Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has sent his best
wishes to the Chinese people.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, he wished everyone a happy new year from Oceania.

Rudd, who also sent his message in Mandarin, said he was looking forward to his first visit to China as Australian Prime Minister.

Kevin Rudd said, "This of course is Chinese New Year and it's a very important time for Chinese families. I understand there is extreme weather conditions now in Southern China affecting some two hundred million people. And many of those people were prevented from returning home and spending Chinese New Year with the loved ones in their families. Here in Australia, we are deeply concerned about the safety of all of those Chinese people now trying to travel through the extreme weather conditions. And we still hope there is opportunity for people to get home and spend this important time of year with their families. I would like to say, on behalf of the Australian government, how much we wish all of our friends in China a very happy Chinese New Year and on top of that may they obtain every rich blessing in the year ahead."