Asian countries welcome Lunar New Year
(VOVworld) – Asian countries are jubilantly celebrating
the new Lunar Year. Chinese people celebrate the new year with colorful lantern
festivals. Chinese people in Yangon,
Myanmar also
marked the festival with lion dances in the streets. In other countries like Singapore, Malaysia
and the Philippines,
after New Year’s eve, people go to pagodas to pray for health and good luck for
the new year.
The Asian community in Western countries also
celebrate the Lunar New Year festival. In Sydney,
Australia, many Asian traditional
events were held such as fire dance, boat racing in Cockle bay, and fireworks
performances in Sydney
square and street parades.
On New Year’s Eve on Tuesday, a 25-minute fireworks
display took place in New York city, the US to celebrate
the new Lunar Year. In Britain,
London
authorities allowed Asian people there to organize cultural events and fairs on
this occasion.
World leaders extended new year greetings to 2 billion
Asian people. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry wished every one a
new year of health, prosperity and happiness. Mr. Kerry said the US administration expects new prospects in the
new year especially as Washington
is promoting cultural exchanges, political cooperation and security in the
region. He expressed his hope that the US can boost the motivation for
agreements related to environmental protection, public healthcare and poverty
reduction in the world. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven sent his new
year wishes to the Asian community all over the world. In her new year
greeting, South Korean President Park Geun Hye expressed her hope that South Korea
will overcome difficulties to have a happy new year.