On April 19, the "Carnival in the Cloud" China-Trinidad and Tobago Kite Festival, jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago and the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Commission, grandly opened. Over 60 distinguished guests attended the event, including Yang Han, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago, and Toussaint, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago.
Following the successful implementation of the vocational education training program provided by Yantai for Trinidad and Tobago in 2024, which was jointly promoted by Yantai, the Chinese Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago, and the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Commission, the Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Province and the Yantai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office once again collaborated with the Chinese Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago this year. They actively facilitated and provided meticulous guidance for our university’s participation in the kite design activities for the festival.
At this year’s kite festival, the faculty and student team from our university’s Art and Design program designed and produced a series of uniquely creative kites that became the highlight of the event. These kites not only showcased the profound depth of traditional Chinese culture but also ingeniously incorporated the vibrant cultural elements of Trinidad and Tobago, serving as vivid embodiments of cultural exchange between the two nations. Among them, kites themed on traditional Chinese culture, such as the "Nezha Kite," "Great Sage Equaling Heaven Kite," and "Blue-and-White Porcelain Kite," were lifelike and demonstrated the charm of Chinese culture. Meanwhile, kites featuring Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural themes were equally spectacular, highlighting the distinctive local culture. The faculty and students also created kites that blended elements from both cultures, combining traditional Chinese motifs such as peonies, Peking Opera, and auspicious clouds with Trinidad and Tobago’s iconic symbols like steelpan drums, scarlet ibises, and MAS carnival masks. These kites acted as bridges, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries and conveying the friendship between the peoples of the two countries.
In addition to the large kites, the production team from our College of Art and Design carefully prepared small paper kites as souvenirs for the Trinidad and Tobago delegation, further enhancing the guests’ understanding and appreciation of the two cultures.
As Chargé d'Affaires Yang Han and the guests jointly flew the kites, the China-Trinidad and Tobago Kite Festival concluded successfully. The creative designs by our faculty and students in the Art and Design program not only added brilliant colors to the festival but also played a positive role in promoting cultural exchange and fostering friendly relations between China and Trinidad and Tobago.
