Today, June 25, the First National Gandalev House shopping center hosted a vibrant youth event, "Belarus-China." The Confucius Institute of Science and Technology of the Belarusian National Technical University played an active role in the celebration, preparing interactive zones for visitors.
At the festival's opening, Li Wenxue, Director of the Institute on the Chinese side, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech:
"We are delighted to gather here and hold the China-Belarus Youth Festival. As the saying goes, friendship between peoples grows stronger through closeness of heart. Our countries are reliable partners and iron brothers, and the youth of each country are the future." Youth exchange between countries is an important thread linking these good relations. I believe today's festival will serve as such a link between China and Belarus.
At the Confucius Institute, everyone had the opportunity to experience traditional Chinese art firsthand. Festival guests tried their hand at writing hieroglyphs with a genuine Chinese brush, learned a traditional festive dance with handkerchiefs, and learned about the tradition of paper cutting. Participants in a master class were invited to cut out a Red Fire Horse, the symbol of 2026: these are the paper patterns traditionally pasted on windows and doors in China before the New Year to attract good fortune. The Confucius Institute also organized an exhibition of works by students of Chinese painting (Guohua) and calligraphy courses, which attracted great interest from visitors.
Furthermore, the festival featured vibrant Belarusian and Chinese artistic performances, musical instrument performances, and much more. The sand painting proved particularly captivating: a Chinese representative created amazing drawings on colored sand. The process itself, witnessing the creation of these paintings, helped the audience relax and fully appreciate the beauty. And that's far from all the surprising and delightful aspects of the venue's cultural program.
Festivals like these offer a wonderful opportunity to discover new traditions, as well as a true bridge of friendship that unites and brings together the youth of the two countries.
