– celebrates Dragon Boat Festival

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China has strengthened its cultural and educational partnership with the University of Guyana (UG) through the donation of an additional collection of books to the university’s library, while also joining students and staff in celebrating one of China’s most significant traditional festivals.
The books were officially handed over during the unveiling of the expanded China Book Corner in the foyer of the University of Guyana Library. The collection includes titles such as Misery and Glory, A Promise Is A Promise, China’s Green Development, and China’s Development Philosophy and Strategy, all aimed at providing readers with greater insight into China’s history, governance, development and culture.
The ceremony underscored the longstanding relationship between Guyana and China, as well as the close collaboration between the university and the Chinese Embassy. That relationship has been particularly evident since the establishment of the Confucius Institute at the University of Guyana (CIUG) in 2014, which has served as a platform for cultural exchange, language learning and academic cooperation.

Speaking at the event, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, highlighted the enduring friendship between the two countries.
“Guyana was the first country in the West to establish diplomatic relations with China at a point in time when this country was not yet the global powerhouse that it has become,” she said.
Professor Mohamed Martin noted that the occasion was not only a celebration of the bilateral relationship but also an opportunity for students and citizens to deepen their understanding of China’s development and cultural heritage.
She said such understanding is fostered through books, conversations, cuisine, travel, social media and broader cultural engagement.
Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Yang Yang also emphasized the importance of reading and cultural exchange, even in an increasingly digital world.
“In this digital age, screens are almost everywhere. While the sharing of information is easier, I still believe that reading printed books has an irreplaceable value,” the ambassador said.
According to Ambassador Yang, the donated books cover a broad range of topics, including China’s governance model, poverty reduction efforts, democratic processes under the rule of law, anti-corruption initiatives and the country’s contributions to global development and peace.
She expressed hope that the collection would help readers gain a fuller understanding of contemporary China, including both its achievements and challenges.
The ambassador also pointed to common values shared by Guyana and China despite differences in geography, population size and economic scale.
“Both nations place their people first and care about improving people’s lives and happiness,” she said, adding that inclusiveness and unity remain important cultural values in both societies.
Ambassador Yang described the China Book Corner as “a small garden of ideas” where students and visitors can explore Chinese perspectives and foster greater mutual understanding between the two nations.
Following the book unveiling, the university and the Chinese Embassy hosted “A Taste of the Dragon Boat Festival: Chinese Food and Culture,” offering attendees an opportunity to experience traditional Chinese cuisine and learn more about the festival’s cultural significance.
The Dragon Boat Festival, known in China as the Duanwu Festival, is one of the country’s most important traditional observances and commemorates the life and legacy of the ancient poet Qu Yuan. Celebrated annually on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the festival is marked by dragon boat races, family gatherings and the sharing of traditional foods such as zongzi, a glutinous rice dish wrapped in bamboo leaves.
In China, the festival is observed with public holidays that allow families to return to their hometowns and participate in cultural and community activities.
The celebration at the University of Guyana forms part of ongoing efforts by both the university and the Chinese Embassy to promote cultural understanding and strengthen people-to-people ties between Guyana and China.