Grand celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year to strengthen Ch

YANGON, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year festival will be celebrated on a grand scale in Yangon's Chinatown, a senior Myanmar's official said Wednesday.

The celebration will strengthen China-Myanmar relation, and also boost China-Myanmar friendship and cooperation as well as development and peace in the country, U Phyo Min Thein, Chief Minister of Yangon region, told the Chinese community.

This is the very first grand celebration in Yangon since 1962 and it stands a great opportunity for Myanmar to attract tourists similarly as in Chinatowns in other countries, said U Ni, Vice President of Chinese Chambers of Commerce in Myanmar.

Starting from Jan. 28, the celebration will last for three consecutive days, also the first three days of the Year of Rooster.

On Jan. 28 morning, the grand opening ceremony will begin with dragon and lion dances performed by several dancing groups.

Over 3,100 light bulbs are being installed along Maha Bandoola Street, the main street of the Chinatown. Five archways are also built with entertainment stages.

Various entertainment programs including songs, dances, and dragon and lion dances will be performed. Three cultural troupes from China will arrive and stage performances during the festival.

During the event, Chinese traditional handicrafts and cultural objects will be showcased at booths lined up on the main road of the Chinatown.

U Ni called on overseas Chinese people worldwide to jointly celebrate the new year happily in the countries they are respectively living in.