World leaders offer greetings to Chinese people for Chinese New Year

Best wishes and greetings to the Chinese people have been flowing in around the advent of the Spring Festival on Saturday, along with calls for closer cooperation with the Asian country.

In a video message on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent his Chinese New Year greetings, opening with "Chun Jie Kuai Le," or Happy Spring Festival in Chinese.

He stressed that 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the beginning of a decade of action for the Sustainable Development Goals.

"At this time of turmoil and divisions, we must work together to find solutions to global challenges and to build a better future for all," Guterres said, while thanking China and the Chinese people for their support to the UN and multilateralism.

In a statement on Friday, US President Donald Trump said he and First Lady Melania were "sending our warmest greetings to people in the United States and throughout the world celebrating the Lunar New Year."

"On this occasion, we join millions around the globe in welcoming the Year of the Rat and embracing a new year filled with opportunities to make a positive impact in the lives of others," he added.

In separate phone calls with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel both extended their greetings, wishing the Chinese people good luck and happiness.

In Cambodia, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and other government officials have extended best wishes to the Chinese people and Cambodians of Chinese descent on different occasions.

In a new year message, Hun Sen wished the Chinese expatriates and Chinese-Cambodians good luck, happiness and brisk business.