Art Salon "Two cultures, one World" dedicated to the traditional Chinese Spring Festival and New Year, took place on Thursday in the Bulgarian National Palace of Children in Sofia.

Wu Guang, cultural attache of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, said during the opening ceremony that the Chinese Spring Festival is an emblem of the Chinese culture and spirit.

She stated that the Chinese Spring Festival has been celebrated twice in Bulgaria up to now, underlining that the present event aims to open a window for Bulgarian children to the Chinese culture.

Tatiana Doseva, head of the Bulgarian National Palace of Children, said that this Art Salon would provide more information about the Bulgarian and the Chinese cultures, and would give good ideas for future joint actions.

After the speeches Bulgarian children performed traditional Bulgarian folk dances and songs, and two Chinese girls attending a course in the Bulgarian National Palace of Children sang Chinese songs. One of these girls played on piano two Bulgarian songs.

Bulgarian and Chinese children performed a "Dance of small frogs" and athletes demonstrated wushu techniques.

A photo exhibition showing the modern China life and a movie about the preparation and celebration of Chinese Spring Festival and New Year were a part of this Art Salon as well.

At the end of this colorful event Sun Li, the wife of the Chinese ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Wanxue, donated gifts to all children participating in the performance.

The Art Salon "Two cultures, one World" was co-sponsored by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education, Youth and Science, the Bulgarian National Palace of Children, and the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria.

(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2010)