I want to send my best wishes to everyone celebrating Chinese New Year this weekend and to say a huge “thank-you” to our British Chinese community for the incredible contribution you make to our country, consistently achieving so much in everything from education to business and medicine.
Unfortunately, this year's celebrations can't include the usual dragon dances and other fantastic festivities because of our battle against COVID-19. But I hope all of us can take heart from this Year of the Ox. And just as that mighty beast demonstrates strength and determination as it forges ahead to make progress, so, too, I believe, we will win our struggle against the pandemic.
And as we look ahead to the new Chinese year we know we have many shared challenges with the Chinese people from defeating COVID-19 to tackling climate change and supporting a worldwide economic recovery.