Chinese New Year celebrations have officially begun in Islamabad, Pakistan, bringing a colorful blend of music, traditional performances, delicious food, and impressive art displays to the city.
The Chinese Spring Festival, celebrated with joy and enthusiasm, highlights the values of family, culture, and friendship, symbolizing the strong bond between the two nations. This year’s Spring Festival, marking the Year of the Snake, begins on January 29.
Two major events marked the start of the festivities: one hosted by the Chinese Embassy and another organized by Pakistan’s Planning Ministry. At these celebrations, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong emphasized the significance of the New Year as a time of renewal and hope. He highlighted the festival as a symbol of wisdom, resilience, and transformation. In Pakistan, the Chinese Spring Festival serves as a heartfelt tribute to the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China, reflecting their shared journey toward prosperity and mutual growth.
Celebration of Pakistan-China friendship
Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives celebrated the Chinese Spring Festival, highlighting strong and enduring ties between Pakistan and China.
The event, attended by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, emphasized the importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its achievements.
Minister Iqbal highlighted the Lunar New Year as a symbol of renewal, resilience, and hope, and underscored the unbreakable friendship between the two nations, often described as “higher than the mountains, deeper than the oceans, and sweeter than honey.” He highlighted the visionary leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with CPEC serving as its flagship project. He described the initiative as a bridge of opportunity that promotes economic interdependence, regional harmony, and shared prosperity.
Minister Iqbal praised the transformative impact of the first phase of CPEC, which has helped address Pakistan’s energy shortages, enhanced road connectivity through major motorways and highways, and transformed Gwadar Port into a key hub for regional trade.
Future CPEC focus
Reflecting on the future of CPEC, the Minister said the second phase would focus on Business-to-Business (B2B) cooperation, organized around five main corridors: Growth, Livelihood, Innovation, Green Development, and Regional Connectivity. These initiatives align with the 5Es of Pakistan’s “URAAN Pakistan” plan, which targets economic transformation through exports, digital innovation, equity, green development, and infrastructure projects, the Minister said.
The Minister also spoke about future goals, including setting up special economic zones, modernizing agriculture, promoting green energy, and building climate-resilient infrastructure. He highlighted Gwadar Port’s strategic role in connecting South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, making it a key driver of regional trade and stability.
“This celebration is not just about welcoming a new year—it is a tribute to the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China and our shared journey toward progress and prosperity,” he said.
Ambassador Jiang celebrated the launch of the first commercial flight from Karachi to the new Gwadar International Airport, calling it a milestone in the CPEC initiative. “This milestone not only sends a clear message of our joint commitment to strategic cooperation but also stands as a testament to the untiring efforts of both Pakistani and Chinese stakeholders,” Ambassador Jiang said.
The event also included a recognition ceremony where top-performing Chinese companies working on CPEC projects were honored with certificates and souvenirs, showcasing the high standards of cooperation between the two nations.
Chinese Embassy hosts vibrant Chinese New Year celebration
On January 11, 2025, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan hosted a vibrant Chinese New Year celebration at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, attended by over 500 guests, including Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, His Excellency Jiang Zaidong.
In his speech, Ambassador Jiang highlighted the enduring China-Pakistan friendship, stating, “We hope and firmly believe that overseas Chinese will continue to foster a strong sense of community within the Chinese nation, care for and support the development of their homeland, and promote China-Pakistan cooperation.” He also reflected on the achievements of China’s economic and social development and the fruits of bilateral cooperation in 2024.
The event featured cultural displays, including Chinese calligraphy, artwork, and rare nuts and stones, as well as traditional Chinese food such as dumplings, noodles, and hot pots. UNI International participated with a stall showcasing Chinese heritage items like fragrant sachets and cultural artifacts.
La Jielian, chairman of the Pakistan Overseas Chinese Association, spoke about the association’s progress, saying they remain “optimistic about a brighter future in Pakistan in the new year.”
The celebration was jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, the Pakistan Overseas Chinese Association, and the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan.
On the occasion of Chinese New Year, every house is decorated with the most favored color, the bright Red – red lanterns, Chinese knots, Spring Festival couplets, ‘Fu’ character pictures, and red window paper-cuts.
All Chinese people visit their family home for a reunion dinner with the whole family. New clothes are also believed to bring good luck and start over fresh. People will add new red clothing to their Spring Festival wardrobe too.
Each Chinese zodiac year is represented by an animal. This year marks the Year of the Snake. In many Western countries, snakes have long been associated with evil. However, in China, snakes hold a more complex symbolism and is linked to transformation. They are simultaneously associated with wisdom, spirituality, and good fortune, as well as challenging.