President lauds Guyana and China’s close relationship - at Chinese New Year observance
The long friendship between Guyana and China is cause to celebrate, as over the decades, the two countries’ relationship has grown from strength,President Donald Ramotar told guests this evening at a dinner in observance of the Chinese New Year.
Delivering brief remarks as part of the festivities at the Chinese Association Building on Brickdam, the president noted that the decision by his political party to support the Communist party after its revolution and ascension to power, showed great foresight since that country has developed at a pace that has surprised many other world powers, achieving great prominence over the years.
President Donald Ramotar addressing guests at the Chinese
Association dinner as part of Chinese New Year festivities
The president praised China for its assistance in various sectors, noting that the country always contributed to Guyana’s development. Chinese investments will always be welcome, President Ramotar noted, once they are within the ambit of local laws, adding that, “These investments will prove to be very important in the future, to our country”.
The Head of State closed by extending best wishes to the Chinese community and their friends for a year filled with the attributes of the Horse, those of strength, loyalty and steadfastness.
Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin in a brief speech said that economically and socially, Guyana has been developing, and cooperation between the two nations has been expanding in various fields. The contribution by China to Guyana’s development, the ambassador said will continue.
President of the Chinese Association Shiloning Chow remarked that it was an honour to celebrate the start of a new year with the membership. He spoke of the support that the association has given to many of those who migrate to Guyana in terms of translation services and particularly to Chinese seeking to diversify into other sectors of the local economy.
The Ministry of Home Affairs was thanked for its assistance with regards to security concerns and immigration matters. Chow who also said that in addition to the hosting of its traditional cultural fair, the association will give donations and assistance to various orphanages. Other plans also include the teaching of various Chinese dialects to interested persons and English classes for new comers to Guyana.
President of the Chinese Association Shiloning Chow
addressing guests at the Chinese Association dinner
as part of Chinese New Year festivities
Celebrations usually begin on the Chinese New Year’s Eve. The lunar calendar is based upon the cycles of the moon and has 12 animals, one to represent each year of the lunisolar cycle. At Chinese New Year, people traditionally wear red clothes and give children “lucky money” contained in red envelopes. The colour red symbolises fire to drive away bad luck.
To mark the holiday families typically reunite and gather at each other’s homes to celebrate and eat together. It is also traditional for households to thoroughly cleanse the house to sweep away ill fortune and make way for good luck, to decorate windows and doors with red paper-cuts and to light firecrackers. Festivities often continue until the Lantern Festival, held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Red paper lanterns are hung across houses and in streets.