WTCF Member City Mayors Send New Year’s Best Wishes to Beijing Citizens

The 2018 Beijing New Year's Eve Countdown Celebration and the Second Ice and Snow Cultural Tourism Festival Opening Ceremony kicked off at the south square of Beijing's Yongdingmen on January 1st, 2018. More than 1,000 participants including many foreign envoys in China, “Beijing Models” from different industries of Beijing, Beijing tourism industrial representatives, tourists, students, and Beijing citizens welcomed the coming of the New Year. This is the 7th New Year's Eve Countdown Celebration since 2011.

During the countdown celebration, mayors of WTCF’s member cities including Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Seville, Spain; Lima, the capital city of Peru; and Helsinki, the capital city of Finland, all sent their blessings of the New Year to Beijing through their videos and expressed their best wishes to the beautiful life of Beijing’s New Year.

Mr. Alexandre Kalil, Mayor of Belo Horizonte

Mr. Alexandre Kalil, Mayor of Belo Horizonte, said, “It’s my great honor to represent a Latin American city to welcome everyone to visit our city, and hope everyone can visit my city as frequently as possible. I wish Beijing citizens a beautiful New Year.”

Mr. Luis Castañeda, Mayor of Lima

Mr. Luis Castañeda, Mayor of Lima, said in his video, “I represent Peru to wish Beijing citizens a happy new year. I have been in Beijing once, and this is my great honor. My encounters with Beijing citizens have left me a deep impression.”

Mr. Juan Espadas, Mayor of Seville

Mr. Juan Espadas, Mayor of Seville, used “你好 (Hello)” to greet Beijing citizens, saying, “During this festival, I want to give you my best wishes, and wish you and your family a great time.”

Mr. Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of Helsinki

Mr. Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of Helsinki, expressed his welcome of Beijing citizens to visit Helsinki during his New Year’s address, “Next year, I hope to see many of you here in Helsinki.”

2018 Beijing New Year's Eve Countdown Celebration

At 23:59, Dec. 31st, 2017, the 60-second countdown began. In the warm atmosphere created by lights, videos, and projections, the audience on the spot shouted, “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!” to welcome the coming of the New Year. The blessing words of “2018, Happy New Year” and “New Era, New Journey” appeared on the big screen.