Remarks by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Chinese New Year celebrations in London

Trafalgar Square, London, 14 February 2016

Mr. Tan Tianxing,

Deputy Major Roger Evans,

Mr. Chu Ting Tang,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Happy Chinese New Year!

I am truly delighted to join you once again at Trafalgar Square to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Let me wish all of you a very happy 'Year of the Monkey'.

Today happens to be Valentine's day.

Let me also wish you Happy Valentine's Day! I wish that 'all shall be well, and Jack shall have Jill!'

Let's come back to the Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year is also called the Spring Festival, which is one of the oldest festivals in China. It dates back to more than 4,000 years ago.

The Spring Festival is also the most important occasion in the year for Chinese people.

It is a time for family reunion. All Chinese, do their very best - no matter where they live or work – to unite with their families. So, many Chinese people are homeward-bound at this time of the year. They want to get together with their families. They want to share the most valued moments of the family gathering.

The Spring Festival is also a time of joy and relaxation:

• It is a time of cheerful music and songs.

• It is a time of dragon and lion dances.

• It is a time of bright and colourful lanterns.

• And it is a time for entertaining riddles.

A year of hard work is rewarded as we ring out the old year and ring in the new.

The Spring Festival is also a time of feasting:

• Food is heaven, as the Chinese often say.

• This is the time to get together and create a dazzling assemblage of delicacies.

• And this is the time to literally get the real taste of the Spring Festival.

The Spring Festival in London is a wonderful harmony of the east meeting the west.

Here in London and the UK, I hope it will bring families together:

• I hope this Spring Festival will send happiness to every household.

• I hope this Spring Festival will give a good reason to enjoy together some really tasty food.

• And I hope everyone here today will enjoy this grand opening show of the "Golden Era" between China and the UK!

Moreover, I would like to warmly welcome the Chinese artists gathered here today:

• There is the Chinese Culture Ensemble.

• Also the Happy Spring Festival Ensemble.

• Both have traveled all the way from China to be with us.

I also want to thank the Great London Authority, the Westminster City Council, the London Chinatown Chinese Association and all the volunteers.

It is your tremendous efforts that make today's grand celebration possible.

To show our heart-felt thanks, please join me in giving them a big hand!

According to the Chinese calendar, this year is the 'Year of the Monkey.'

In Chinese culture the monkey symbolises quick wit, courage, confidence, and ability to drive away evils and bring about blessings.

So I wish all of you all the best in the 'Year of the Monkey!':

• May the "Golden Era" of China-UK relations bring us more splendid chapters!

• May the world enjoy peace and harmony!

• And may everyone live in health and happiness!

In conclusion, I would like to quote from the 2016 New Year message of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Let us all work hand in hand:

"To promote peace and cooperation, to turn confrontation into cooperation and to beat swords into ploughshares. Let all of us endeavor to build a community of common future - a future shared by people of all countries."

Thank you.