Food served at the event on Friday Photos: Dong Feng/Global Times

 The grand celebration of "Spring Festival, Marriage Festival, Nowruz-The Messenger of Spring" was held at the Russian Cultural Center on Friday in Beijing. Representatives of ambassadors to China and diplomatic envoys from Russia and many the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) gathered to attend this event.

Representatives of participating countries expressed the hope that people of all countries will continue to work hard to maintain cultural diversity with centuries-old traditions.

The end of winter is an important holiday for many people in the world. In China, it is the Spring Festival, which marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. The Slavic peoples celebrate a meat festival to send away winter, while the people of Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries welcome the spring by celebrating Nowruz.

The event held at the Russian Cultural Center combines the traditions of multiple ethnic groups. The performers brought wonderful folk songs and dances to the guests. The audience not only enjoyed the performance of national musical instruments such as the domra and komuz, but also learned about the ancient customs of welcoming spring around the world. 

At the festive dinner, guests tasted pancakes, sweet dumplings, kebabs, baked buns, various kinds of pilaf, mutton rolls with grape leaves, and other national delicacies from the participating countries.

Top diplomats gave a holiday speech, including Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to China Akram Zeynalli, Armenian Ambassador to China Sergey Manasaryan, Belarusian Ambassador to China Yuri Senko, Kyrgyz Ambassador to China Baktygulov Kanayo Dzhumadilovna, Ambassador of Tajikistan to China Saidzoda Zohir Ozod, Turkmenistan's Ambassador to China Parahat Durdyev, and Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Vladimir Norov.