As part of the Europe-China Tourism Year, the Republic of San Marino has joined the initiative of the European Commission Light Bridge, a bridge of light between Europe and China. This initiative provides for lighting historical monuments, modern buildings, skyscrapers and bridges in red with golden stars on the occasion of the Chinese Lantern Festival, symbol of hope and good fortune for the year to come.
From Friday, 2nd of March, to Sunday, 4th of March the Government Building, the Statue of Liberty and the Portal on the border between San Marino and Italy will be illuminated in red, thanks to the collaboration with the Public Utilities Autonomous State Corporation.
In Freedom Square at 5:30 p.m. the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Augusto Michelotti, and the Minister of Culture, Mr. Marco Podeschi, will attend the lighting ceremony in the entrance hall of the Government Palace, together with the Chinese Directors of Confucius Institutes in Italy, who are in San Marino for a meeting, and the President of the San Marino-China Association, Mr. Gianfranco Terenzi. At the end of the ceremony the Chinese lanterns sent by the European Travel Commission will be released in the sky, as a sign of good omen.
In 2018, the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Republic of San Marino will issue a set of stamps dedicated to the EU – China Tourism Year. Furthermore, new initiatives in collaboration with the San Marino-China Association are to be planned.