1,200 drones perform for the 2025 “Happy Chinese New Year” global launching ceremony and gala on Jan. 25, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo:China News Service/Chen Yue)

The 2025 “Happy Chinese New Year” global launching ceremony and gala was held on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli, and Malaysian Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Tiong King Sing attended the event and delivered speeches.

During the ceremony, guests participated in a lion awakening ritual to kick off the celebration.

Artists from China, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, New Zealand, Egypt, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, and other countries jointly performed some programs, showcasing elements of Chinese New Year culture. The performances created a festive atmosphere of reunion, happiness, harmony, and global celebration.

The gala, organized by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has been held annually since 2001. This year’s event, the 25the editon, holds special significance as it follows the successful inscription of the Chinese New Year on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This year, the event will feature nearly 500 diverse performances and activities in over 100 countries and regions worldwide.