On 2 February 2025, Chinese New Year celebrations organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA) in Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and other landmark places were held, attracting nearly 800,000 people. H.E Ambassador Zheng Zeguang and his wife Counsellor Hua Mei attended the opening ceremony of the events, and they were joined by Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor of Greater London, Ms Rachel Blake MP, Mr Robert Rigby, Lord Mayor and Councillor of Westminster, and Mr Chu Ting Tang, Chairman of LCCA, among others. King Charles III and Prime Minister Starmer both sent congratulatory letters to the celebrations.
Ambassador Zheng noted in his remarks that the Spring Festival, the social practices of the Chinese people celebrating the traditional new year, has now been officially designated as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which adds a particular meaning to this year’s grand celebrations. The Chinese New Year celebration is all about renewal, family unity, and prosperity. And this is exactly what people from across the UK and beyond have gathered here for--to celebrate peace, solidarity, friendship and collaboration. It also shows their support for China-UK friendship and cooperation.
He thanked the LCCA for its long-standing effort in promoting cultural, educational and commercial cooperation between the two countries, and extended best wishes for the Chinese New Year to the Chinese community, students and Chinese-funded institutions in the UK and to people across the UK and all over the world.
Deputy Mayor Weekes-Bernard, Ms Rachel Blake and Lord Mayor Councillor Robert Rigby each delivered warm remarks in recognition of the Chinese community’s outstanding contributions to the local society, economy and diverse culture.
Chairman Tang expressed his gratitude for the strong support from all walks of life, and said that they would continue to hold traditional Chinese cultural activities such as the Spring Festival celebration, and make greater contributions to the prosperity of the Chinese community, to London's cultural diversity and to the friendly exchanges between the Chinese and British peoples.
LCCA has hosted Chinese New Year celebrations in Trafalgar Square for 24 consecutive years, making it the largest Chinese New Year celebration event outside Asia. This year's opening ceremony lasted for six hours, with lion dances and dragon dances enchanting the audience. Similar performances and more including parade floats were also organised at nearby landmarks such as Chinatown and the Piccadilly Circus, attracting tourists from all over the world who tasted first-hand the charm of traditional Chinese culture.
