Pedestrians watch a traditional dragon dance on a shopping street in downtown Shanghai on January 18, 2025. Photo: VCG

As streets and alleys don festive decorations for the Chinese New Year, melodies of "Joyful Chinese New Year" and "Wishing You Prosperity" echo everywhere, filling the land with a vibrant and jubilant atmosphere that welcomes the Spring Festival. Meanwhile, the "epic migration" of people returning home for the Spring Festival continues to unfold at stations and major transportation hubs across the country, with an estimated 9 billion passenger trips expected to set a historic record. For the Chinese people, the phrase "returning home for the Spring Festival" carries deep emotional warmth, embodying hopes of bidding farewell to the old, reuniting with family, and aspiring for a better life through the symbolic act of crossing mountains and seas. 

"I hope your lives will be as sweet as candy." This was the heartfelt wish expressed by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, as he spoke with children during his inspection tour at a non-staple food market in Liaoning Province, Northeast China, on Thursday. This touching moment quickly went viral on social media. For 13 consecutive years, General Secretary Xi has visited grassroots officials and citizens before the Spring Festival. From Yuangudui Village in Northwest China's Gansu Province to Zhujiagou Village in Liaoning Province, his most frequent questions and messages revolve around one theme: "Ensure a happy life for our people." These pre-Spring Festival visits to grassroots communities have become a unique tradition for Chinese leaders, highlighting the original mission of the CPC and witnessing the deep bond between the Party and the people. It is easy to sense the driving force behind this nation's continuous progress. The CPC's deep care for the people and pragmatic approach resonate with the genuine aspirations of ordinary citizens for a better life, creating a powerful centripetal force and cohesion. From the top leader to countless grassroots officials, members of the CPC embody an unfailing sense of responsibility at all times. 

As General Secretary Xi has stated, "At the beginning of a new year, my greatest concern is still for those in need - how they are eating, how they are living, and whether they can have a good New Year and a good Spring Festival."

In fact, this unique significance is what makes the Spring Festival so special. A "sweet and beautiful life" serves as a tangible expression of the aspirations of Chinese society. Behind the elements of reunion, joy, peace, and happiness lies the people's yearning for a better life. These aspirations are prominently reflected during the Spring Festival, forming an intrinsic unity with the CPC's original mission and purpose, ultimately converging into a powerful force driving national development. The CPC's goals and the simple pursuits of the broad masses of the Chinese people share a common spiritual core and value judgement. Through this, we gain a deeper emotional resonance with the rich connotations of the "Chinese story" that the Spring Festival represents and perceive the confidence that fuels China's progress amid global changes.

Bidding farewell to the old and embracing the new, praying for blessings and good fortune, as well as celebrating reunion and harmony reflect the continuity, inclusiveness, and peaceful nature of Chinese civilization. Throughout history, "celebrating the Spring Festival" has been more than just a family reunion; it is also a grand celebration of diverse regional and ethnic cultural elements. The phrase "a new year, a fresh start" embodies the self-encouragement of a nation at every new beginning. This festival, which carries the profound heritage of the Chinese nation, has been imbued with new meaning in the new era. It bears witness to the CPC's commitment to governing for the people, conveys the enterprising spirit of Chinese society's continuous self-improvement, and unfolds as a peaceful tapestry centered on development.

This vision is infectious and inspiring on a global scale. Over the past year, geopolitical and economic uncertainty has intensified worldwide; however, a common aspiration reflected by people in various countries is the desire to improve their lives. This aspiration resonates harmoniously with the values pursued during the Spring Festival. Ultimately, the goal of China's development is also to enable ordinary people to live better lives, focusing on doing their own things well, and hoping for a more peaceful and harmonious world. In a world facing increasing divisions and rifts, the spiritual essence embodied by the Spring Festival will undoubtedly become even more appealing.

With the Spring Festival successfully inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, more places around the world are beginning to celebrate this event. Additionally, China has fully relaxed and optimized its transit visa exemption policy, along with the popularity of "China Travel," allowing more people to come to China and experience this cultural and folk event firsthand. The Spring Festival is increasingly transforming from "Chinese time" to "world time." The values of peace, harmony, and balance embodied in the Chinese Spring Festival will also gain greater significance on a global scale. UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently delivered a video message stating that "May the Year of the Snake bring good health, happiness, prosperity, and new beginnings." He also expressed gratitude to China and the Chinese people for their support to the UN, multilateralism and global cooperation.

The Spring Festival embodies the emotional bonds and national sentiments of the Chinese people while also reflecting the character and spiritual qualities of the nation. China's strides forward are filled with warmth and emotion; they represent progress achieved through overcoming challenges and united efforts, as well as advancements in peaceful development, cooperative win-win scenarios, and inclusive benefits. This Spring Festival, the first after being designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, conveys to the world the aspirations and beginnings of continuous self-transcendence.