World leaders extend Chinese New Year greetings

World
Europe

Several world leaders have expressed their goodwill and best regards to the Chinese people on the Chinese New Year.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed warm New Year wishes to the Chinese people. "Eat dumplings with your families and enjoy the happy Lunar Year," he said.

"The flame of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games is burning and I have confidence that the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing will be successfully held too," he added.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said she was glad to visit China before the Spring Festival and received a warm welcome from the Chinese people. She stated that the two countries are enjoying friendly ties and sincerely wish the Chinese people a happy Lunar New Year.

French President Emmanuel Macron wished Chinese people a happy new year. "May health, happiness and hope will always accompany your family and loved ones," he said. "I sincerely wish you a Happy New Year."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended his greetings to the Chinese communities in Canada and around the world in a statement, saying Chinese New Year "is a time to look forward to the year ahead with hope and optimism."

He also noted that 2018 marks the Canada-China Year of Tourism – a chance to celebrate the many contributions of the Chinese-Canadian community. During his visit to a Chinese temple fair held at the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto on Thursday, he learned how to make traditional paper cutting patterns and successfully completed one.

"As we move forward together in 2018, let’s continue to celebrate everything that unites us, and the diversity that makes us strong," said Trudeau.

Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Audrey Azoulay said, "I wish Chinese people a Happy New Year on behalf of the United Nations Educational and Cultural Organization".

She said that Chinese civilization has enlightened the world for thousands of years. The invention of papermaking, compass and printing by China promoted dialogue along the Silk Road. "We will strengthen dialogue together in a peaceful way. This is also the mission of UNESCO and my wish for the New Year."

The President of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim wished all the Chinese people good luck in the New Year and said that "we highly value the contributions made by Chinese people and we have a lot to learn from our Chinese brothers and sisters."

The Prime Minister of Denmark Lars Lokke Rasmussen welcomed Chinese people to Denmark to see two cute giant pandas that just moved from Chengdu in southwest China to Denmark soon in the year of 2018.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde said, "I sent the most sincere wishes for the Chinese Lunar Year of the Dog," which shall be translated into wishes for prosperity, health and good fortune for the Chinese people.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday also expressed his wishes for a stronger sense of solidarity and goodwill between Filipinos and the Chinese community in the country.

"I join the Chinese-Filipino community in celebrating the Lunar New Year," Duterte said.

"As an integral component of Philippine society, Chinese-Filipinos will continue to play an important role in shaping our national identity and in upholding the beauty of diversity in our respective cultures," Duterte said.

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim wished Chinese people a Happy New Year and said, "I hope China's economic growth will be further consolidated this year. bringing more countries to common prosperity."

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain said that under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), "the friendship between Pakistan and China will be stronger," and "I sincerely hope that the friendship between Pakistan and China will be passed down from generation to generation."

Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev has sent his Lunar New Year greetings to the Chinese people in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).

"First of all, the people of Kazakhstan wish all the Chinese people a happy Spring Festival. I wish all of you health and good luck. And I wish China can make breakthrough in all respects to reach the goals set at the 19th CPC Congress," said the president.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday extended his greetings to the Chinese community in the country ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Rajoy highlighted the contributions of the Chinese community to the shared prosperity in Spain, said a statement released on the official website of the government.

The Chinese community has become the second-largest non-European Union community in Spain, and "many Spaniards today see the Chinese and Asian cultures as something much closer than they did in the past," Rajoy said.

Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Covic wished the friendship between the two countries be further consolidated in the coming New Year.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta sent a message of goodwill and best wishes to the Chinese people and said that the relationship between the two countries has been strengthened in the past half century. "2018 will be a new milestone in the relations between the two countries," he added.

"Cooperation between the two countries on a number of major projects are changing the lives of the people of Kenya," and the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway proves the power of cooperation between the two sides.

Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs Heraldo Munoz and former President of Uruguay Julio Maria Sanguinetti also sent their most sincere wishes.