AChineseartistperformsduringaChineseLanternFestivalconcertinValletta,Malta,onFeb.21,2024.AconcertfortheChineseLanternFestivalwasheldatMalta'sChinaCulturalCenteronWednesdaynight,featuringclassicChinesesongssuchas"GiveMeaRose,""NocturnalPeace,"and"MoonlightovertheSpringRiver."(Xinhua/ChenWenxian)VALLETTA,Feb.22(Xinhua)--CelebrationsfortheChineseLanternFestivalwereheldinMaltathisweek,immersingpeopleinthetraditionalcultureofChina.Thelanternfestivaltakesplaceonthe15thdayofthefirstlunarmonth,markingtheendoftheNewYearcelebration.Thisyear,itfallsonFeb.24.AconcertwasheldatMalta'sChinaCulturalCenteronWednesdaynight,featuringclassicChinesesongssuchas"GiveMeaRose,""NocturnalPeace,"and"MoonlightovertheSpringRiver."TheChinaBroadcastingPerformingArtsTroupe'sperformancereceivedastandingovation,andtheartistsgaveanencoreoftwomoresongs:"JasmineFlower"fromChinaand"Festa"fromMalta.HighlightingthattheLanternFestivalisoneofChina'smostimportanttraditionalfestivals,counseloroftheChineseEmbassyinMaltaPengYijunsaidthattheconcertwill"bringtogetherfriendsfromallwalksoflifeinMaltatoenjoytheuniqueartisticcharmoftraditionalChinesefolkmusic."Chinawantsto"furtherstrengthenculturalexchangesandmutuallearningwithMalta,"headded.MaryAnnCauchi,directorofFundingandStrategyfortheArtsCouncilMalta,saidthattheLanternFestivalhasbecomeapopularattraction.Itpromotestheconvergenceoftwodifferentcultures,andtwoancientcivilizations,shesaid."ChinaandMaltaaregoodfriendsthathavewithstoodthetestoftime,"shenoted."Thecountries'cooperationandexchangeshavedeepenedinfieldssuchasinfrastructure,aquaculture,maritimeandcommercial,especiallythroughMalta'sparticipationintheBeltandRoadInitiative."EvaristBartolo,Malta'sformerforeignminister,saidthatsincehewasbornintheYearoftheDragonin1952,2024isaspecialyearforhimasitisanotherYearoftheDragon."Forme,ithasapersonalmeaning:therelationshipbetweenMaltaandChinashouldgetstrongerandstronger,"Bartolosaid.MartinAzzopardi,ascienceteacherandthefounderofChinaCorneratSt.MargaretCollegeSecondarySchoolinCospicua,saidtheconcertallowedtheMaltesepeopletoappreciatetherichmusicalcultureofChina.OnThursday,thetroupealsostagedaperformanceatSanAndreaSchoolinnorthernMaltaforover200studentsandteachers.AlsoonThursday,aneventwasheldatSt.ClarePembrokeSecondarySchool,northeasternMalta,featuringsinginganddancing,Chinesepaper-cuts,tastingofdumplings,andtryingontraditionalChineseclothingknownasHanfu.SchoolheadteacherLinoBorgtoldXinhuathattheevent,organizedbytheConfuciusInstituteattheUniversityofMalta,providedthestudentswithavaluableopportunitytogaininsightintoChinesecultureandtraditions.Heexpectedthescaleoftheseeventswouldbeexpandednextyear,toattractmorestudentstolearntheChineselanguage.■ChineseartistsperformduringaChineseLanternFestivalconcertinValletta,Malta,onFeb.21,2024.AconcertfortheChineseLanternFestivalwasheldatMalta'sChinaCulturalCenteronWednesdaynight,featuringclassicChinesesongssuchas"GiveMeaRose,""NocturnalPeace,"and"MoonlightovertheSpringRiver."(Xinhua/ChenWenxian)AChineseartistperformsduringaChineseLanternFestivalconcertinValletta,Malta,onFeb.21,2024.AconcertfortheChineseLanternFestivalwasheldatMalta'sChinaCulturalCenteronWednesdaynight,featuringclassicChinesesongssuchas"GiveMeaRose,""NocturnalPeace,"and"MoonlightovertheSpringRiver."(Xinhua/ChenWenxian)ChineseartistsperformduringaChineseLanternFestivalconcertinValletta,Malta,onFeb.21,2024.AconcertfortheChineseLanternFestivalwasheldatMalta'sChinaCulturalCenteronWednesdaynight,featuringclassicChinesesongssuchas"GiveMeaRose,""NocturnalPeace,"and"MoonlightovertheSpringRiver."(Xinhua/ChenWenxian)Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.