Zim, China share rich cultural history, says Mini...

Zim, China share rich cultural history, says Minister Kirsty Coventry

Patience Muchemwa

Zimbabwe and China share a rich cultural history that dates back centuries, Sports, Arts and Recreation Minister, Kirsty Coventry said.

Coventry was speaking at the 2024 Happy Chinese New Year Gala at the Celebration Centre in Harare yesterday.

“The celebration of the Chinese New Year provides our people with an opportunity to strengthen ties of our friendship and cooperation,” she said.

Speaking at the same event, which was running the theme, “Henan culture meets Afric”, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhong Ding expressed his gratitude towards government for supporting cultural programmes.

“I want to thank the government of Zimbabwe for supporting the cultural exchange programmes which also showcase the diversity of cultures in Harare.

“The Chinese New Year is a time where families gather, share love to one another and celebrate,” Ambassador Ding said.

Chinese New Year is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar.

In Chinese, the festival is commonly referred to as the Spring Festival as the spring season in the lunisolar calendar traditionally starts with lichun, the first of the twenty-four solar terms, which the festival celebrates around the time of the Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year is marked from February 10 to February 15, with the Lantern Festival serving as the conclusion of the festivities.