Your Excellency, Ms. Zainab Hawa Bangura,
Under-Secretary General and the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, esteemed diplomats, distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Good morning! As we say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new, I welcome you all to the Reception Celebrating the Spring Festival jointly hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya and the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). Let me take this moment to wish everyone a joyful and prosperous Lunar New Year!

The Spring Festival is China’s oldest and grandest holiday, boasting the richest cultural heritage. During this nationwide festival, Chinese people engage in a variety of folk cultural activities.

Before New Year's Eve, families clean their homes, put up spring couplets and New Year paintings. On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a reunion dinner and stay up late to welcome the New Year. In the first lunar month, people honor ancestors, thank heaven, and visit elders and friends. In the north, people set off fireworks, while in the south, they celebrate with lion and dragon dances and make rice cakes. Joyful and festive atmosphere is felt everywhere.

The Spring Festival embodies the strong family bonds and patriotic spirit of the Chinese people. It showcases China’s rich traditional culture and ancient heritage. To understand Chinese people and their culture, the Spring Festival is a great place to begin.

The Spring Festival is also a celebration of life and hope. As families across the country welcome the Year of the Snake, China's economy is steadily moving forward, and the people's lives are bustling with energy.

In response to changing global and domestic conditions, China has implemented a package of policies, leading to economic recovery and growth, with an estimated GDP exceeding 130 trillion yuan, grain production surpassing 700 billion kilograms, and annual production of new energy vehicles exceeding 10 million for the first time.

China will keep deepening reforms, focusing on high-quality development, improving people’s livelihoods, and achieving new milestones in economic and social progress, injecting new momentum to global growth and prosperity.

The Spring Festival is not only a treasure of Chinese culture but also offers inspiration for tackling global challenges. It reflects the Chinese people’s desire for peace and harmony, highlights the value of living in harmony with nature, and has garnered widespread recognition worldwide.

Nearly 20 countries have recognized the Lunar New Year as a legal holiday, celebrated by about one-fifth of the global population.

Following the designation of the Lunar New Year as a UN floating holiday in 2023, in December 2024, it was successfully inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

In a world marked by growing divisions, people long more than ever for the joy a festival brings—peace, reunion, and the comfort of home. We must strive to make this a reality.

We’re excited to celebrate the Spring Festival with our friends at the United Nations. Join us to enjoy performances by the Henan Art Troupe, experience traditional customs and crafts, and savor festive foods as we welcome the spring and share good fortune together.

May the Year of the Snake bring you peace, prosperity, and abundant blessings!