On Feb 19, an evening gala, Happy Chinese New Year: Impression of China, debuted successfully in Purmerend, the Netherlands. As a major event for the 2018 Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in the country, the gala was presented by the Shenzhen Arts Company from South China’s Guangdong province.

Chen Ribiao, the charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy to the Netherlands, attended the event and delivered a speech.

Chen said 2017 marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Netherlands and the ever-deepening cooperation and exchanges in many fields between the two nations have created tighter Sino-Dutch ties. Furthermore, Happy Chinese New Year celebrations in Holland have become an important platform for cultural exchanges between the people of the two countries.

Along with the usual singing, dancing and acrobatics, traditional cultural performances of Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese opera and music played on traditional instruments were staged at the gala. The event won rounds of warm applause as it provided the Dutch audience an authentic impression of China.