January 1 (Wei Chenxi Sweet) New Year's bells rang, gorgeous fireworks bloomed ......From Asia, Europe and Africa to the Americas, different time zones have stepped into 2024. In this global grand farewell ceremony, the celebrations of various countries are wonderful, expressing a ceremonial farewell to the past and a vision for a better future.
It is true that the world of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new is not only a world of laughter, but also the pain of crisis and conflict. Leaders of many countries and heads of international organizations delivered speeches expressing their New Year's aspirations and calling on the world to work together to address the crises and challenges facing mankind. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, looking forward to 2024 "will be a year of confidence-building and renewed hope."
Data map: At 9 p.m. and midnight local time on December 31, 2023, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House in Australia were brightly lit up, ** sounded, ushering in the arrival of 2024.
Celebrate the New Year with excitement.
The New Year's Eve ritual is full of sense.
Kiribati, a Pacific island nation, is the first country in the world to celebrate the 2024 New Year. Following Kiribati, Auckland, New Zealand, welcomes the new year with fireworks over the Sky Tower.
Located in the southern hemisphere, Sydney, Australia, is also one of the first metropolises in the world to welcome the New Year. At 9pm and midnight local time on December 31, 2023, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House will be lit up to welcome the arrival of 2024, kicking off the 9-minute and 12-minute fireworks and ** celebrations.
The New Year's Eve "countdown" turns to Asia. From 11 p.m. on the last night of 2023 to 1 a.m. on the first day of the new year, the area around Possinkak and Sejong-daero in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea, is full of people, and a large-scale New Year's Eve bell ringing event is coming as scheduled.
On this sleepless night, about 100,000 people counted down the countdown to 2024 together. This New Year's Eve event also uses first-class façade, projection mapping and other technologies to create a beautiful world of light and shadow.
The data map shows the New Year's bell striking activity of Puxin Pavilion. Courtesy of Seoul**.
In Japan, the first time out of the New Year is highly valued, and many people go to temples and other places to pray for blessings.
The monks of the Kyoto temple Chionin ring the bell on Chinese New Year's Eve. This bell, which dates back to the Edo period, rings 108 times from 10:40 p.m. on December 31 until the New Year's Day. The unique way in which the monks pull ropes to ring the bell attracts many pilgrims.
Singapore's New Year celebrations are equally exciting, with colourful projection shows, free concerts and more. The "Silent Disco" event is even more ingenious, with participants wearing headphones and swaying together with their favorite ** to welcome the arrival of 2024 together.
When the bell rang at midnight on December 31, 2023, the eyes of the world were on the dazzling lights of Times Square in the United States. People shouted the final "countdown", witnessed the crystal ball landing, hugged their relatives and friends, and greeted the hopeful start of 2024 with laughter.
Data map: On December 30, 2021 local time, the cross-Chinese New Year's Eve countdown crystal ball test in Times Square, New York, USA, was lit up, and the preview was open to some people on the spot. Photo by China News Service reporter Liao Pan.
Welcome the New Year in apprehension.
Many countries have strengthened their vigilance on New Year's Eve.
However, looking at the world, due to the impact of wars and conflicts, some countries and regions are in a tense atmosphere to welcome the arrival of the new year.
France, Germany and other countries have strengthened their police presence during the New Year's Eve. France deploys tens of thousands of police officers and thousands of soldiers, of which about 6,000 are stationed in ParisAround 4,000 police officers appeared on the streets of Berlin to ensure safety on Chinese New Year's Eve and prevent terrorist attacks.
During the New Year celebrations, Mumbai, India, was on high alert after receiving threats to blow up several parts of the city, and security measures in the city have been strengthened.
The data map shows people in Kiev queuing up to enter a local park to fetch water.
The crisis in Ukraine is still ongoing, and the smoke of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues.
Many places in Russia have announced the cancellation of the 2024 New Year event due to security reasons. The mayors of Magadan, Petropavlovsk, Blagoveshchensk and Vladivostok all said that they would cancel the New Year's fireworks display and celebrations in their respective regions on the evening of the 31st due to "security concerns".
On the last day of 2023, Ukraine** Zelensky delivered a speech, saying that as the Ukrainian crisis enters its second year, Ukraine has become stronger in overcoming various serious difficulties. He urged those "who are still hesitating" to make bold choices in the new year to defend their country.
The New Year's wish of the people of Gaza is to pray for peace. Palestinian man Abu Abdullah Agha, who lost a loved one in Israeli airstrikes and his house was destroyed, "In 2024, I hope to return to my homeland." I hope that our children will be able to live in peace and security, that they will be able to go back to school, and that people will be able to go back to work. ”
Data map: UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Photo by China News Service reporter Wang Fan.
Building trust and rekindling hope.
Dignitaries from many countries delivered New Year's speeches.
On the occasion of the farewell of the old year and the beginning of the new year, UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a New Year's message. He said that while 2023 was a year of suffering, violence and climate chaos, 2024 "must be a year of building trust and rekindling hope", and humanity must transcend its differences, unite in the search for common solutions.
In a televised address, Macron said that 2024 will be a year of pride and hope for France, marked by the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral after a devastating fire.
Russia** Putin also delivered a New Year's address. "We are about to say goodbye to 2023, soon it will be part of history, and we must go forward and create the future," Putin said. He stressed that Russia has proven more than once that it is capable of solving the most difficult problems, will never back down, and that no force can ** Russia.
In his New Year's address, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reviewed the UK's efforts in social health, education, and economic development in the past year. In his speech, he said people should "look forward with pride and optimism and work together to build a brighter future." That's what I'm determined to do, and I wish you all a Happy New Year 2024. ”
In his New Year's message, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for mutual respect and optimism in tackling challenges, and stressed the importance of a strong European Union. Referring to the crisis in Ukraine and the conflict in the Gaza Strip, "our world has become more volatile and difficult. It changes at an alarming rate. Therefore, Germany must also change. ”
In his New Year's message, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted that 2023 is a challenging year with the international situation remaining volatile, and he called on Singapore to move towards 2024 with confidence and vitality. (ENDS).