Now, let's go to the Hague, the Netherlands to see how the people there are celebrating the Chinese New Year.

STANDUP: CHRISTIEN VAN DEN BRINK, CNC CORRESPONDENT
"At the Chinese embassy the ambassador invited several guests from all over the world to celebrate with him the Spring Festival. During this festival, the Chinese celebrates its new year. Do you know for example, how you make dumplings?"

How to make dumplings? What are lantern riddles? How to prepare Chinese tea? And what about writing a Chinese character by yourself?

The international guests can experience many of these Chinese cultural traditions at the event. 

SOUNDBITE: EUQENIA, STUDENT
CNC CORRESPONDENT: Is it your first Chinese Spring Festival?
Euqenia: Yes
CNC CORRESPONDENT: What do you expect from it?
Euqenia: I would like to enjoy Chinese music and dance and tea, hopefully.
CNC CORRESPONDENT: What do you know already from the Chinese spring festival?
Euqenia: Not much. It's really my first time, and I expect to be surprised.

Many other guests are already familiar with China, and the celebration is a good opportunity for them to get even more connected with Chinese culture and with each other.
 
SOUNDBITE: IEO VAN VEEN, POLICY MAKER
"You know I have been many times to China and this is a festival not only for Chinese people but also for foreigners to meet each other doing business."

The theme of this year's spring festival celebration is "taste Chinese culture and feel the global harmony". This spirit is well shared among the distinguished guests.

SOUNDBITE: AHMET UZUMCU, ORGANIZATION FOR THE PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS
"Actually I think the Chinese festival has more or less become universal because of the Chinese community globally in every part of the world. And also I think the spirit of the festival is in fact shared universally. It's a time of joy, time of happiness and time of peace and such wishes."

2012 is the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and China. Dutch foreign affairs minister, Mr. Rosenthal, among other guests, expresses his understanding about Chinese culture and his wishes for the future.

SOUNDBITE: URI ROSENTHAL, FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER
"There is a lot of symbolism involved in culture of China and this also implies great sensitivity to both the character of what is presented and represented and also an enormous feel for the significant details. Well, what can be improved of the relationship between the Netherlands and the People's Republic of China is of course the level and the degree to which we have these relations. I am urging for the intensification of these on these relations, on strengthen them and on deepening them."  
 
SOUNDBITE: SANG-HYUN SONG, INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT PRESIDENT
"I would like to offer my heart-felt congratulations to the Chinese people and its government for its new year celebration."

SOUNDBITE: ZHANG JUN, CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE NETHERLANDS
"as I see it, culture is really something connects different complexions and different languages and nationalities. That's the reason really behind this event and I hope that by organizating this event people can realize that we do not only live together we also understand each other better."