(VOVworld) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Germans not to be divided and be united to reject anti-foreigner sentiment. In her New Year address on Thursday, Ms. Angela Merkel asked Germans to see refugee arrivals as “an opportunity for tomorrow” and said Germany would resolve the current crisis.

Fireworks explode at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate to usher in 2016 (Photo: cnn.com)

In the New Year speech, British Prime Minister David Cameron committed to resolving unsettled issues in the relations between Britain and the EU prior to a referendum on bilateral relations scheduled to be held in 2017. He said British voters will decide if Britain should stay in the EU.

President Barack Obama has vowed to use his final year in office to tackle his 'unfinished business' - and his first step will be to tackle the 'epidemic' of gun violence. He used his New Year address on Friday to signal his intention to continue his push for greater regulation on guns.

New Year celebration in the historic center in Brussels (Photo: cnn.com)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said 2016 will be the year in which Japan will shine on the global stage and demonstrate its leadership. In the New Year address, Mr. Abe also expressed his resolve for Japan to play a leading role globally in the "challenging" year of 2016 as Japan plans to host a Group of Seven summit in May, a trilateral summit with China and South Korea and return to the U.N. Security Council as a nonpermanent member.

In his New Year message, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari promised that his government would bring the best possible things to his people. He said the implementation of the 2016 budget proposals would solve many socio-economic issues which are great concern of Nigerian people.