Austrilian FM wishes 1 million Chinese-Australians a happy N

CANBERRA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua)-- Australia's Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, has extended her best wishes to the Chinese community in Australia for the Lunar New Year.

"I extend to all our friends in the Chinese and other East Asian communities my best wishes for the Lunar New Year," Bishop said in a statement on Monday.

"We welcome the Year of the Monkey, a symbol of optimism, energy and creativity (and my Chinese zodiac sign!). In responding to the challenges that lie ahead over the next twelve months, we should seek to draw on these same qualities."

"I wish you all good health, happiness, success and prosperity for the New Year."

"Xin Nian Kuai Le!"

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has consistently praised the "brilliance and energy" of the Chinese community for adding to the multicultural diversity of modern-day Australia.

"One of the greatest things about our multicultural nation is that we can all enjoy everyone else's festivals and fun," he said in a Facebook post.

"The greatest wealth of Australia is not under the ground but walking on top of it and our harmony in diversity is our greatest strength."

"We could not imagine modern Australia without the brilliance and the energy of the Chinese, Vietnamese and other communities who brought the Lunar New Year festival to Australia."

There is thought to be almost 1 million people with Chinese ancestry living in Australia.

According to the 2011 Australian Census, more than 865,000 Australian residents have Chinese heritage, making up 4 percent of the national population.