In this Oct 18, 2019 file photo, Antonio Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations, arrives during an International Monetary Fund Committee (IMFC) plenary session at the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group in Washington, DC, US. (PHOTO / BLOOMBERG)

UNITED NATIONS - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday extended his gratitude to China and the Chinese people for their support for multilateralism and the United Nations in his video message for the Chinese Lunar New Year, which starts on Friday.

"I thank China and the Chinese people for your continuous support for multilateralism and the United Nations, across all pillars of our work. I look forward to our continuing cooperation," the UN chief said.

Guterres began his message in Mandarin: "Chun Jie Kuai Le!" (Happy Spring Festival!) "I send my best wishes to everyone celebrating the Lunar New Year."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres began his message in Mandarin: "Chun Jie Kuai Le!" (Happy Spring Festival!) "I send my best wishes to everyone celebrating the Lunar New Year"

"This year is the Year of the Ox - the same sign as the year of my birth," said the top UN official. "The ox symbolizes energy, strength, and courage. These qualities are what the world needs now."

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On COVID-19, the secretary-general said that last year, the COVID-19 pandemic brought great uncertainty and disruption. However, he stressed that "in 2021, we must stand together to fight the virus, take climate action and build a strong recovery from the pandemic."

After expressing the wish of maintaining closer cooperation with China and the Chinese people, the UN chief extended his "best wishes to all for prosperity, health and happiness in the Year of the Ox."

Xi's Speech Inspires Overseas Chinese

Overseas Chinese, after listening to Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech on behalf of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, extending Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese Wednesday, have said that they are inspired.

The overseas Chinese said they will work hard to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and contribute to the noble cause of peace and development for all mankind.

Wang Jiaqing, head of Council for Peaceful National Reunification of China in France, said that Chinese living overseas are deeply touched by Xi's speech ahead of this year's Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 12.

For Peng Yi, director of Confucius Institute at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, she and her colleagues were inspired to continue striving to tell the world about China and its people and promote people-to-people exchanges between China and South Africa.

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Li Wei, general manager of Zhongman Petroleum and Natural Gas Group's branch in Egypt, noted that China has successfully overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and achieved economic development.

"As overseas Chinese, we listened to President Xi's speech while seeing the achievements we have, which made us really happy," Li said.