Foreign leaders extend best wishes for Chinese Lunar New Year

Foreign leaders have sent their best wishes to the Chinese people and overseas Chinese around the world who celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival.

China on Saturday rang in the Year of the Dragon. Regarded as the most celebrated holiday among the Chinese, the Spring Festival signifies a time of joyful family reunions and a slew of cultural events.

French President Emmanuel Macron extended his blessings for the Lunar New Year in the Chinese language on social media on Saturday.

Macron said he wished friends around the world celebrating the Lunar New Year a happy new year, good health and all the best.

The Year of the Dragon symbolizes innovation and creativity, which features the exciting events they have prepared in France, he said.

Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin posted on social media to wish Thais and Chinese nationals a happy and prosperous New Year.

"I wish 2024 to be the year of affluence and prosperity while all of you enjoy an endless stream of wealth and good fortune," Srettha said.

Srettha expressed hope that trade and investment between Thailand and China would further expand and that the visa waiver policy will help promote travel between the two countries and make it more convenient.

Thailand always welcomes Chinese visitors, he said, expressing hope that the Thailand-China relationship will stand strong forever. "Thais and Chinese are no strangers but essentially siblings."

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday expressed his warmest wishes to the Chinese government and the Chinese people, as well as the Chinese community in South Africa, according to a statement on the website of the South African Presidency.

He also wished China a year of continued prosperity, innovation and advancement of peace and development globally.

"May the following weeks of celebration and social reunions be a time of great festivity and reinvigoration at the dawn of a year of good fortune and progress," he said.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida published a Lunar New Year's message on his official website, extending greetings to the Chinese community living and working in Japan and everyone around the world celebrating the Spring Festival.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has extended his greetings on social media, wishing the Chinese community in the country and all those celebrating the Chinese New Year good luck and good health in the Year of the Dragon.

In attending a celebration event in Belgrade, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said she wished the "friendship of steel" between Serbia and China would strengthen further in 2024.

"In 2024, we began a new decade of the Belt and Road Initiative, in which Serbia plays a significant role. So, besides the New Year wishes of happiness and success that we send to our friends, we also wish success and growth for all of us in the new decade of Belt and Road cooperation," said Brnabic.

Fijian Deputy Prime Minister and Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications Minister, Manoa Kamikamica, attended a Chinese New Year celebration event in Suva on Sunday, highlighting the significance of the Year of the Dragon and the enduring bond between Fiji and China.

He underscored the importance of learning from China's modernization efforts and said that he believes bilateral ties will be taken "to the next level" in the Year of the Dragon.

In his Chinese New Year message to the Chinese people and overseas Chinese in Denmark, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark Lars Lokke Rasmussen said that the dragon symbolizes leadership and prosperity.

"I look forward to further advancing Danish-Chinese relations inspired by the spirit of the Year of the Dragon. I wish the Year of the Dragon brings happiness and good fortune to all. Happy Year of the Dragon," said Rasmussen.

United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili in his social media post called for embracing the spirit of renewal and determination in the Year of the Dragon. "The Lunar New Year invites us to reflect on our journey forward, turning challenges into opportunities for a thriving tourism sector."

Natalia Bayona, executive director of the UNWTO also extended warm wishes for the Year of the Dragon to the Chinese people, saying China is one of the top investors in the world for the tourism sector, and it is also one of the top tourism destinations.

Stressing that the dragon represents ambition, prosperity, and good fortune, and its power in bringing people together, Bayona said these values align perfectly with the tourism sector. "Let's celebrate the Year of the Dragon together, and join hands to build a prosperous tourism sector."

Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) Director General Salim AlMalik sent a congratulatory letter to the Chinese people to extend greetings for the Lunar New Year, saying the ICESCO is pleased to celebrate the Lunar New Year with Chinese friends.

(With input from Xinhua)