Indonesian President Encourages Cultural Diversity and Brotherhood in Chinese New Year Greetings
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: In a warm and inclusive Chinese New Year message, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) urged residents to embrace cultural diversity and strengthen the spirit of brotherhood as the nation welcomes the Year of the Wood Dragon in 2024.
In a video broadcast via Instagram Reels on the official page @jokowi, the President expressed his sentiments on Saturday, emphasizing the significance of celebrating Indonesia’s rich cultural tapestry.
“Starting the Wood Dragon year in 2024, let us together celebrate our cultural diversity, which enriches our brotherhood and cooperation among each other,” President Jokowi remarked, encouraging unity and solidarity among the diverse communities that make up the Indonesian nation.
According to the Chinese zodiac cycle, 2024 is considered the Year of the Wood Dragon, following the Year of the Water Rabbit in 2023. President Jokowi expressed hope that the spirit of bravery and the collective determination to achieve success will lead the Indonesian nation towards a promising future and prosperity for all citizens.
Extending his warm wishes, President Jokowi specifically addressed the Chinese Indonesian community and all residents partaking in the festivities. “Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy Chinese New Year 2024. I hope the Year of the Wood Dragon will bring luck, prosperity, and happiness to all the Indonesian people,” he stated in the caption accompanying the Instagram Reels video.
The video, uploaded to the official account on Saturday noon, quickly gained traction, amassing over 52 thousand likes and more than 1.4 thousand comments from social media users, with many conveying their well wishes and appreciation for the President’s message, as of 2 p.m. Jakarta time (UTC +7).
Chinese New Year’s Day has been openly celebrated in Indonesia since the presidency of Abdurrahman Wahid from 1999 to 2001. In 2002, President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued a presidential decree officially designating the day as a national holiday, further recognizing and embracing the cultural diversity within the nation.
