As the Year of Dragon is around corner, Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai held the Chinese New Year Reception and Chinese Cultural Festival on 2nd February. Since Spring Festival is now a UN holiday with more than 7 billion people all over the world celebrating it fervently, over 300 people from all walks of life attended this event.

Chinese Consul General Mr. Kong Xianhua delivered a welcome speech, reviewing China's extraordinary achievements in 2023, mentioning Chinese companies’ active participation in social welfare undertakings, congratulating Indian on its significant achievements in 2023, emphasizing that the extensive cooperation makes the achievement and harvest for both China and India happen.

Reviewing China's extraordinary achievements in 2023, Mr. Kong said that China’s GDP has grown by 5.2% to over $17.7 trillion USD in 2023 and contributed over 30% of the global economic growth, remaining the main engine of global economy. With 41.76 trillion yuan of export and import value, China has secured its position as the largest trader of goods for 7 consecutive years. China auto export exceeded 5 million last year, pushing China to be the No.1 auto exporter in the world.

China has had a growing network of friends, made more and more new friends, and strengthened ties with old ones. The multilateral cooperative mechanisms like BRI and BRICS have shown greater vitality. China is taking more solid steps toward the building of a community with a shared future for mankind which has become a source of certainty for lasting peace and shared prosperity in the world.

    Mr. Kong pointed out that In 2023, despite the difficulties, Chinese companies achieved pretty good performance and actively participated in social welfare undertakings. Yapp India, a Chinese company in Pune, completed the infrastructure upgrade project in S.M.C No.1 High School in Solapur, Dr. Kotnis’ hometown. Sany, Haier and many other Chinese companies also engage in social welfare undertakings and contribute to development of local society.

    Mr. Kong extended his congratulations to Indian people, saying that India has made significant achievements in various aspects in 2023, including 7.3% economic growth rate, wonderful performance in the Asian Game held in China’s Hangzhou, Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing on the moon,etc.

    Mr.Kong emphasized that 2023 marks a year of achievement and harvest for both China and India. It is the extensive cooperation between our two peoples that makes it happen. The China-India trade volume has surpassed 136.2 billion dollars in 2023. Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in India have issued over 1.8 lakh visas last years, showing a new high of Indian visitors to China after the pandemic. One of the biggest news in Mumbai these days is that the Mumbai Coastal Road is set to open this month. It is worth noting that the tunnel under Malabar hill, the hardest part of the project, was built with a Chinese Tunnel Boring Machine by the efforts of both Chinese and Indian engineers.

Inherit and Carry Forward the Spirit of Dr. Kotnis:

“When we enjoy peaceful and prosperous life today, we cannot forget the heroes like Dr.Kotnis who sacrificed their lives for national independence against imperialism.” Chinese diplomats said. At this reunion and happy moment, Chinese people still pay their respect and tribute to Dr. Kotnis, who was the great son of Solarpur. Mr. Nagesh Bhosle,the famous Bollywood director and actor, led a documentary film team to China last year. He said that as a fellow from Dr. Kotnis's homeland, he still want to make a small,but significant effort for Dr. Kotnis and the great Chinese people's war of resistance for which he has devoted his life. His journey also revealed the peaceful and calm faces of the Chinese people, a glimpse into the new China that Dr. Kotnis and Dr. Bethune dreamed of.

Immerse into Chinese Culture:

    This event also inspired Indian friends to experience Chinese culture in an all-round, multi-angle and interactive way, especially through sister-cities,  China’s development , Chinese cuisine, Kung-Fu and Beijing Opera.

    Sister Cities: 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Mumbai and Shanghai. Mr. Kong Fu’an, Dirctor General of Foreign affairs office of Shanghai delivered an online speech, sending Shanghai’s wishes and expectations to its Mumbai friends, saying that both Shanghai and Mumbai are the economic, financial, and innovation centers, hoping two cities could work together to further the exchange and cooperation in every sector and promote the long-term friendly relations between China and India.

Chengdu, sister city of Bangalore, Jinan, sister city of Nagpur and Shijiazhuang, sister city of Solapur also showed their rich history and modern development through immersive videos.

China’s Development: Through question-and-answer,audience learned about the C919 Airliner which developed by China put into commercial passenger service, China’s complete victory in its fight against poverty, China’s exports of EVs、Lithium Batteries、Solar Cells,etc. China's development has strengthened the confidence of the Indian people in pursuing development and progress.

Chinese Cuisine: When Spring Festivals rolls around, food is part of the celebration, not to mention that Chinese food is already very popular in India. Mr. Wang Peng, a Chinese Chef showed how to make Lamian, stretched noodles to all the guests. Roast Peking duck, steamed dumplings, stewed beancurd in pepper sauce......the whole room was filled with the good smell of food.

Chinese Kung-Fu: Chinese Kungfu was sprouted on the traditional Chinese philosophical soil of making the humanity and nature at one. In China, when KungFu practitioner compete with each other, they refrain from causing actual harm. During a fight-off, one would repay strength with softness, which is the embodiment of “Harmony in Diversity”. Harsh Verma, the first Indian Shaolin Warrior monk practiced Kung Fu, which won a round of applause.

Beijing Opera: Peking opera is the dominant form of Chinese opera, combining music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics. Many Indian young people are fond of it. Yogish Kale sang a famous Beijing Opera, Ode to the Pear Flower, leaving impressive impression to all the audience.

The event was bursting with happiness, vividly showing that the world is a big family. Spring Festival has its special customs, pasting spring couplets, paying New Year calls and reuniting with family for TUANYUAN(reunion) meals. All these customs embody the spiritual core of harmony and peace in Chinese culture. When people all around the world enjoy the family time and make best wishes together in the Spring Festival, our hearts should be connected with each other at this moment. Then in a way, the whole world is a big family.