The "Prelude to the CMG Spring Festival Gala" event, organized by China Media Group (CMG), took place in Moscow and Brazil. The event, focused on the Spring Festival, included screenings of promotional videos for the CMG Spring Festival Gala, a themed light show, and interactive cultural experiences that brought the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year closer to the local audience and fostered people-to-people connections.

Shen Haixiong, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China and CEO of CMG, delivered a video address. He stated that the CMG Spring Festival Gala is the most-watched annual cultural event in the world, has been held continuously for 43 years, and has become a spiritual feast that resonates with Chinese people both at home and abroad.

Shen Haixiong noted that the Spring Festival is a cultural symbol of Chinese civilization that has endured for thousands of years and a spiritual bond connecting Chinese people around the world. Nearly 20 countries and regions recognize it as a national holiday, and approximately one-fifth of the world's population celebrates it in various ways. More and more people are learning about China and appreciating Chinese culture through this millennia-old tradition, and gaining a better understanding of the universal values that the festival embodies, including family harmony, social inclusion, and harmony between humans and nature.

This year's CMG Spring Festival Gala will utilize technological innovations such as 5G, 4K and 8K resolution, and artificial intelligence, and will fully leverage its broadcasting capabilities in 85 languages to present a spectacular cultural performance to audiences at home and abroad. CMG will also broadcast the gala through the "One Hundred Cities, Thousands of Screens" project and organize "Prelude to the CMG Spring Festival Gala" events in many parts of the world, allowing audiences around the globe to immerse themselves in the joy and festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival.

The event in Russia was co-organized by CMG and Patrice Lumumba People's Friendship University of Russia. Zhang Hanhui, Chinese Ambassador to Russia, stated that this year marks the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, the 30th anniversary of the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Russia, the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Good-Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation between China and Russia, and the year of the China-Russia Year of Education. He added that the themes of renewal and harmony of the Spring Festival are well aligned with the dynamic development of China-Russia relations. The CMG Spring Festival Gala has become a cultural calling card showcasing the developmental vitality, openness, and inclusiveness of contemporary China.

Boris Jurjevič Titov, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Sustainable Development in Relations with International Organizations, and Chairman of the Russian part of the Russia-China Committee for Friendship, Peace, and Development, stated that relations between China and Russia have reached a historic high, underpinned by a deep friendship between the two nations. He noted that the Spring Festival is celebrated by many people in Russia as well. According to him, the CMG Spring Festival Gala is not only a television artistic event but also a cultural phenomenon that connects the hearts of billions of viewers around the world. It is an important window through which the international community can better understand China, and it also showcases its scientific and technological progress and achievements in national development.

Konstantin Iljič Mogilevskij, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, stated that the event "A Prelude to the CMG Spring Festival Gala" was included in the framework of the China-Russia Year of Education, reflecting the deepening of interpersonal exchanges between the two countries.

Vladimir Michajlovič Filippov, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Patrice Lumumba People's Friendship University of Russia, stated that the family values and traditional ethics that the Spring Festival represents are widely recognized in Russian society today and are becoming a cornerstone of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in a new era.

Andrej Jurjevič Rudenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, sent a congratulatory message to the participants of the event.

During the event, Russian artistic groups and Chinese artists performed together, combining dynamic Slavic dances with graceful Eastern rhythms. There was also a special exhibition and interactive zone featuring CMG cultural and creative products, as well as demonstrations of Chinese New Year traditions, such as New Year greetings, paper cutouts, sugar paintings, and ethnic costumes, offering guests a captivating cultural experience.

At the event in Brazil, Zhu Qingqiao, the Chinese Ambassador to Brazil, stated that the Spring Festival originated in China and is gradually spreading around the world. This year marks the beginning of the first China-Brazil Year of Culture, which will accelerate interpersonal exchanges. He emphasized that relations between China and Brazil are at their highest level in history, and the building of a China-Brazil community with a shared future is gaining strong momentum.

**Alexandre Padilha**, Brazil's Minister of Health, stated that the collaboration between Brazil and China in researching public policies and innovations in healthcare has yielded significant results and created a solid foundation for cultural and technological exchange.

**Joelma Gonzaga**, Secretary for Audiovisual Affairs at the Brazilian Ministry of Culture, stated that film and television are important tools for mutual understanding between civilizations, and that the China-Brazil Year of Culture represents a valuable opportunity to deepen cooperation in the audiovisual industry.

**Rozana Naves**, Rector of the University of Brazil, stated that the Spring Festival reflects the Chinese people's deep understanding of time, nature, and social relationships, and expressed hope for expanding educational and academic cooperation.

Major Brazilian media outlets reported on the event, highlighting the unique charm of the Chinese Spring Festival culture and the fruitful results of audiovisual cooperation between the two countries.

From Eurasia to South America, the series of events "Prelude to CMG's Spring Festival Gala" and the Spring Festival serve as a bridge for sharing New Year's wishes with the world and bring new energy to cultural exchange and mutual understanding between civilizations.

CMG