Off the wire
• Alipay takes off with Finnair  • Empire State Building shines in special Chinese Lunar New Year design  • Kenyan gov't in talks to end university lecturer strike  • Road license proposal ignites debate over commercialization of public services in Finland  • Kenya's bourse key indices dip as foreign investors cede to locals  • African regional bloc IGAD condemns Al-Shabaab attack in Somalia  • 1st LD: Mexican president cancels meeting with Trump amid wall dispute  • Chinese-invested uranium mine in Namibia sets production goal  • Paris CAC 40 index falls 0.21 pct Thursday  • UN Women calls for economic empowerment of African women  
You are here: 　 Home

UN chief sends Lunar New Year greetings to Chinese people

Xinhua, January 27, 2017 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sent a message to the Chinese people and wished them a happy Lunar New Year which falls on Saturday.

In a video message, Guterres said the Year of the Rooster symbolizes early starts and new beginnings. "It stresses the importance of energy, determination and a strong sense of responsibility at work."

"These are inspiring attributes to help guide us in troubled times," he said in the video released Wednesday night.

Guterres said he has called for 2017 to be a year of peace. "We must work together to overcome conflict, human rights abuses, poverty and other crises."

At the end of the video, Guterres said "Happy New Year" and "Thank You" in Chinese.

The Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important festival in China, and falls on Jan. 28 this year. Endit