Cultural performance held in Afghanistan to commemorate Duanwu Festival

Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan and Confucius Institute at Kabul University jointly held cultural performance to commemorate Chinese traditional Duanwu Festival in Afghan Capital on Wednesday.

Duanwu Festival, also known as Dragon Boat Festival, is to commemorate Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet and minister of the ancient state of Chu during the Warring States Period in the Chinese history, who drowned himself before his state fell to the invasion of the enemy.

Dragon boat race competition and making Zongzi, a traditional snack made by sticky rice, are usually the activities carried out by Chinese people to celebrate the special festival.

Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan Deng Xijun addressed the cultural performance, saying patriotism is a virtue highly valued by both Chinese people and Afghan people.

Afghanistan is experiencing the post-war reconstruction and Chinese government and people are willing to offer a hand on realizing peace, stability and prosperity in this war-hit nation, Deng said.

He expressed the hope that the students of the Confucius Institute would help strengthen bilateral ties and people-to- people exchanges by having a good command of Chinese language.

Professor Habibullah Habib, chancellor of Kabul University, expressed his gratitude to Chinese government and embassy in Afghanistan for helping the school on educating students majoring in Chinese.

He also wishes to further enhance cooperation with the Confucius Institute and Chinese government on nurturing more Afghan students learning Chinese language.

During the gala, Afghan students and Chinese Embassy staff jointly staged traditional cultural performance, including Chinese Kungfu, Afghan dancing and poetry readings.

The Duanwu Festival falls on June 20 this year. Endi