President Tsai's remarks for Lunar New Year
On the night before Lunar New Year's eve, President Tsai Ing-wen recorded a special video for her fellow citizens and ethnic Chinese worldwide, thanking colleagues who remained on the job over the holidays and wishing everyone a happy and successful new year.
A translation of the president's full remarks is as follows:
Hello, as we approach Lunar New Year's eve, I want to take this opportunity to wish an early Happy Lunar New Year to the people of Taiwan and our ethnic Chinese friends around the world.
First, I want to specially thank all the military service members, police, firefighters, drivers, ship captains, pilots, airport employees, and healthcare personnel who remain at their posts. We owe the convenience and safety of our new year's vacation to them.
The Lunar New Year is the most important holiday for the people of Taiwan and ethnic Chinese throughout the world. I want to wish everyone:
The best of luck and a prosperous year! (Taiwanese)
Happy new year! (Hakka)
A happy Year of the Rat to everyone!
I'm aware that many of our friends in Hong Kong have recently begun watching my videos. I want to wish everyone all the best in the coming year. (Cantonese)
Not long ago, Taiwan held a presidential election in which we elected our own president through a democratic voting process. We used our own method to shine the light of democracy and freedom throughout the world, sending a message of dignity and hope to ethnic Chinese people everywhere.
Now that the election has concluded, our nation must continue moving forward. As we sit down to New Year's eve dinner, we are all one family regardless of which channel people want to watch on television. As long as our families are harmonious, the nation will be united.
In closing, I want to once again wish everyone a happy new year, and all the best. Happy Lunar New Year!