The fourth session of the "Happy Chinese New Year" campaign has begun, according to the Ministry of Culture.

Cultural and entertainment activities will be held in 251 cities in 99 countries and regions across the world.

This year's campaign consists of 385 festive activities, including temple fairs, cultural exhibitions, fashion shows, firework displays and other events to bring the joy of Chinese New Year to foreign friends around the world, said Zhao Haisheng, director general of the ministry's International Affairs Department.

China's famous TV anchorwomen Yang Lan, Ni Ping and renowned pianist Lang Lang have been appointed as ambassadors for the "Happy New Year" event for the second time.

The campaign was performed in some 40 countries and regions in 2010 and over 60 in 2011.

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Lang Lang: Hello, my dear friends, I'm Lang Lang. I'm delighted to endorse the Chinese New Year global celebration events for the second time, and I surely will be thrilled if you can all come to my Recital in Paris on February 16. On the happy occasion of the Chinese New Year in 2013, I would like to say Happy New Year to all friends around the world. May you and your families enjoy good health and best luck in this auspicious New Year, and I wish the Chinese New Year celebration events will bring you lots of joy. With our hands and hearts brought together in the exchange of arts and culture, I believe we will embrace a fantastic world together. Welcome to the Chinese New Year global celebrations!

Ni Ping: I'm so delighted to be part of the Chinese New Year global celebrations again. Since my own wish for myself in this New Year is to "be good to myself", I wish to share this message with you---my fellow Chinese across the globe---and encourage all of you to be good to yourselves. Of course, if you have already done that, then I'll slightly rephrase it as "be better to yourself". If you ask me, it means to better enjoy life, have more quality time with your families, celebrate the progresses made by your children and take delight in the good health of your parents. This is my biggest new year wish, and please remember to be better to yourself.

Yang Lan: Hello everybody, I'm Yang Lan. It is a great honor for me to endorse the Chinese New Year global celebration events again. I would like to wish my Chinese compatriots and our friends from all across the world best luck and abundant happiness on every single day of the New Year. And I would also love to see more overseas friends joining us in celebrating the Chinese New Year and enjoying the fun and richness of the Chinese culture. As different people engage in more cultural exchanges, we will surely embrace an even better and more beautiful tomorrow together.