China Media Group (CMG) held an event in Cairo, Egypt, titled "Prelude to the Spring Festival Gala: The World Watches CMG Together," on Friday, February 13, 2026. The event attracted over 200 guests from the political, academic, and media sectors in both China and Egypt.

Shen Haixiong, Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of CMG, delivered a video message, emphasizing the growing global recognition of the Spring Festival and related Chinese traditions. According to Shen, the Spring Festival symbolizes a thousand-year-old Chinese civilization and a spiritual bond connecting Chinese people around the world. Today, nearly 20 countries and regions officially recognize the Spring Festival as a national holiday, and approximately one-fifth of the world's population celebrates it in various ways. This cultural tradition, he said, brings people closer to China and allows them to experience the values it embodies – family harmony, social inclusion, and harmony between humanity and nature.

Shen Haixiong, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and president of CMG. /CMG

Shen stated that the Spring Festival Gala, the most-watched annual cultural event, has been held continuously for 43 years and has become a "spiritual New Year family gathering" that resonates with Chinese communities and audiences worldwide. The 2026 edition, themed "The horse gallops forward, unstoppable," will utilize broadcasting in 82 languages and modern technologies such as "5G+4K/8K+AI" to offer viewers an immersive cultural experience.

Liao Liqiang, the Chinese Ambassador to Egypt, praised the event for opening a new window for the Egyptian and Arab public to learn about Chinese culture, contributing to a deeper understanding between the two nations and strengthening bilateral ties. He emphasized that the horse in traditional Chinese culture symbolizes progress and hope, and noted that China and Egypt will continue to cooperate with the energy and determination symbolized by the horse to develop bilateral relations and contribute to peace and prosperity.

Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang delivers a speech at the event. /CMG

Amr Hamzah, the Egyptian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Asian Affairs, highlighted the continued improvement and development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, and praised the fruitful cooperation in the political, economic, and cultural fields. The year 2026 also marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt, which, according to him, provides new opportunities for further deepening cooperation and mutual understanding.

Ambassador Amr Hamzah, assistant foreign minister for Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs, delivers a speech at the event. /CMG

Essam Sharaf, the former Egyptian Prime Minister, emphasized that the spirit of the Year of the Horse – strength, progress, and vitality – aligns with the dynamic development of China-Egypt relations, and expressed his hope that both countries would work together towards a brighter future.

Essam Sharaf, former prime minister of Egypt, delivers an address at the event. /CMG

The event included a variety of cultural activities. As part of the presentation on horses, experts from Peking University and the Shanghai Institute of International Studies discussed the symbolic and cultural significance of the horse in both Chinese and Egyptian civilizations. Guests also participated in painting horse motifs using brushes and ink, expressing their best wishes for the Year of the Horse.

Experts share the meaning and symbolism of horse in Chinese culture during the event. /CMG
The guests with their paintings of horses. /CMG

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