as well as representatives from various Chinese enterprises operating in Zambia.
The celebration featured an array of traditional Chinese cultural performances, including a captivating kung fu demonstration. Attendees also enjoyed a variety of Chinese cuisine and had the opportunity to explore products and services showcased by Chinese companies, highlighting the deepening economic ties between the two nations.
This year, the Spring Festival falls on January 29, ushering in the Year of the Snake. In December 2023, UNESCO recognized the Spring Festival as part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, underscoring its significance.
During the ceremony, Han Jing, the Chinese ambassador to Zambia, emphasized the importance of the event as a gathering point for Chinese nationals in Zambia to celebrate the New Year. He noted that the Year of the Snake symbolizes power, wealth, and longevity in Chinese culture, which he believes will play a crucial role in strengthening bilateral relations between China and Zambia.
“The Spring Festival is a universally recognized cultural symbol with the longest history, richest content, and the widest influence in China,” Han stated. “It embodies the Chinese people’s aspirations for a better life and their love for family and country.”
The ambassador also expressed the embassy’s commitment to a people-centered approach to development and diplomacy, reflecting on the steady progress of China’s economy and technological innovations in 2024.
Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, highlighted the event’s role as a platform for cultural exchange between the two nations. He extended best wishes to China for the New Year and acknowledged the fruitful cooperation achieved in 2024.
“Zambia and China have maintained close cooperation and joined hands to promote modernization and build a community of shared future,” Haimbe remarked. He expressed optimism for increased tourism, investment, and technology transfer from China in the coming year, reaffirming Zambia’s commitment to the one-China policy and mutual political trust.
“We are ready to work with the Chinese embassy and the Chinese community to create a conducive business environment and promote bilateral cooperation in all dimensions,” he added.
