On February 9, the Year of the Horse celebration themed “Galloping Forward with the United Nations” was held at the UN Headquarters. The event was attended by Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Ambassador Fu Cong, Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Sun Lei, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and 12 other UN Under-Secretaries-General, representatives to the UN from more than 120 countries, and over 500 guests from various sectors in the eastern United States.

Ambassador Fu Cong extended New Year greetings to the Chinese people. He noted that this year marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan. China has mapped out not only a blueprint for the country's socioeconomic development over the next five years, but also a promising vision of win-win cooperation between China and the rest of the world. He added that drawing inspiration from horse, an animal known for its courage, unity, and perseverance, China stands ready to work with all countries to firmly support the cause of the United Nations, jointly address global challenges, and build a community with a shared future for humankind.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres extended Lunar New Year greetings to the Chinese people in Chinese, and thanked China for its strong support for multilateralism and global solidarity. He noted that the world today urgently needs the energy, success, and courage to forge ahead symbolized by the Year of the Horse, and expressed the hope that the spirit of the horse would bring health, happiness, and prosperity to all.

During the evening, a festive atmosphere prevailed at the UN Headquarters. The Shanghai Museum presented an array of cultural activities, including rubbings and a virtual reality tour of the Huangpu River. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and the Central Academy of Fine Arts curated a lively Year of the Horse zodiac exhibition. In addition, eight robots, designed and manufactured in China, made their debut at the United Nations, igniting excitement across the venue with their dancing, calligraphy performance, and lively interaction with the audience.

Amid the blend of tradition and innovation, guests from around the world experienced firsthand the unique charm of China's rich cultural heritage and the vitality of Chinese modernization, together celebrating a smarter, brighter future filled with infinite promise.