BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- On the occasion of this year's Chinese Lunar New Year, or Year of the Ox, many leaders and dignitaries of foreign countries have extended greetings or congratulations, conveying their best wishes and positive expectations.

Photo: CGTN

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday wished the Chinese people a happy new year.

"A happy new year to the government and the people of China. May this year bring health, happiness, prosperity and success to our friends in China, to the people of Zimbabwe and to humanity as a whole," Mnangagwa said.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on Friday sent his warm wishes to the Chinese people on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2021.

"Wishing the people and government of China a happy Lunar New Year," the Ethiopian prime minister said, as he expressed his commitment to further strengthening China-Ethiopia ties.

"Ethiopia will continue to build on its existing bilateral relations and cooperation with China in the Year of the Ox," Ahmed said in his message to the Chinese people and government via Twitter.

With a video message and multilingual tweets, French President Emmanuel Macron has extended his greetings online to all people celebrating the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year.

On Thursday night, or the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Macron extended his greeting in four tweets using French, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese, saying "I extend my best wishes to all those celebrating the Lunar New Year, and wish everyone health, success and happiness!"

On Friday morning, Macron shared a video on Twitter to "all our compatriots who celebrate the Lunar New Year," wishing that "the Year of the Ox (be) full of joy, hope and happiness."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday sent his greetings in a video to people celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year, wishing them "a happy and prosperous" Year of the Ox.

In the one-minute video posted to his Twitter account, Johnson first sent his new year wishes and thanked the British Chinese community "for the incredible contribution you make to our country, consistently achieving so much in everything from education to business and medicine."

Looking ahead to the Chinese New Year, he noted that Britain and China "have many shared challenges" from defeating COVID-19 to tackling climate change and supporting a worldwide economic recovery.

Maltese President George Vella on Friday evening welcomed the Chinese New Year of the Ox and expected both countries would enhance bilateral cooperation in the new year.

Addressing a ceremony on the occasion of the Chinese New Year, Vella thanked China for its contributions to the development of the Maltese economic, cultural and social objectives.

Vella said that as the Year of the Ox brings prosperity and good health to all, both countries should be committed to resolute action and political will to ensure that no one is left behind.

Argentine Foreign Minister Felipe Sola on Friday sent greetings to the Chinese people for the Chinese Lunar New Year.

"Happy New Year to all the people of the People's Republic of China and in particular to the community living in Argentina. May the Year of the Ox bring prosperity to all," Sola tweeted.