As Chinese Spring Festival approaches, overseas students studying in many countries have received Spring Festival bags from Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, which include face masks and snacks.
Students from UAE, Malaysia and Mexico shared photos of their Spring Festival kits on China’s Twitter-like platform Sina Weibo, appreciating the “love from the motherland.” Netizens also sent New Year wishes to the students, hoping that they stay safe.
Liu Hongwei, who is studying at the Kharkiv Aviation Institute (KhAI) in Ukraine, received a Spring Festival kit on Wednesday from the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine.
Liu’s kit includes anti-epidemic supplies like masks and wet tissues, as well as Chinese New Year decorations with the “Fu” character, which is meant to bring good luck. “[It is] both practical and warm,” Liu told the Global Times on Thursday.
“I was excited when I received this kit, as it will be the first Spring Festival for me since coming to Ukraine. My heart feels very warm although Kharkiv is deep in winter.”
As well as Liu, other students registered with the Ukrainian Chinese International Students Association via WeChat have also received the kits. Each school will have a person in charge of distributing the kits to individuals.
Liu plans to cook Chinese New Year Eve dinner with roommates, making dumplings and setting off fireworks.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press conference on January 14 that embassies and consulates will distribute Spring Festival kits to Chinese students overseas to bring the nationwide festivities to them wherever they are.
According to the official WeChat account of the Chinese Embassy in Russia, the Spring Festival kits are not only being sent to students but also to overseas Chinese facing difficulties and those who are stranded. Over 4,000 students and more than 500 other Chinese nationals have received the Spring Festival kits.
“I feel the care and support of the motherland even though we are far from China,” Liu Jianmin, head of the Turkey branch of an international trade company, told the Global Times.
“This is second time we have received care kits from the Chinese Embassy in Turkey. Last time we received health kits to help protect ourselves from the epidemic,” Liu added.
The Spring Festival kit that Liu Hongwei received
