Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

China is willing to celebrate the Spring Festival together with the world, hoping for the harmonious coexistence of different civilizations and their mutual achievements, to build a community with a shared future for mankind, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in response to the Lunar New Year being listed as a floating holiday by the United Nation (UN). 

The 78th United Nations General Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Friday, officially listing the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, as a UN floating holiday in its calendar of conferences and meetings from 2024. Prior to this resolution, Chinese nationals working at the UN headquarters and other offices, as well as the Permanent Mission of China to the UN, had been actively advocating for the inclusion of the Lunar New Year as a UN holiday for over a decade. 

The decision marks the Lunar New Year being included in floating holiday observed by UN staff worldwide, together with Yom Kippur, Vesak Day and Diwali, among several other festivals. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a press briefing on Monday that the Spring Festival is the oldest and most important traditional festival in Chinese culture, marking a joyous occasion for families to reunite, bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. The Spring Festival belongs not only to China but also to the world. 

According to incomplete statistics, nearly 20 countries have designated the Spring Festival as a legal holiday, and approximately one-fifth of the global population celebrates the Lunar New Year in various ways, Mao said. 

According to Mao, folk customs and activities associated with the Spring Festival have spread to nearly 200 countries and regions, becoming a global cultural event that brings joyous experiences to people around the world. The festive and harmonious atmosphere of the Spring Festival represents the blessings and warmth of the spring, reflecting the spiritual essence of harmony and peace in Chinese culture. 

China is willing to celebrate the Spring Festival together with the world, hoping for the harmonious coexistence of different civilizations and mutual achievements, and promoting exchanges and mutual learning, Mao said, noting that China wishes people from all countries can better know and understand each other, jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind. 

Global Times