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Parties see in Chinese New Year | Parties see in Chinese New Year |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Millions of Chinese people around the world are celebrating the start of Lunar New Year, the most important festival in the Chinese calendar. | |
In many homes and towns, the Year of the Ox was greeted in traditional style with firecrackers, parties, feasts and incense offerings at temples. | In many homes and towns, the Year of the Ox was greeted in traditional style with firecrackers, parties, feasts and incense offerings at temples. |
But correspondents say the mood this year was subdued, with many people expressing concern about the economy. | But correspondents say the mood this year was subdued, with many people expressing concern about the economy. |
Vietnam is also celebrating its New Year festival - known as Tet. | Vietnam is also celebrating its New Year festival - known as Tet. |
The BBC's Michael Bristow, in Beijing, says many people in the Chinese capital braved bitterly cold weather to light incense sticks at temples and pray for a prosperous year to come. | The BBC's Michael Bristow, in Beijing, says many people in the Chinese capital braved bitterly cold weather to light incense sticks at temples and pray for a prosperous year to come. |
He says the police cordoned off roads around the most popular temples, where beggars traditionally gather to benefit from people's new-year generosity. | He says the police cordoned off roads around the most popular temples, where beggars traditionally gather to benefit from people's new-year generosity. |
In pictures: Lunar New Year | In pictures: Lunar New Year |
Reflecting widespread concern about the state of the economy, 55-year-old Beijing resident Liu Tieying told the BBC he felt the economy would be a major problem in the coming year. | Reflecting widespread concern about the state of the economy, 55-year-old Beijing resident Liu Tieying told the BBC he felt the economy would be a major problem in the coming year. |
But he sounded an optimistic note for China, saying he believed the situation would be worse in other countries. | But he sounded an optimistic note for China, saying he believed the situation would be worse in other countries. |
The BBC's Jill McGivering says the Year of the Ox is traditionally associated with calm, fortitude and success through toil. | The BBC's Jill McGivering says the Year of the Ox is traditionally associated with calm, fortitude and success through toil. |
But she says China has already seen an outbreak of protests and rioting associated with job losses and factory closures - so one of the biggest challenges for the Communist Party will be to maintain public order and confidence in the year to come. | But she says China has already seen an outbreak of protests and rioting associated with job losses and factory closures - so one of the biggest challenges for the Communist Party will be to maintain public order and confidence in the year to come. |
China's state-run Xinhua news agency announced on Monday that the government is to help train as many as one million jobless college graduates over the next three years. | China's state-run Xinhua news agency announced on Monday that the government is to help train as many as one million jobless college graduates over the next three years. |
Graduates will also be offered small loans to help them start their own businesses. | Graduates will also be offered small loans to help them start their own businesses. |
Analysts say the moves show the government's increasing concern with rising unemployment. | Analysts say the moves show the government's increasing concern with rising unemployment. |
China's top politicians made high-profile trips over the Lunar New Year holiday. | China's top politicians made high-profile trips over the Lunar New Year holiday. |
State television broadcast images of Chinese President Hu Jintao smiling as a baby kissed his cheek on a visit to Jinggangshan, a former base for the communists during the Chinese civil war. | State television broadcast images of Chinese President Hu Jintao smiling as a baby kissed his cheek on a visit to Jinggangshan, a former base for the communists during the Chinese civil war. |
In a speech, he promised more "equal development across society". | In a speech, he promised more "equal development across society". |
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visited survivors of last May's earthquake which devastated large parts of Sichuan province. | Meanwhile, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visited survivors of last May's earthquake which devastated large parts of Sichuan province. |
Chinese people in cities across the world are also marking the festival - with lanterns, incense, lion dances and firecrackers lighting up places as far apart as London, Jakarta and Vancouver. | Chinese people in cities across the world are also marking the festival - with lanterns, incense, lion dances and firecrackers lighting up places as far apart as London, Jakarta and Vancouver. |
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