China Media Group (CMG) celebrated the spirit of Chinese New Year at the "Prelude to the Spring Festival Gala" event held in Madrid on Wednesday. The event drew a diverse audience of diplomats, cultural leaders and international guests.
Shen Haixiong, Vice Minister of Public Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of CMG, delivered a video speech highlighting the worldwide recognition of the Spring Festival. Shen said the festival, which was added to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list last year, has become a major celebration around the world.
Shen also expressed his excitement for the upcoming gala, which will leverage CMG's technological advances in "5G+4K/8K+AI" to bring a stunning cultural experience in 82 languages to audiences around the world. Shen invited audiences from around the world to join this global cultural feast that will showcase China's vibrant traditions.
Yao Jing, Chinese Ambassador to Spain, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the spirit of the Spring Festival - unity, harmony and happiness. He said that watching the CMG gala has become an essential tradition for Chinese families celebrating Chinese New Year. Yao also invited visitors from around the world to visit China and experience its rich cultural heritage firsthand.
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, congratulated CMG on the success of the event and wished a Happy New Year. He expressed his confidence that the Spring Festival, now recognized globally, will continue to bring people across cultures together in celebration.
The event included performances by artists from Chongqing who performed the Sichuan opera "Face-Changing" and folk music performed by a musical trio. CMG also premiered promotional clips for the 2025 Spring Festival Gala and the "Intangible Cultural Heritages of China" cultural program.