Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mrs. Nabeela Farida Tunis has on the occasion of the 2024 Chinese Spring Festival appreciated the bond between China and Sierra Leone and called for Sierra Leonean products to be displayed on Chinese markets. The Minister also used the occasion to explain the year-long national campaign on tourism and culture dubbed “Tourism for All Campaign” by the Ministry. The event was held at Bintumani Hotel, Aberdeen, Freetown.
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the grandest festival in China usually with a 7-8 days holiday. As the most colorful annual event, the traditional CNY celebration lasts up to two weeks, and the climax arrives around the Lunar New Year’s Eve. This period is dominated by iconic red lanterns, loud fireworks, massive banquets and parades, and the festival even triggers exuberant celebrations across the globe.
Mrs. Tunis said that the year of dragon, as this 2024 Spring Festival is fondly known in China is also a period of family reunion and was delighted that Sierra Leoneans were there to celebrate with the Chinese community in Sierra Leone. “Today we have a replica of all these wonderful paraphernalia of a wonderful celebration, and in addition more importantly, we have the bond of great friendship between our two nations”, she stated. She mentioned that they have over the past five years deepened cultural ties with China through several exchange visits between their people, cooperation on education, and the establishment of the Confucius Education Institute in Sierra Leone underlined the depth of their cultural fusion.
“We also hope, your Excellency, that as this year of the Dragon is about prosperity and strength we can, together, foster deeper integration and take our relationship a step further by ensuring that Sierra Leoneans products depicting our rich culture and creativity are also displayed in the Chinese market”, she stated. She continued that they would work together to make the celebration of such momentous occasion as the Chinese Spring Festival more colorful, participatory and enjoyable in Freetown.
She maintained that the Chinese Spring Festival coincided with the Ministry’s Tourism for All Campaign, a campaign she said they are using to reach out to millions of Sierra Leoneans as well as non-nationals with the aim of raising awareness about the relevance of tourism and culture to achieve peace, national cohesion, livelihood development and even national growth and development. She invited the Chinese community to join this year-long campaign while reaffirming Sierra Leone’s commitment to cultural heritage. She on behalf of the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Rtd. Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio wished all the Chinese nationals in Sierra Leone a happy New Year of the Dragon 2024.
MTCA Communications
