"The Spring Festival symbolizes joy, harmony, unity and prosperity, and embodies the core values of harmony, love and peace in the Chinese culture as well as Chinese people's bond and responsibility to their family and the country," Zhou Pingjian, Chinese ambassador to Kenya, said.

The Lunar New Year is a public holiday in almost 20 countries and celebrated in various ways by about one-fifth of humanity, he said, adding that the festival has become a global cultural event, bringing joy to people around the world.