Spokesperson's Remarks｜China welcomes friends from all over the world to com...

Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed warm congratulations on the inscription of Spring Festival on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) intangible cultural heritage list on Thursday.

It's reported that the UNESCO on Wednesday inscribed Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional new year, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The decision was made during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, taking place in Paraguay from December 2 to 7. The committee recognized the festival for its wide array of rituals and unique cultural elements that engage all of Chinese society. With this addition, China now has 44 cultural elements or practices recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

"The Spring Festival is the oldest and the most important traditional festival in the Chinese culture. The festival is always a time for family reunion and ringing in the new year. We have many Spring Festival traditions such as writing the character Fu which means good fortune, hanging Spring Festival couplets, making dumplings and watching dragon dance and lion dance performance, which I believe many of you are familiar with." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference in Beijing.

Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson/MFA PRC

Lin further said that the Spring Festival embodies peace, amity and harmony which are values cherished by the Chinese nation and civilization, which makes it a festival that is meaningful for China and can be enjoyed by the world. The festival is a public holiday in almost 20 countries and celebrated in various ways by about one-fifth of humanity. Last year, the 78th UN General Assembly decided to list the Lunar New Year as a UN floating holiday.

"In about six weeks, we will celebrate the Spring Festival of the Year of the Snake. We welcome all journalists here and friends from all over the world to come and experience the rich and wonderful Spring Festival culture. We very much hope that the festival's cultural message will contribute to a world of less conflicts, harmony among civilizations, and amity between peoples of the world. Hope the Spring Festival will be a moment of joyfulness shared by all." Lin said. (By Ma Ziqian/China Youth Daily)

来源：中国青年报客户端