, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) peacekeeping chief, missions and ambassadors on Friday extended Chinese Lunar New Year greetings on social media to peacekeepers celebrating the festival.

Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix tweeted: "I join (UN Secretary-General) Antonio Guterres in marking Lunar New Year2018 and expressing my sincere gratitude to all UN peacekeepers celebrating this joyous festival for their sacrifices and contributions to peace."

The n Permanent Mission to the United Nations also tweeted greetings, saying: "A very happy Chinese New Year to all those celebrating Year of the Dog 2018 today!"

The British Permanent Mission to the United Nations retweeted a message of the British Foreign Office that wished a happy Chinese New Year to those celebrating in Britain and around the world.

Dutch Ambassador to the United Nations Karel van Oosterom also retweeted a message of the Dutch Foreign Ministry for the same purpose, which said: "The Netherlands wishes everybody peace, good health and prosperity in the Chinese New Year of the Dog!"

The Chinese Lunar New Years falls on Friday this year.