Cotonou:The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated Tuesday evening at the Chinese Cultural Center in Cotonou and the Confucius Institute of the University of Abomey-Calavi.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the event, themed "Under the Same Moon: A Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering," attracted more than 100 attendees, including Chinese nationals residing in Cotonou, staff from the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Cultural Center, students from the Confucius Institute, diplomats, and Beninese individuals interested in Chinese culture.

The celebration featured a poetry performance with music in Fon and Mandarin, where students from the Confucius Institute highlighted the richness of Chinese culture, showcasing traditions, symbols, stories, and ancestral practices.

Shen Si, charge d'affaires a.i. and minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Benin, explained that the Mid-Autumn Festival is a significant Chinese tradition, occurring annually on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, where families gather to admire the moon, enjoy mooncakes, and express themselves through poetry.

Carole Borna, representing Benin's Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, stated that the celebration showed how shared values can unite people despite physical distances. She emphasized that cooperation between Benin and China extends beyond economic and institutional ties, fostering better understanding and friendship through cultural, artistic, and heritage exchanges. The Mid-Autumn Festival, she noted, embodies universal values of transmission, heritage, sharing, and dialogue among peoples.