(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-01-02 07:46

Serge Abou

EU ambassador to China

It gives me great pleasure at this time of year to offer you my greetings and good wishes for 2008, the year of the Beijing Olympics.

As you are aware, the Olympic Games originated in Europe, in Greece, and we are very happy that this fine sporting tradition, which embodies our cherished European values of fairness and friendly competition, has become one of our greatest exports the world over.

It is now up to China to continue this great tradition, and I am confident that China and Beijing will give to the entire world the best Olympic Games we have ever witnessed.

The hosting of Olympic Games in Beijing is a sign of the immense progress that China has made over the last 30 years of reform and opening up. But the Olympics are also the universal recognition of the work and the energy devoted by every Chinese citizen to build a new economy and a stable and prosperous country. A country that they are proud of. And a country where we are happy to live.

While much work still remains to be done, we are confident that working together, the EU and China, in the spirit of partnership and cooperation which we have forged over the past years, we can achieve even greater results. We, the EU and China will continue to make a joint contribution to the greater good of humanity.

China is now an important player on the world stage, but with such an important position also comes a great responsibility, not just to China and the Chinese people, but also to the wider world.

One thing that concerns us all, both Chinese and Europeans, as citizens of this one planet is the very serious problem of the environment and climate change.

We look forward in 2008 to working more closely with our Chinese partners to ensure that our common goals in the area will meet with success.

In the year 2008 I hope that our two sides will use this new opportunity to forge the mature strategic partnership that we need. Only working together as close partners will both sides be able to ensure further harmony in international relations, economic development and social reform, which will lead to greater happiness and fulfillment of all our citizens.

Clark T. Randt

US ambassador to China

We have had the privilege of living in the beautiful capital city of Beijing for the past six and a half years and as I have served as the United States' ambassador to China.

We would like to wish the netizens of China Daily website a very merry holiday season and a happy and prosperous new year.

For 2008, my family and I would like to especially wish the people of China great success as they host the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. I know that the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 29th Olympic Games, the Chinese government, and many of you have worked tirelessly to bring about the largest Olympic Games in history.

The spirit of the Games encourages international friendship and exchanges, and I hope that the many Americans who come to visit during that time will be able to see the best of China and be better able to understand China, its people and rich culture.

Our best wishes for a successful Games.

As the slogan for the 2008 Games says, "Tong yi ge shi jie, tong yi ge meng xiang"(One world. One dream)

Xin Nian Kuai Le. Happy New Year.

William Geoffrey Ehrman

British Ambassador to China

It gives me great pleasure to send your readers the very best wishes for the New Year.

The year 2008 will be a momentous year as China hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing. Britain will not only be actively participating but also learning from Beijing's experience as we prepare to hold the Olympics in 2012.

The Olympics and Paralympics is one of the many areas in which China-UK relations are expanding. In trade and investment, education, the environment, development assistance, culture and science, our relationship is growing strongly.

We look forward to expanding our friendly ties and to forging many new joint achievements this year.

I am sure that 2008 will be an exciting year for all.

Amos Nadai

Israeli ambassador to China

As a new year is beginning I would like to extend to the Chinese people my best wishes for prosperity and happiness.

I arrived in China four months ago and found a country with a flourishing economy and a vibrant society. I follow closely, with great interest and admiration, the efforts of the Chinese people to further develop the country.

Last year was an excellent one for China, a year of continuous growth, development and achievement in all fields of life. Wherever I go I see the smiling faces of happy and proud people. For me, this is the most important proof of the success and the remarkable achievement of this country.

Last year was also a wonderful one for relations between China and Israel, which continue to flourish in all aspects and fields of cooperation.

It is my hope in 2008 we will continue to develop these ties of friendship and cooperation. We are both ancient nations rich in history and culture, who share many similarities and common interests as we seek to build a world of peace, stability and harmony.

What can one wish for the Chinese people in 2008? This is a difficult task after such a wonderful year ended. We wish you a successful Olympics, and we wish you a year in which the benefits of China's development reach ever more sectors of the population, and in which the richness of China's cultural and human expression continues to flourish.

Qiamuddin Rai Barlas

Afghan ambassador to China

I would like to express my gratitude and my sincere hope for all our Chinese friends and citizens for a better future. I also hope the situation and the relationship between Afghanistan and China becomes closer and closer day by day.

There is a lot of potential for the business community in China and Afghanistan. Of course all these activities should be based on the win-win principle. There is also a lot of potential at government level to lay the foundation for trade, cultural, and people to people relations.

Again I would like to express my sincere wishes for all our Chinese friends for 2008 and a successful Olympic Games.

I specifically want to express my hope and good wishes to China Daily Internet users. I find this website a very handy tool for the exchange of information.

Wayne McCook

Jamaican Ambassador to China

It gives me great pleasure to extend New Year greetings to the China Daily online community and the Chinese people as a whole.

This year Jamaica and China celebrate 35 years of diplomatic relations at a time when the friendship and cooperation between our two countries continues to grow from strength to strength. We continue to make important strides in the area of trade and investment and there are active projects of cooperation in several fields.

In the area of people to people contact there have been several visits between our two countries and important cultural exchanges. These developments provide a solid basis on which we will continue to build in the years ahead.

In 2008 the year when China will host the Games of the 29th Olympiad I am confident that the organization and execution of the Games will be a source of pride and joy for China and all nations who participate. Our team will do its best to help make the Beijing Olympics one of the best ever.

(China Daily 01/02/2008 page9)