On the 17th, the second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Chinese students and overseas Chinese living in Lithuania, along with the Chinese Embassy in Lithuania and the Confucius Institute, jointly presented a wonderful "Mini Spring Festival Gala" at the local Kowloon Restaurant's second-floor theater.
Despite the heavy snowfall and below-zero temperatures in Vilnius that day, the enthusiasm of the local Chinese community, including many overseas Chinese families, to attend the event remained undiminished. Among them were the figures of "foreign daughters-in-law" and "foreign sons-in-law", as well as children eagerly awaiting the festivities, creating a truly homely atmosphere.
At that moment, the emotional rendition of "Rise Together with the Republic" by Ding Weixing and Liu Qi, students from Vilnius University, stirred the emotions of the audience. They couldn't help but clap and sing along, while Ambassador Fu Chenchen's accordion solo of "Full Moon and Blossoms" transported the audience to the ambiance of a Spring Festival Gala. The rendition of "Butterfly Lovers" by the students was as beautiful as a painting, and the poetic recitation of "When I Truly Began to Love Myself" by Confucius Institute teacher Ma Yilin provided the audience with a profound auditory experience.
Wang Xiyin, a longtime overseas Chinese resident, excitedly told reporters, "The overseas Chinese community in Lithuania finally has its own Spring Festival Gala. After living abroad for 25 years, I finally feel the festive atmosphere."
This gala not only allowed local Chinese residents to experience the strong flavor of the Lunar New Year but also provided them with an opportunity to connect, strengthen friendships, and make new acquaintances amidst their busy lives.
Cuoji Duoji, Vice President of the Chinese Association, and a Tibetan compatriot who planned the event, told reporters that the purpose of holding this gala was not only to celebrate the Chinese New Year together and alleviate homesickness but also to unite everyone through such activities, enhance communication, deepen emotions, and boost the cohesion of the local Chinese community.
In his speech, the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Lithuania, Shen Zhifei, stated that overseas Chinese residents in Lithuania have always been concerned about their homeland, striving persistently, and working together to realize their dreams. They have also made positive contributions to the promotion of Chinese culture and the enhancement of mutual understanding and friendship between China and Lithuania.
Ambassador Shen promised that in the new year, the embassy will continue to serve overseas Chinese with the same dedication, aiming to "care for compatriots' hearts and warm their emotions", and build high-quality overseas livelihood projects while contributing more to the healthy and stable development of China-Lithuania relations and the economic and social development of the homeland.
