"Over the past 22 years, the 'Happy Chinese New Year' event has gradually become a cultural carnival for global celebration and sharing, a bridge to help people connect and enhance exchanges, and a window for Chinese culture to go global and for people around the world to understand China," said the minister in his speech, declaring the launch of the 2023 global "Happy Chinese New Year" festivities to usher in the Year of the Rabbit.

"We look forward to taking the event as an opportunity to further deepen and expand cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation between China and foreign countries, and to build a broad platform for cultural exchanges and mutual learning," Hu added.