Festival of Chinese culture and art on the International Day of the Chinese Language - 2023

On April 20, 2023, a festival of Chinese culture and art was held at the Belarusian National Technical University, timed to coincide with the International Day of the Chinese Language. During the event, invited guests took part in exciting master classes, visited exhibitions and watched creative performances at a festive concert. However, first things first. For reference: the festival has been held by the Confucius Institute for Science and Technology of the Belarusian National Technical University since 2010 with the support of our university, Northeastern University (PRC), the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of the PRC and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Belarus. The event is aimed at popularizing the Chinese language and familiarizing students with the traditions of the Celestial Empire.
This year the festival was not lagging behind the previous ones. From the first minutes of your stay at the festive site, you could take part in master classes in calligraphy, tea drinking and Chinese painting. Having plunged into arts and crafts, the most assiduous cut out patterns from “jianzhi” paper and painted Peking opera masks. Guests could take homemade things with them as a souvenir.
At the same time, an exhibition exposition of the achievements of the People's Republic of China was opened for visiting. The guests were genuinely interested in the ancient Chinese compass and the first seismoscope in the form of a vase with dragons and frogs.
One of the stands presented the activities of the Confucius Institute for Science and Technology BNTU. The focus was on models of high-speed trains, industrial and space equipment produced using Chinese technology.
A celebratory concert followed. Among the guests of honor were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Belarus Mr. Xie Xiaoyong, Deputy General Director of the Company for the Development of the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park "Great Stone" Mr. Ren Fei, BNTU Rector Sergey Kharitonchik, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Anna Kurakova, the first Secretary of the Central Committee of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union Alexander Lukyanov, directors of the Confucius Institutes and representatives of the Chinese Cultural Center in Minsk.
A series of creative numbers was opened by a bright Chinese folk dance of a lion. Further, Mr. Xie Xiaoyong was invited to the stage for a welcoming speech.
- Good afternoon, dear guests! I am very glad to visit the Belarusian National Technical University in such a warm spring time and take part in today's solemn event. Taking this opportunity, on behalf of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Belarus, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the rector, teachers, staff and students who assisted in organizing the festival.
In turn, Sergey Vasilyevich congratulated the participants on the holiday and noted the close partnership between the two republics and the successful implementation of joint projects. Ren Fei, in his welcoming speech, mentioned the origins of Chinese writing, as well as the culture of the country and its people.
The concert program included lyrical poems, national dances and songs, playing folk instruments and an unforgettable performance in the style of Sichuan Opera with an instant change of faces. The audience enjoyed the excellent performance of creative numbers and left pleased.
Once again, we congratulate our distinguished guests on the holiday, and wish prosperity and strong friendship between the Chinese and Belarusian peoples!