Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On Monday 9 February 2026, the China Cultural Centre in Luxembourg organised a gala dinner to celebrate the 2026 Chinese New Year under the theme "Charm of Jiangsu".
The evening event took place at the Chapito event centre at Casino 2000 in Mondorf-les-Bains and was coordinated by Sinolux Schengen Culture Communication ASBL, in partnership with the municipalities of Remich, Mondorf-les-Bains and Schengen, as well as the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce.
The eighth celebration of the Chinese New Year in Luxembourg welcomed 420 guests and was held in an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere. The programme included artistic performances, an opening speech, Chinese opera and a menu showcasing traditional cuisines.
The ceremony opened with a theatrical musical performance by a group of children holding lights and singing in Luxembourgish, English and Chinese.
The opening speech was delivered by Yong Zhang, President of Sinolux Schengen Culture Communication, Luxembourg Euro-Asie Schengen International Group. In his address, he highlighted the strong economic and cultural ties between Luxembourg and China. He emphasised that the launch of direct passenger flights, which have strengthened links with China, together with the visa-free policy, has significantly promoted cultural and economic cooperation between the two countries.
He also noted that in 2024 and 2025, a series of China tourism journeys were organised, welcoming more than 1,200 participants through direct travel routes. These journeys offered participants from various countries the opportunity to experience China's rich culture and local traditions first-hand and were met with widespread acclaim, he said.
In addition, the evening featured courses on Chinese tea culture and porcelain appreciation, as well as photography exhibitions where participants shared their personal memories through images.
Yong Zhang further announced that this year's Dragon Boat Festival will take place on 7 June in Remich and warmly invited everyone to attend. He noted that this year corresponds to the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac, symbolising energy, freedom and forward momentum.
Claude Wiseler, President of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies, spoke about relations between the Luxembourg parliament and China's National People's Congress. He noted that in 2025, three parliamentary delegations travelled to China in June, October and December, offering participants an opportunity to appreciate the richness and diversity of Chinese culture. He also shared a personal anecdote, recalling that he met his wife in June 1978 - a Year of the Horse, just like the current year - which he described as a particularly lucky year for him, even if it was 48 years ago. Coincidentally, this was also around the same time that China opened its first embassy in Luxembourg.
Li Chuan, Deputy Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, spoke about Chinese traditions, noting that the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) is the first and most important traditional festival of the year for Chinese people. He added that in 2023, it was officially recognised as a United Nations holiday, and in 2024, it was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The festival is observed as a statutory public holiday in approximately 20 countries worldwide, celebrated in various ways by a significant portion of the global population. The Spring Festival, he emphasised, is not merely a Chinese moment, but also a global event.
In his speech, Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg, highlighted China's achievements over the past five years, including successfully completing the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and reaching a historic economic milestone, with nominal GDP exceeding 140 trillion yuan (over $20 trillion) and foreign trade defying global trends.
Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), the ambassador encouraged Luxembourg enterprises to leverage Luxembourg's financial services expertise, deepen collaboration in emerging industries, promote two-way investment and elevate China-Luxembourg economic and trade relations to new heights during this pivotal period.
The evening continued with a three-course traditional Chinese meal served to the tables, accompanied by artistic performances reflecting Chinese heritage.
The event drew to a close with the presentation of several awards to members of the audience, in recognition of their achievements and engagement, and a tombola (raffle).
EAS / JCA
