The world welcomes the new year 2024, Russian and Chinese leaders send congratulatory messages
Báo Dân trí•31/12/2023
(Dan Tri) - More than 8 billion people welcome the new year 2024 with hope for a better future, in the context of the world still witnessing two wars that have not ended, causing many consequences for the global economy .
Moscow cancels fireworks for second consecutive year
Russia has canceled its traditional fireworks and concert in Moscow's Red Square for the second year in a row. After shelling of the center of the Russian border city of Belgorod on December 30 killed 24 people, several local authorities across the country also canceled fireworks displays. Instead, millions of people were expected to watch Russian President Vladimir Putin's New Year's address later today.
People take photos in front of New Year 2024 decorations in central Moscow on December 31 (Photo: AFP).
Pakistan bans New Year celebrations in solidarity with Palestinians
In Muslim-majority Pakistan, the government banned all New Year's Eve celebrations in solidarity with Palestinians. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar called on Pakistanis to "show solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza" by starting the new year in a simple way. Kakar said Muslims around the world were saddened by Israel's attacks on Gaza that have killed thousands. The war between Hamas and Israel began on October 7, after Israel was attacked by Hamas, killing about 1,200 people.
Australia officially enters 2024
Fireworks once again lit up the Sydney sky, marking midnight across much of Australia.
(Photo: Sky News).
Putin says Russia will never back down in year-end message
In his year-end speech, President Vladimir Putin affirmed that Russia will "never back down". "We have proven many times that we can solve the most difficult tasks and will never back down, because no force can separate us," AFP quoted Mr. Putin.
Mr. Putin in the video speech message was released 9 hours earlier than midnight in the capital Moscow (Photo: TASS).
According to TASS, President Putin addressed the Russian people with his traditional New Year's speech from the Kremlin. Residents of Kamchatka and Chukotka, which have a time difference of nine hours from Moscow, were the first to hear the speech. President Putin also said that Russia had firmly defended its interests and values this year. "We say goodbye to 2023, which will become part of history, and we need to move forward to create the future," Putin said. "This year, we have worked hard and achieved a lot."
Thousands of people in South Korea admire the last sunset of the year
Madrid residents gather to celebrate New Year's Eve tradition
People in Madrid, Spain gathered in Puerta del Sol on New Year's Eve to celebrate Preuvas. Preuvas, or grape money, is a dress rehearsal for the New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony at the clock tower in the square. Over time, the rehearsal has become a tradition, filling Puerta del Sol with people. During the rehearsal, people eat 12 different foods, except grapes. When the 12 bells actually ring, people eat one grape for each bell to bring good luck in the coming year.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers New Year speech
At around 6 p.m. on December 31 (local time), President Xi Jinping began sending a New Year's message to the Chinese people. In his speech, Xi said that 2023 had seen the Chinese economy weather the storm and become "more resilient and dynamic than before." Xi pointed out that China had made a smooth transition in dealing with Covid-19 and that the country's economy had also maintained its recovery momentum. "We will remember this year as a year of hard work and resilience. Moving forward, we have full confidence in the future," Xi said, according to China Daily . President Xi Jinping affirmed that China will deepen reform and opening up on a large scale. In particular, he emphasized that China will certainly be "reunified" and that all people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be united by a common purpose and share in the glory of the Chinese national rejuvenation. President Xi stressed that China’s ultimate goal is to provide a better life for its people. “Children should be well cared for and receive a good education. Young people should have the opportunity to pursue their careers and succeed. And our elderly should have full access to medical services and geriatric care,” Xi said. Finally, President Xi Jinping affirmed that China will work with the international community to build a community with a shared future.
President Xi Jinping while sending a New Year's message 2024 to the Chinese people (Photo: Xinhua).
Germany deploys 4,000 police in capital ahead of New Year
According to Sky News, a total of about 4,000 police officers will be on the streets of Berlin on the evening of December 31, of which about 3,000 have been specially mobilized to ensure security on New Year's Eve. Meanwhile, the number of additional police mobilized in Berlin last year was only 1,300 police officers. After the fire department was attacked during last year's New Year's Eve celebrations, this year the police will escort fire trucks to high-risk areas such as Neukolln. The police have also prepared for the possibility of a terrorist attack.
German police at the entrance to Cologne Cathedral on December 31 (Photo: NurPhoto/Getty).
These moves come as some people plan to hold a pro-Palestinian march this afternoon, as the Hamas-Israel war continues to rage. Two pro-Israel marches scheduled for tonight have been canceled by organizers. In his New Year's message posted on December 31, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged that the world is in trouble but expressed confidence that "Germany will overcome it". "Too much suffering, too much bloodshed. Our world has become a more unstable and harsh place. It is changing at an almost breathtaking pace," Scholz said. "As a result, we must also change. This is worrying for many of us. For some, it is also causing dissatisfaction," the German Chancellor affirmed. But the German leader was optimistic and highlighted the obstacles that the country has successfully overcome in 2023, both domestically and internationally. “Our strength lies in our willingness to compromise – in the effort we make for each other,” Chancellor Scholz affirmed.
Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks
In Sydney, Australia, New Year's Eve 2024 celebrations kicked off with a fireworks display over the Opera House at 9 p.m. local time, according to Sky News . The massive display lit up the sky above Sydney Harbour in front of an estimated crowd of more than a million people. Australia will officially enter 2024 at 8 p.m. Vietnam time.
Fireworks light up the sky of the first major city to welcome New Year's Eve
Auckland, New Zealand, is the first major city in the world to welcome the new year 2024, along with the capital Wellington. New Zealanders have gathered early in the morning in places with good visibility to wait for the fireworks display, despite the rain. The fireworks display - expected to last 5 minutes on Auckland's Sky Tower - is the highest fireworks display in the Southern Hemisphere. It includes 500kg of fireworks launched from 3 locations on the 55th, 61st and 64th floors - about 200-240m above the ground. The fireworks display began 6 months ago, according to 1News .
Australians gather to prepare for fireworks
People are gathering across Australia to celebrate New Year's Eve. Some in Sydney have queued for three days to secure the best spot to watch the fireworks over the iconic harbour. The City of Sydney confirmed that the Sydney Opera House was full as of 31 December afternoon (local time). Other spots along a 6km stretch of coastline were also experiencing similar problems.
The world is bustling with excitement as it prepares to welcome the new year.
Long before 2024 arrives, many countries have decorated public places to welcome the New Year's Eve moment.
The first place in the world to welcome the new year 2024
At 5:00 p.m. Hanoi time, the people of Kiritimati Island - also known as Christmas Island - of the Republic of Kiribati were the first in the world to welcome the first moments of 2024. For the world, 2023 continues to be a year of many fluctuations. While the conflict in Europe has not yet ended, the Middle East is shaken by the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel. So far, the conflict in Gaza has claimed the lives of nearly 23,000 people on both sides, but mostly Palestinian civilians. As the world economy is struggling to recover from the unprecedented disruption of Covid-19, the above conflicts increase the instability factor in 2024. However, people around the world must still place a lot of hope in the new year and the opportunities it brings. Pacific nations will welcome the first moments of the new year 2024 earlier than any other region in the world. The first moment of the new year comes to 7,000 people on Kiritimati Island - also known as Christmas Island - of the Republic of Kiribati (5:00 p.m. Hanoi time). At 6:00 p.m. Hanoi time, the new year will arrive in New Zealand cities such as Auckland and Wellington. Two hours later, most of Australia will also enter 2024. Two hours later, East Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and North Korea will welcome the first moments of 2024 at 10:00 p.m., followed by China, Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia. One hour later, the clock in Hanoi will strike 0:00, marking the moment when Vietnamese people welcome the new year 2024 with many hopes for the future, closing 2023 with many exciting diplomatic activities. The last countries to welcome 2024 are those in North and South America. When Hanoi welcomed 2024 for 12 hours, people in New York and Havana just started the countdown. The last territory in the world to welcome the new year is the American Minor Outlying Islands, with a population of only a few hundred people.
Comment (0)