TAG-Confucius Institute Holds 2026 Chinese New Year Gala

On February 12, Amman TAG-Confucius Institute (TAG-CI) jointly held the 2026 Chinese New Year (also known as the Spring Festival) Gala in collaboration with the China Cultural Center in Amman. 
Around 150 people gathered at TAG-CI to celebrate the Chinese Lunar Year of the Horse, including H.E. Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global); H.E. Mr. Guo Wei, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan; Mr. Luay Abu-Ghazaleh, Vice Chairman of TAG.Global and President of the Board of TAG-CI; Mr. Zhao Xiaoqiang, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy and Director of the China Cultural Center in Amman; Mr. Mamoun Abu Al-Sebaa, Jordanian Director of TAG-CI; Dr. Yang Songfang, Chinese Director of TAG-CI; Ms. Randa Al-Yabroudi, Deputy Director of TAG-CI; TAG-CI teachers, students and their parents; along with representatives of Chinese language education institutions in Jordan, local friends, members of the Chinese community in Jordan, and Chinese and Jordanian media representatives.
In his remarks, Ambassador Guo Wei highlighted the cultural significance of the Spring Festival as China’s most important traditional festival, embodying family reunion, harmony, and hope. He noted its 2024 inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, reflecting international recognition and the vision of promoting exchanges among civilizations and building a community with a shared future for mankind. Ambassador Guo emphasized that these values resonate with Jordanian society’s emphasis on family and social harmony, strengthening bilateral friendship. Looking ahead to 2026, he stressed the alignment of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision and expressed China’s readiness to deepen practical cooperation with Jordan across all fields.

Ambassador Guo also praised TAG-CI as Jordan’s first Confucius Institute, which has trained over 7,000 students and benefited more than 70,000 people in cultural events. He noted that President Xi Jinping of China awarded Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh the “Outstanding Contribution Award for China-Arab Friendship” in recognition of his efforts in promoting China-Arab relations. He further highlighted that TAG-CI teachers and students have won over fifty awards in various competitions, reflecting the joint efforts of the Chinese and Jordanian sides. TAG-CI has thus become a vital bridge for fostering mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and bilateral cooperation. He concluded by extending his sincere New Year greetings to all guests.
After the remarks, Ambassador Guo presented the Spring Festival care packages to the Chinese teachers of TAG-CI, delivering the Embassy’s and the motherland’s care and warm wishes to those working far away from home.
The gala featured a lively showcase of Chinese and Arab cultures. Children performed “New Year Wishes” and a Color Ribbon Dragon Dance, while adult learners presented the comic sketch “Learning Chinese” and songs including “Jasmine Flower” and “Be Wild.” Ms. Zhou Tong performed a Tianjin clapper piece, a Chinese international student gave a guitar-and-vocal rendition of “Old Boy,” and the Chinese teachers presented a chorus of “With You All My Life”. TAG-CI’s Jordanian staff and students sang the Arabic song “My Beautiful Homeland,” creating a stage where cultures complemented each other.
Interactive games such as “Musical Chairs” for children and “Blindfolded Gong Striking” for adults, along with three rounds of lucky draws led by Ambassador Guo Wei and Cultural Counselor Zhao Xiaoqiang, kept the audience engaged and filled the hall with laughter and applause. Children were also presented with the Spring Festival red envelopes by Dr. Yang Songfang and Ms. Randa Al-Yabroudi, wishing them health, happiness, and success in the year ahead.

At the conclusion of the event, guests enjoyed a variety of Chinese dishes while reminiscing and sharing their visions for the future. In a warm and harmonious atmosphere, participants exchanged New Year greetings and expressed their wishes for the enduring friendship and deepening cooperation between China and Jordan. The gala further strengthened people-to-people connections, showcased the charm of Chinese Spring Festival culture, and promoted bilateral cultural and educational exchanges. The event was covered by Xinhua News Agency, China Media Group (CMG), and local media including The Pulse of the Nation.