Dragons of Wales and China together for Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year – the Year of the Dragon was celebrated in Wales with events held at many universities in Wales including Bangor University, Cardiff University and University of Glamorgan.

A celebration was held at the Senedd hosted by the First Minister for Wales, the Rt Hon Carwyn James AM. 

The event followed a high-level delegation to China last year where the First Minister led talks to promote Wales as a business destination and place to invest, as well as promoting educational opportunities in Wales. Representatives from universities in Wales accompanied the First Minister and one of the highlights was the signing of a new agreement with Chongqing Health Bureau on cancer training and research collaboration.

These growing links were furthered at the Chinese New Year celebrations where the First Minister wished guests a happy new year in Mandarin and Cantonese.

He said: “The Dragon of course, is the national symbol of Wales. The Welsh flag, named Y Ddraig Goch in Welsh, literally translates as The Red Dragon. The dragon is just one thing that China and Wales have in common.

“My government is committed to Wales’ relationship with China and late last year I returned from an extremely productive and enjoyable visit to the country, the first of what I hope will be many as First Minister of Wales.

“The warmth of the Chinese people and the welcome I received will remain with me forever. During my visit we signed a number of new deals that will be mutually beneficial to both our nations, including renewing the Co-operation Agreement with the Municipal Government of Chongqing and a new agreement with the Municipal Government of Beijing.

“Our relationship embraces a wide range of areas, from business, energy, education and health and I want this journey to continue.  I sincerely hope that the Year of the Dragon will bring lasting peace, common prosperity and harmony between our two nations.”

Bangor University welcomed in the Chinese New Year with a party which celebrated the year of the golden dragon. Staff joined with the Chinese student society and other students and their families to celebrate the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar.

Students helped put together the event, which began with welcoming speeches from Professor David Shepard, (Deputy Vice Chancellor), Professor Philip Molyneux (Head of the College or Business, Social Sciences and Law) and Oscar Wu (President of the Chinese Student Society)

Professor David Shepherd spoke about the connection between the year of the ‘Golden Dragon’ and the Welsh Dragon emblem.  He hoped that this year would therefore bring “Stronger relationships and collaboration with Bangor Universities Chinese partners and great success for the students.”

Professor Molyneux thanked the Chinese society for bringing China into Wales and congratulated students for the major commitment they have made by travelling half way around the world to study, and the challenges which students have overcome. The Professor wished the students “Success, prosperity and lots more golden dragons.”

Oscar Wu commented: “The golden dragon represents emperor, power, luck and happiness.”

Students who would usually be celebrating the festival at home with their families, joined together and welcomed in a new “joyful semester of new knowledge and challenges’

“We are thankful for the opportunity to be able to join together and celebrate the Chinese New Year as one big family, ” said Oscar Wu.

Guests at the party enjoyed a buffet-style dinner offering a variety of authentic Chinese food and performances which included hip hop dance, singing and traditional Mongolian dance. There were games and lottery draws with great prizes including ipod docks, printers and a laptop.

Cardiff University held a spectacular gala evening of music, dance and culture. Cardiff University’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association, in collaboration with Cardiff Confucius Institute hosted the Gala at Amgueddfa Cymru – the National Museum of Wales.

Highlights of the Senedd celebration included the traditional spectacular New Year’s Lion Dance and at the National Museum pupils from Cardiff’s Lansdowne Primary School performed a Chinese folk dance, called the Bamboo Dance, with children from Cardiff Mandarin School also taking part. Other acts included a magic show and a display of Kung Fu. This year’s event also had a wider international dimension, including performances of Welsh folk dance and Puccini’s Nessun Dorma.

The event was attended by Mr Fengh Qiao, First Secretary in the Education Section of the Chinese Embassy to the UK.

Dr Richard Evans, Director of Cardiff Confucius Institute at the University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning, said: "Once again, Cardiff's Chinese students put on a wonderful spectacle for the New Year's Gala. It was particularly encouraging to see local schoolchildren performing Chinese songs they have learned, reflecting the Cardiff Confucius Institute's mission to heighten appreciation of Chinese culture and language across Wales."

Staff and students at the University of Glamorgan also celebrated the Chinese New Year in style with a gala event attended by over 160 partygoers.

Organised by Martha Rivas, the Student Unions’ International Student Development Worker, with help from the University’s Chinese Society and International Society, the event took place at the University’s Treforest campus and was an extravaganza of music, performance and fine Chinese cuisine.

International and home students, as well as staff representatives, enjoyed the event with a traditional workshop of paper cutting and Chinese performances including a Lion Dance, with one Chinese student commenting: “it really makes me feel back home in China”.

Party organiser Martha Rivas said: “It was great to have so much support for the gala party and we’d like to wish everyone in the University a very happy, healthy and prosperous Chinese New Year of the Dragon.”