Biden’s first Chinese Lunar New Year greeting as the US president

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, posted a Twitter video on Saturday (February 13) offering wishes for a happy Chinese Lunar New Year.

Biden spoke against racism targeted at Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in his message and Jill Biden highlighted the roles of Asian American and Pacific Islander frontline workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

This is the first time for Biden to share a Chinese Lunar New Year greeting as the US president. Biden and his wife First Lady Jill Biden wished Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders a happy, healthy and prosperous Lunar New Year. They said on Friday via video that “racism, harassment, hate crimes” against this group of people is “simply wrong” and called for greater unity in the country.

On Wednesday, before the Lunar New Year’s Eve, he sent the greetings to all Chinese people and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a phone call with Xi.

This year, the New Year is designated the Year of the Ox.