Lion dance is performed during the 2019 Spring Festival parade in downtown Antwerp, Belgium, on Feb 2, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela attended a Chinese New Year celebration run by the Chinese Embassy in Panama City on Saturday, delivering an ebullient speech and wishing all Chinese in the country a Happy New Year.

With the Chinese Lunar New Year is approaching, Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadera met Chen Dong, Chinese ambassador to the country, during which the president made a bow and said in Chinese, "President Xi, Happy New Year!"

In Argentina, Argentinian President Mauricio Macri wished President Xi, and all Chinese around the world a Happy Spring Festival.

President Nicos Anastasiades of Cyprus delivered a video speech on Friday, extending his "warmest wish that the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Pig, will be filled with good health, success, happiness and prosperity for all Chinese people and their families," while repeating his wishes in Chinese "Xin Nian Kuai Le (Happy New Year)."

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen also sent his greetings and best wishes as the country is gearing up for the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year.