The 15th "Happy Chinese New Year" event, successfully organized by the Beijing Municipal Government, along with the Mustamäe District Administration and the Rotermann City OÜ respectively, was held in Tallinn from February 9th to 10th, 2024. This event is an integral part of the Cultural Diversity Year of Estonia, featured high-level performances and intangible cultural heritage exhibitions by Beijing artists.
On February 9th, the Kultuurikeskus Kaja in the Mustamäe District hosted the first event. Guests of honor included The Chinese Ambassador to Estonia, H.E. Ms Guo Xiaomei, Ms Aleksandra Lorvi, Deputy Head of the Mustamäe District Administration, Mr. Eero Raun, Project Manager of the Cultural Diversity Year and Mr. Chang Lin, Secondary Inspector from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. They participated in the dragon dance's "eye-dotting" ceremony and delivered speeches. Amb. Guo expressed appreciation to the "Happy Chinese New Year" event which conveys sincere emotions from distant China to Estonian friends. She hoped that these activities would further enhance mutual understanding and deepen friendship between the two countries.
On February 10th, the second event was lively held at Rotermann Square. In her greeting speech, Ambassador Guo Xiaomei emphasized that both China and Estonia are nations with diverse ethnicities and cultures, inhabited by hardworking, intelligent, brave, and self-respecting peoples. She expressed a desire to promote shared and inclusive cultural values with Estonia, discover the beauty of different civilizations, and jointly enhance world cultural diversity. Mr. Urmas Sõorumaa, the owner of Rotermann City OÜ and Chairman of the Estonian Olympic Committee, unveiled the Year of the Dragon sculpture.
Over 5,000 Estonians participated in the "Happy Chinese New Year" event, braving the cold of winter night, to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. They praised Chinese artists' performances and cultural displays, expressing a desire to further experience the charm of Chinese culture.