World leaders extend Lunar New Year amid COVID-19 pandemic
(VOVWORLD) - Foreign leaders sent their greetings and best wishes to Asian people celebrating the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Ox, which begins on Friday.
 A giant lantern in the buffalo shape in a Chinese town in Singapore (Photo: Reuters)
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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, “We enter this new year with confidence, with optimism and a great hope.”
In his New Year congratulatory message, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said that the US stands with friends and allies to advance the shared prosperity and values, adding that he hopes the Year of the Ox will bring greater success and opportunity for all.
UN Secretary-General Antonia Guterres said that the ox symbolizes energy, strength and courage – these qualities are what the world needs now. 2021 will be a year of hope and a strong recovery, he noted.