By Isabel Ovalle
DOHA: Qatar and China will celebrate a joint year of culture in 2015 or 2016, Chinese Ambassador to Qatar Gao Youzhens (pictured), announced in a press conference yesterday. As a preview, China will host a Culture Week in Doha at the end of the year.
The embassy will serve as a comprehensive coordinator of the events put together by numerous Chinese organisations from different regions. “We want to let people know about the rich Chinese culture,” said the ambassador.
The programme will include performances by Chinese artists and Chinese-Arab acrobats, as well as traditional handicrafts and instruments. The embassy also plans to invite Chinese exhibition companies to sell art. “We wish to show Qataris and expats the rich and profound Chinese culture,” added Youzhens.
China implemented many initiatives in Doha last month on occasion of the Joy of Spring Chinese Festival. That way the 6,000-plus Chinese residents in Doha got the opportunity to celebrate the Spring Festival here. Also known as the Chinese New Year, it is the most important festival for the Chinese, when all family members get together.
The ambassador also referred to the recent election of the new president and prime minister in China who, he added, aim to intensify relations with Arab countries, including Qatar.
On occasion of the recent visit of the President of China, Xi Jinping, to Russia, the ambassador talked about the upcoming official visits to Tanzania, South Africa and Congo. However, president Jinping doesn’t have a visit to Qatar planned for this year.
The ambassador stressed that China and Russia are each other’s major and most important strategic partners. On this basis, he referred to these countries’ position on the Syrian conflict, highlighting that China will support any plan put together by the Syrian people, the Arab League or the United Nations, as long as i t doesn’t include violence.
The envoy talked about the “profound traditional friendship” between Africa and China. He added that the Fifth BRICS Leaders Meeting, is schedule for March 26 and 27 in Durban, with the attendance of President Xi Jinping.
The Peninsula
