KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 "Happy Chinese New Year" global launching ceremony and gala was held here on Saturday evening, featuring wonderful performances presented by actors from Malaysia and China.

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

At the beginning of the ceremony, distinguished guests from both the Malaysian and Chinese governments jointly performed the "dotting of the lion's eyes" ritual, officially inaugurating the event.

During the event, artists from China, Malaysia, Britain, France, the United States, New Zealand, Egypt, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, and some other countries collaborated in performances, fully showcasing the cultural essence of the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) and creating a festive atmosphere of global celebration.

The "Happy Chinese New Year" celebrations worldwide, organized by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, have been held annually for 25 consecutive years.

The year 2025 will mark the first Chinese New Year following the festival's successful inscription on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This year, the "Happy Chinese New Year" event will feature nearly 500 diverse performances and exhibitions across more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. ■