Chinese Year of the Snake Welcomed in Mondorf

On Monday 24 February 2025, the first of two gala dinners in the same week to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Luxembourg was held, at the Casino2000 in Mondorf-les-Bains, with the Year of the Snake symbolising wisdom, transformation and opportunities.

Organised by the Sinolux Schengen Culture Communication Asbl and the Luxembourg Euro-Asie Schengen International Group, in collaboration with the municipalities of Remich and Schengen, the event attracted 450 people at the spacious Chapito event space.

In Chinese folk tradition, the Year of the Snake is often associated with potential good fortune and symbolises the ability to find opportunities and face challenges in a complex and ever-changing environment.

The event highlighted the richness of Chinese culture with a cultural programme included a professional Kung Fu - Shaolin demonstration, as well as singing, dancing and acrobatics courtesy of performance teams from the Henan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, who have come directly from China.

The VIPs attending included the President of the Luxembourg Parliament, Claude Wiseler, the Minister of the Economy, Lex Delles, and former ministers Mars di Bartholomeo and Etienne Schneider, the Ambassador of China to Luxembourg, Hua Ning, as well as former Luxembourg Ambassador Carlo Krieger and other representatives of political life and civil society.

In an expertly choreographed evening, the two MCs took turns in introducing the next speakers and acts, speaking alternately in French and Mandarin Chinese.

The event organiser, Yong Zhang, President of the Sinolux Schengen Culture Communication Asbl, spoke mainly in English and welcomed everyone and explained that the gala dinner was being held to showcase the rich and ancient Chinese culture, coinciding with the Year of the Snake which represents wisdom, strategy, mystery and transformation. He thanked the artists travelling over from central China as well as the various supporters and sponsors. He referenced their tours to China availing of the direct flights since December 2023: more than 700 people have participated in their group visits to China; this year they have extended their offering to include a “soft China” itinerary.

He then confirmed the dates of two important events they are organising this year, firstly on Sunday 30 March, a badminton tournament in Steinsel, and then on Sunday 29 June the 3rd Dragon Boat festival in Remich.

Minister Delles spoke in English and also mentioned the direct flights between China and Luxembourg. He referenced last November’s trade mission to both Beijing and Shanghai, and also mentioned strong cultural ties between the two countries.

Claude Wiseler, President of Luxembourg’s Parliament, also spoke in English and talked about the richness of China’s cultural diversity, as well as common values including mutual trust and mutual respect. He said that China has made huge progress over the last couple of years, in peace, friendship and freedom. He also mentioned a number of political exchanges between the two countries, and thanked Ambassador Hua Ning and also mentioned parliamentary diplomacy. While the two countries may be different sizes, they have much in common.

Ambassador Hua Ning addressed the event in English and referenced the many Chinese New Year events he has been attending. He talked about tourism and mentioned that around 13,000 people had visited China from Luxembourg in 2024. He referenced Prime Minister Frieden’s remarks on Luxembourg’s stability which China also enjoys. He also talked about China introduced a 20-point plan to encourage inward investment into China, including high-tech and pharma, as well as the service sector.

The entertainment commenced with students from the Athenée performing Dai Dance and Tai Chi, before the Shaolin monks and other performers took to the stage to start what was to be a stunning series of performances involving dance, song (including Chinese opera), juggling, acrobatics and other martial arts disciplines including Kung Fu.

The sumptuous three-course dinner was served to the tables, with the main course comprising no less than eight different dishes.

The evening concluded with a tombola which offered top prizes of flights to China with Henan Airlines (from Brussels) and China Southern Airlines (from Luxembourg), as well as hotel stays in Luxembourg courtesy of different hotel groups.

ED / Chronicle.lu