Chinese embassy to Argentina celebrates Spring Festival with members of scientific expedition team

BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy to Argentina on Friday celebrated the coming Chinese Spring Festival with the members of the Chinese expedition vessel Xuelong.

Zeng Gang, Chinese ambassador in Buenos Aires, warmly welcomed the Chinese expedition team, praising their efforts and contribution to promoting China's expedition works and wishing them a happy new year.

Living far away from their families and homeland, the Chinese expedition scientists have overcome many incredible difficulties, and have even risked their lives to contribute to the Chinese expedition work, Zeng said, adding that their hard work and selfless dedication are worth emulating.

Wei Wenliang, head of the Polar Research Office of the State Oceanic Administration, said they received a warm reception at the embassy, adding that the team would continue in the spirit of hard work to completely accomplish the scheduled expedition tasks.

The Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, arrived here Thursday to ferry goods for the Chinese scientific expedition team to the Antarctic. The ship set off from Shanghai in November 2007 to start China's 24th expedition to the South Pole.