Under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, the Macao Special Administrative Region Government and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao SAR, organised by China International Culture Association and the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Government of the Macao SAR, and coordinated by the China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd. and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, the 2024 “Happy Chinese New Year” Launching Ceremony and “Happy Chinese New Year Concert, Macao Full Spring” Concert was held in the evening on 3 February, at the Ruins of St. Paul’s. The concert was recorded and will be broadcast through the official platform of the Ministry of the Culture and Tourism and various partner channels during the Spring Festival.
The event “Happy Chinese New Year” is an important cultural brand organised annually by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for overseas countries, featuring a rich variety of promotional activities to be held across the world before and after the Spring Festival, thereby introducing the Spring Festival, a common tradition cherished among Chinese, to the world, and creating a global Spring Festival cultural feast. As the Year of the Dragon also marks the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, the “Happy Chinese New Year” launching ceremony was held in Macao for the first time at the local landmark Ruins of St. Paul’s, which is of great significance. The ceremony started at 7:30pm on 3 February, with a dazzling light show at the Ruins of St. Paul’s. Chinese astronauts on the Tiangong space station sent blessings via a video call, holding “Jixiang Long” in their hands, the official dragon mascot of 2024 “Happy Chinese New Year”. Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng of the Macao SAR and the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Sun Yeli, delivered speeches respectively and lit the colourful “Jixiang Long” lantern together with the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao SAR, Zheng Xincong, and the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Liu Xianfa, representing the official launch of the 2024 “Happy Chinese New Year” programme of activities.
Meanwhile, the “Happy Chinese New Year, Macao Full Spring” Concert was also held, in which top Chinese musicians, including internationally renowned composer and conductor Tan Dun, national first-class conductor Pang Ka Pang and renowned pianist Lang Lang, performed festive musical pieces at the Ruins of St. Paul’s, in collaboration with the Concertmaster of the Macao Orchestra, Hou Zezhou, the Macao Chinese Orchestra and its Pipa Principal, Deng Le, and Percussion Principal, Li Chang, the Macao Youth Choir, and the Macau Lo Leong Sport General Association, among other local arts and cultural entities, spreading festive blessings all around the globe. The concert will be broadcast via the official platform of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and various partner channels during the Spring Festival, and all are welcome to watch.
The 2024 “Happy Chinese New Year” Launching Ceremony and the “Happy Chinese New Year Concert, Macao Full Spring” Concert was also attended by the President of the Legislative Assembly, Kou Hoi In; the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Ao Ieong U; the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ho Ioc San; the Director of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Wan Sucheng; the Director of Political Work of the Macao Garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Gao Haoliang; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Leong Wai Man; the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the Deputy Director of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Yin Rutao; the Advisors of the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Leong Veng Hang and Lo Hou Chi; the Deputy Commissioner of the Public Security Police Force, Leong Heng Hong; the Member of the Administration Committee on Municipal Affairs of the Municipal Affairs Bureau, Isabel Celeste Jorge; the Acting Chief of the Fire Prevention Department of the Fire Services Bureau, Seong Wa; members of the Cultural Development Consultative Committee and Cultural Heritage Committee; and representatives of the cultural sector.
This event ran smoothly and had the assistance of several government departments, including the Public Security Police Force, the Transport Bureau, the Fire Services Bureau, the Macao Government Tourism Office and the Municipal Affairs Bureau.