LIFE / CULTURE
Malta hosts Chinese kite festival, encourages children to embrace diversity
Published: Jun 23, 2022 06:18 PM
Students design their kites during the Chinese kite festival in Kalkara, Malta, on June 22, 2022. The Esplora Interactive Science Center in Malta was bustling with activities on Wednesday as students from primary schools got a break from the classroom to attend the 4th edition of the Chinese kite festival.(Photo: Xinhua)

Students design their kites during the Chinese kite festival in Kalkara, Malta, on June 22, 2022. The Esplora Interactive Science Center in Malta was bustling with activities on Wednesday as students from primary schools got a break from the classroom to attend the 4th edition of the Chinese kite festival.(Photo: Xinhua)


The Esplora Interactive Science Centre in Malta was bustling with activity on Wednesday as students from primary schools got a break from the classroom to attend the 4th edition of the Chinese kite festival.

The festival is organized to encourage schoolchildren to celebrate diversity, unity and different cultures through the building of kites.

Wednesday's event was attended by about 100 primary students from seven schools. It culminated in a colorful lion dance performance. 

There is also a kite exhibition that remains open until Friday and kite flying outdoors.

The event is organized jointly by the China Cultural Center in Malta, the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, the Ministry of Education and Esplora.

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, president emeritus and chair of the foundation, said the event is dedicated to the history of kite making, a technique which originated from China, and uses kites to build peace and educate people about China's rich cultural heritage.

China and Malta have always had a very close relationship, she said.

"Using the kite as a catalyst, it gives us the opportunity to tell young people a bit more about China, to help them understand and get interested in the people of China. 

This is a way of developing friendship, understanding and respect for each other." 

Emile Vassallo, director general of the Department for Educational Services of the Ministry of Education, said the kite festival was only an introduction to Chinese culture.

"I would like you to do more research about what you've learned today about China, about kite flying and about the need to never stop learning," he told his audience.

Vassallo told the Xinhua News Agency that the festival explored the scientific and artistic aspects of China's kite culture. 

He said he expected to see more events and activities of this kind so that Maltese students could learn more about Chinese culture. 

The first Chinese kite festival was held in 2018 in the Verdala Palace in Buskett, the summer residence of the president of Malta. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was canceled in 2020. In 2021, the third edition of the festival was held online. 

Xinhua