United Nations Celebrates Year of the Horse with Groundbreaking Lunar New Year Reception

PC: Noelle Xie

The United Nations headquarters in New York transformed into a vibrant celebration of tradition and innovation as China's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Fu Cong, hosted the annual Lunar New Year reception under the theme "Galloping Forward with the United Nations."

The event, held just days before the official start of the Year of the Horse on February 17, marked a historic moment as Chinese robots made their debut performance at the UN, showcasing China's remarkable achievements in robotics and innovation-driven development.

"First of all, I wish to congratulate our robot friends on that stunning performance," Ambassador Fu told the assembled diplomats and guests. "This marks the debut of Chinese robots at the UN, and I believe it really speaks volumes about the latest achievements of China's innovation-driven development."

Eight specially designed robots captivated the audience with demonstrations of dancing, calligraphy, and interactive engagement, representing a fusion of ancient cultural traditions with cutting-edge technology. The robotic showcase reflected China's rapid progress in artificial intelligence and automation, bringing a glimpse of the future to the historic halls of the United Nations.

The 2026 Lunar New Year ushers in the Year of the Fire Horse, a particularly auspicious combination that occurs only once every 60 years in the Chinese zodiac cycle. In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes courage, unity, and perseverance — qualities that Ambassador Fu emphasized are essential for addressing global challenges.

"Drawing inspiration from the 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," Fu stated in his remarks.

The ambassador noted that these qualities are precisely what the Year of the Horse calls upon the international community to embrace as the UN marks its 80th anniversary and navigates complex global challenges ranging from geopolitical conflicts to climate change.

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is celebrated by billions of people worldwide. The festival has transcended its origins in China to become a global celebration observed across Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and diaspora communities from Beijing to Chicago to Sydney.

In 2023, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized the Spring Festival as a UN holiday, acknowledging its worldwide cultural significance. More recently, China's Spring Festival was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, further cementing its place as a celebration of universal values of renewal, family unity, and hope.

Analysts expect approximately 9.5 billion trips to be made during the 2026 Lunar New Year travel season, demonstrating the festival's extraordinary scope and the deep importance of family reunion in the celebration.

The UN reception featured an impressive array of cultural activities alongside the robotic performances. The Shanghai Museum presented traditional art forms including rubbings and a virtual reality tour of the Huangpu River, while the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and the Central Academy of Fine Arts curated a lively Year of the Horse zodiac exhibition.

"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," organizers noted.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres extended Lunar New Year greetings in Chinese, thanking China for its strong support for multilateralism and global solidarity. He emphasized that the world today urgently needs the energy, success, and courage to forge ahead symbolized by the Year of the Horse.

As China embarks on its 15th Five-Year Plan, Ambassador Fu highlighted that the country has mapped out not only a blueprint for domestic socioeconomic development but also a promising vision of win-win cooperation with the rest of the world.

"China will continue to earnestly fulfill its responsibilities as the second-largest contributor to the UN regular budget and a permanent member of the Security Council," Fu assured the international community. "Together with all nations, we will meet challenges head-on, and do our utmost to inject greater stability and positivity into a turbulent world."

The celebration concluded with traditional performances and a festive atmosphere that brought the diplomatic community together in a spirit of unity and shared hope for the year ahead — embodying the very qualities the Horse represents: courage to lead, unity in purpose, and perseverance in action.

As guests departed the UN headquarters, the message was clear: in a year marking both the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the dynamic spirit of the Fire Horse, the international community must gallop forward together toward a more peaceful, prosperous, and beautiful world.

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