Many parts of Asia marked the Chinese New Year of the Monkey with the usual holiday breaks, fireworks, celebrations and travel against a background of largely optimistic forecasts of growth for the Asian economies, but serious concerns that communicable diseases, political instability and terrorism could jeopardise these predictions. As one Asian headline remarked, “the monkey swings both ways.”

In Paris more than 7000 costumed performers and 50 decorated floats, including four which came from China especially for the event, participated in the parade January 24. A number of Chinese tourists also came for the largest Chinese new year’s celebration ever staged in France. As in the past, sympathisers of the outlawed Falun Gong sect also turned out in protest. To officially consecrate this occasion, Chinese President Hu Jintao also undertook a state visit to France. French Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous said "We do want to highlight the very special character of this visit, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China," he said.

Hu’s visit to France from Jan. 26 to 29 was accompanied by his wife and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing and Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng.

A wide range of issues were to be discussed during the visit and a joint statement issued following meetings between Hu and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac on Monday, said Ladsous

In Britain, the home of large Chinese communities, Prime Minister Tony Blair issued a declaration. He noted “By tradition, it marks the start of ploughing and planting and the earth coming back to life. It is a time to celebrate friendship and family and to reflect on the New Year message of peace and happiness to all.” Britain's estimated 300,000 Chinese and five thriving Chinatowns hosted lavish shows on January 25, and London Mayor Ken Livingston invited the partygoers to Trafalgar Square. And Liverpool also marked the event, boasting it had the oldest Chinese community in Europe dating back from sailors arriving on trading ships some 160 years ago. It was also noted that three top English football clubs have Mandarin websites to appeal to their growing number of fans in China.

In Asia, travels, new clothes and other purchases underlined a new effervescence in the population, industries and governments which showed signs of having overcome many of the past years’ preoccupations with economic recession, fear of terror and adjustments to new geopolitical realities that include the dominant military power of American and economic strength of China.

From China it was reported that the growing affluence of Chinese was changing the habits of New Year tradition from travelling to rejoin the family to either celebrating in restaurants and clubs or travelling abroad.

Many banks and other analysts’ forecasts added to the optimism by predicting relative economic strength throughout the region which could also serve as a motor for less buoyant economies in Europe. Especially bright forecasts were made for the regional powers in China and India. China replied with statistics indicating a high-than-expected 9% growth in 2003 and India, along with the rest of the South Asian region, was also bullish from the harmony and cooperation displayed at a regional summit in Islamabad in early January. Many also saw Southeast Asia as bound for a recovery and many states in the region into a period of growth.

One forecast even linked the expectations of massive political spending in numerous Asian states could provide a boost for these economies. In stark contradictions were widespread concerns that some of these elections could usher in period of instability in some cases.

If the Chinese communities throughout Asia and the rest of the world participated in the celebration, some expressed continued irritation with the minority or discriminated status they have been living under. Sometimes the victims of persecution, second class citizenship or other ostracism, millions of ethnic Chinese were still concerned although relieved of some past practices. In Indonesia, Chinese, who make up some 30% of the huge country’s population, had been forbidden to celebrate New Year’s for some 30 years following anticommunist massacres in the 1970s until President Megawati Sukarnoputri restored this right in 2003.