The day was the date upon traditional Chinese Lunar New Year fell. On the first day of the lunar year, the Confucius Institute for Business, London (CIBL) held a grand New Year’s Reception Dinner at Britain House of Lords. More than two hundred people, including parliamentarians and figures from political, legal, financial, commercial, cultural and educational circles as well as media were in attendance at the event.

 

 

At the New Year’s Reception Dinner, the life-long member of parliament of the House of Lords of Britain and student of the CIBL Lord Wei made the first speech. Tian Xiaogang, Counselor of the Education Office at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the UK, Stephen Philips, the CEO of China-Britain Business Council and Nick Byrne, the British Director of CIBL were invited to deliver speeches which they delivered with enthusiasm. They spoke highly of the outstanding contributions made by the Confucius Institute for Business, London in promoting Chinese language and culture, as well as offering praise of its facilitation of cultural exchange between China and UK. They expressed their wishes that Sino-British relations will develop, reaching a new level this year.

 

 

This was the first time for the Confucius Institute to hold its Spring Festival celebration at the UK’s parliamentary House of Lords. The archaic British parliament hall brought a noble and elegant atmosphere to the event though the theme of the event Chinese Lunar New Year was clearly evident. During the reception dinner, people expressed their New Year’s wishes to one another. Many foreign friends, previous Chinese language students at the Confucius Institute, even communicated in Chinese.

 

 

At the start of the Lunar New Year, the reception dinner provided a sound platform for prominent people of all circles in London to focus their attention on China and the Sino-British relations. All present enjoyed a happy get-together in celebration of the coming of the Year of the Dragon. Understanding between Chinese and British people has deepened and the influence of the Confucius Institute for Business, London has been expanded. Many people keeping a watchful eye on Chinese issues hope that they may either get the chance to learn Chinese language at the Confucius Institute or that they may continue to participate in a variety of cultural exchange activities launched by the Confucius Institute