On January 20, 2004, Chinese Ambassador to India Hua Junduo and his wife hosted "Chinese Cultural Evening" for Chinese Indians and overseas Chinese in India at Ashok Hotel in New Delhi in celebration of Spring Festival, the Chinese people's traditional festival. Four hundred people odd attended the event, including Chinese Indians, overseas Chinese in India, Indian friends of various walks of life, diplomatic envoys to India, representatives of Chinese companies, media agencies and students in India.

At the party, Ambassador Hua Junduo and his wife extended their new year's greetings to Chinese Indians and overseas Chinese in India, wishing them a happy life and encouraging them to make contributions to the development of India and friendly relations between India and China. Indian friends and foreign guests expressed their new year's greetings to Ambassador Hua Junduo and his wife and all the other Chinese at the party with the hope of a more prosperous China. Ms. Nirupama Rao, Additional Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs of India extended her best wishes of the new year to the Chinese people and wished continuous development of the friendly relations between the Indian and Chinese peoples in the new year.

The visiting China Jiangxi Acrobatic Troupe and Hebei Art Troupe gave an impressive performance of acrobatics and traditional musical instruments. Chinese acrobats, especially the young performers, were highly praised by the audience for their most difficult acts and marvelous performances. The party was permeated with a prevalent joyous atmosphere of festival.

(Chinese Embassy in India)