World celebrates 2020’s arrival amid call for unity towards better future
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As roughly 100,000 dazzling fireworks exploded in the air above Sydney Harbour, the Australian metropolis of Sydney became the first major city to celebrate the arrival of 2020 with the brightest beams of light in the Southern Hemisphere.
Freddie, who works in Melbourne and did not give his last name to Xinhua, was among over 1 million local and international revelers witnessing the new year’s eve fireworks. Wishing for world peace, he also voiced hope that the wildfires in Australia will go out soon.
Like him, numerous people had expectations and hopes for a new year as they gathered in a festive mood at such iconic sites as Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate and the River Thames in London.
The past year was turbulent for many people, as their lives had been impacted by insufficient resources, trade tensions, regional conflicts and wars, and the deteriorating environment. Unity and cooperation is more than ever needed in a new year for humankind to strive for a better tomorrow.
At New York City’s Times Square, an hours-long celebration, which culminated in the 60-second countdown to the new year and the following confetti-filled festivities, brought some 1 million revelers from across the world to the heart of the city.
A Chinese folk dance amazed the crowd with the unique beauty of the Chinese culture along the ancient Silk Road and the passion and hospitality of its people.The celebration before the ball drop included an array of kaleidoscopic performances from global artists and pop stars, including South Korean boy band BTS.
In Britain, fireworks illuminated the sky over cities such as London, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Nottingham.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Xinhua he hopes the fireworks display will show the world that London is still a confident “global city,” as Britain prepares to leave the European Union on Jan. 31.
“London is open-minded, open to people, trade, and ideas for more than a thousand years. That’s not going to change,” said the mayor.
“I’m looking forward to even more tourists, visitors, students, investors from China coming to London, investing in our city, and experiencing London’s experience going forward in 2020,” he said.
In a New Year speech delivered on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to achieve the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects for China in the “milestone” year.
Xi pledged to lift all rural residents living below the current poverty line out of poverty and eliminate poverty in all poor counties.