The Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN) held a Spring Festival celebration at the UN headquarters in New York City, with 400 guests, including diplomats and officials of other countries, in attendance.
The Spring Festival, known as the Chinese New Year, is China's grandest traditional festival when people across the country return to their hometowns for family reunions. This year, it falls on Jan 29, ushering in the Year of the Snake.
Vibrant lion dances, drumming, and performances of traditional Chinese instruments earned enthusiastic applause at the event, while international guests also enjoyed hands-on experiences with Chinese traditions, including paper cutting, knotting, fan painting, and printing. Miguel Angel Moratinos, High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), extended his greetings to the Chinese people, sharing his expectations for strengthened cooperation between China and the UN.
"I'm very very proud to participate in this New Year, Lunar Year of China. For us, it's a good opportunity to really reinforce strong links and cooperation between China and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations," he said.
Movses Abelian, Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management, extended warm New Year greetings to the Chinese people.
"Happy Chinese New Year to all the best and all the festivities great success," he said.
Several permanent representatives of other countries also conveyed their best wishes to China and the Chinese people.
"I wish the Chinese people a prosperous year, which we celebrate the Chinese way today. I wish them further development for the benefit of all the Chinese in the country and worldwide," said Vasily Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN. "It's the Year of Snake. I hope it will bring luck, peace, prosperity, development to all the peoples of the world, and especially the Chinese friends. I'm very happy to be here among you," said Evangelos Sekeris, Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN.
"I would like to wish a very happy New Year to the friendly people of China. And I would like to wish all of them peace, prosperity, good health and inspiration," said Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN.
"We wish you all the best to China, to the friendly people of China. We wish them all prosperity, all good luck," said Koussay Aldahhak, Permanent Representative of Syria to the UN.
Chinese Mission to UN holds Spring Festival celebration in NYC
