Photo taken on Jan. 23, 2009 at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York shows the message, written and signed by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Chinese, reads: "Happy new year to the Chinese people and all the ethnic Chinese all over the world!" (Xinhua/Hou Jun)

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday sent a message to the Chinese people and the ethnic Chinese across the world to wish them happy new year as the traditional Chinese Spring Festival draws near.

The message, written and signed by the UN secretary-general in Chinese, reads: "Happy new year to the Chinese people and all the ethnic Chinese all over the world!"

The Spring Festival, or China's Lunar New Year which falls on Monday this year, is China's most important annual event for family reunions.