World leaders send New Year greetings to Chinese people

As China ushers in the Year of the Snake, several current and former heads of state have sent warm New Year greetings to the Chinese people, emphasizing the importance of friendship, cooperation, and shared prosperity.

This year, the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, falls on January 29, marking the start of the Year of the Snake. As the most significant holiday on the Chinese calendar, it is a time for family reunions, festive celebrations, and reflecting on the year ahead.

Nikos Christodoulides, President of Cyprus, sent his warmest greetings on behalf of his people and government.

"First and foremost, I would like to extend to you and the friendly people of China, on behalf of the people and the government of the Republic of Cyprus, our warmest wishes for a very happy, successful and prosperous new year," he said.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel also sent warm wishes and hopes for a shared future community.

"To the dear Chinese people and their leaders, from Cuba, we would like to join in the festivities celebrating the arrival of the [Chinese] New Year. On behalf of the Communist Party, the government, and the Cuban people, we extend our sincerest wishes for happiness, health, and prosperity. In the coming year, we are committed to advancing with firm and steady steps in defense of the socialist cause and in the construction of a shared future community between China and Cuba. Many congratulations," said Diaz-Canel.

David Adeang, President of Nauru, took the opportunity to reaffirm his country's strong ties with China while extending the holiday greeting.

"On behalf of the government and people of Nauru, I extend warm greetings and heartfelt wishes to President Xi Jinping and the people of China, as you celebrate the Year of the Snake. This symbol of wisdom, transformation, and prosperity reminds us of the importance of growth and collaboration. Nauru reaffirms its commitment to the one-China principle and values our strong partnership with China. Let us continue working together to promote peace, development, and prosperity for our nations. I wish President Xi and the people of China a very happy new year. May this year bring peace, harmony, and great success," Adeang said.

Former Polish Deputy Prime Minister Grzegorz Kolodko also shared his good wishes, with a light-hearted message.

"Super nice 2025. I'm in central Poland, the country of economic success in Europe. And now I wish you very happy new 2025 year to the people of the greatest economic success in the world. I wish you a very happy new year. Happy Snake Year," Kolodko said.

Ante Simonic, former Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia, expressed his hopes for peace and joy from his home country.

"My dear friends, from the heart of Croatia's beautiful mountains, I'm overjoyed to send you warmest wishes for a peaceful and joyful Chinese New Year. Happy New Year to all Chinese people and friends of China around the world. May the Year of the Snake be filled with peace, hope, and joy," said Simonic, switching to Chinese to say "Happy New Year".

Former Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme also offered his sincere wishes for health and peace in the lunar new year.

"Dear Chinese friends, I wish you an excellent Chinese New Year. The Year of the Snake, the year 2025, should be a year with, from a personal point of view, a year as healthy as possible and with true happiness. Collectively for both of us, for all world citizens I would like to wish us a joyful but, above all, a peaceful year," he said.

World leaders send New Year greetings to Chinese people

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media