The Lord Mayor of London Peter Estlin has recorded a message for everyone celebrating Chinese New Year in the City of London, the UK and across the world.

The video can be seen here.

Script

As Lord Mayor of the City of London - and the principle ambassador of the UK’s leading international financial and professional services sector at home and abroad, let me wish all those celebrating around the world a very happy, and prosperous, Chinese new year.

As the year of the dog makes way for that of the pig, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the contributions that businesses from China make here in the City, and indeed across the UK.

It’s also the ideal moment to look ahead to the future, and to the challenges and opportunities that 2019 will bring.

We’re already doing this in the City through my mayoral campaign ‘Shaping Tomorrow’s City Today’…an ambitious programme promoting innovation and technology, championing digital skills.

As the UK finds a new role for itself on the world stage post-Brexit, it’s now more important than ever before increase our engagement with developing economies where the fourth industrial revolution- the digital revolution if you may- is now well underway.

I therefore look forward to my visits to China in the Year of the Pig, and to celebrating the occasion with my Chinese friends here in the City.

So as the red lanterns glow and families around the world sit down to enjoy hearty meals, here’s hoping for a prosperous new year for all….one filled with happiness, compassion, and most importantly, cooperation.