Basic information

During the 9-day discussion, according to their respective specialties and practices, participants engaged in discussions and exchanges on the meanings and functions of Spring Festival and other traditional Chinese festivals. They learned about the inheritance and preservation of traditional festival culture and the development of Spring Festival culture. The event also offered practical suggestions on how to better carry out “Happy Chinese New Year” overseas.

Working language: Chinese and English

●Topics for discussion

1. Social function of practices, ceremonies, and celebrations

2. Mutual introduction to traditional festivals of different countries and exchanges of practical experience

3. Preservation, inheritance and promotion of Spring Festival

4. Overseas dissemination of Spring Festival culture/experience and exchange of “Happy Chinese New Year” activities

5. Recognition of Spring Festival and prospect on future activities of “Happy Chinese New Year”

●Representatives

Country	Name	Organization and Position
The United States of America	Amelia Jean CHAPMAN	Director of education department at the Pacific Asia Museum
	Kimberly Ann OLSTAD	Director of development and exchange department at the Performance Arts Center of New York University
	Melissa Rashel CHERRY	Vice director of tourism administration for Chicago
Mexico	Edaly Guisell QUIROZ MORENO	Director of culture heritage field of world heritage department
Costa Rica	Miao Yuan SHI XIAO	President of China-Costa Rica Cultural Education Centre
Chili	Maritza Ester CANOBRA MANCILLA	Minister of major activity plan of Santiago
Brazil	Li SIU YUK	President of the Association of Chinese in Brazil
Uruguay	Alicia Magdalena OBREGóN CALVETE	President of China-Uruguay Cultural Exchange Centre
	Leonardo Mario PAZOS MOREIRA	Secretary General of China-Uruguay Cultural Exchange Centre
France	Mathieu Rofer Max FEREY	President of Debussy National Academy of Music in Paris
Italy	Francesco MARCOLINI	President of ZETEMA
Finland	Jenni Kristiina PEISA	Major planner of “Happy Chinese New Year” in Helsinki
Australia	Carol Margaret KEIL	Branch president of China-Australia Association of Friendship
	Brian James KEIL	none
Singapore	Lin Dengli	Leader of Xiamen Union; Chairman of Jinhang Tourism Ltd Co.
	Tan Qinze	Jinhang Tourism Ltd Co.
	Zhuo Li’e	Senior manager of culture industry department of the Chinese Newspapers Division of Singapore Press Holdings
Thailand	Veerapong PONGSAWASDI	Director of Tourism Administration of Thailand
	Vilaiwan TWICHASRI	Deputy Director of Tourism Administration of Thailand
	Watcharakrit YAEM-OT	Scholar from Tourism Administration of Thailand
Kazakhstan	Dilbar AMIROVA	none
	Yana CHIGARKOVA	none
Mauritius	Louis Christian / HUNG WAI WING	Counselor of Youth and Sports Department of Mauritius
Benin	Eric Folly TOTAH	Secretary General of Culture, Illiteracy Elimination, Handicraft and Tourism Department of Benin
Egypt	Nasser Abdelaal ABDELFATAH	Minister counselor on Asian market affairs of the Egyptian Tourism Department
Nigeria	Nana Fatima TSOKWA	Director of Abuja Arts Commission
China	Liu Kuili	Honorary commissioner of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
	Gao Bingzhong	Professor at Peking University
	Wu Shifeng	Vice chairman of expert commission on preservation of intangible cultural heritage of Guangdong province
	Xiao Fang	Professor at Beijing Normal University
	Chen Lianshan	Associate professor at Peking University
	Yang Mingjing	Vice chairman of expert commission on preservation of intangible cultural heritage of Guangdong province