(VOVWORLD) - The world rang in 2018 with spectacular celebrations. The Pacific islands of Samoa, Tonga, and Kiribati were the first to welcome the New Year, followed by New Zealand. Thousands of locals and tourists gathered at Auckland's iconic Sky Tower as nearly 3,000 shots were fired off to the sky while in neighboring Australia, people came to Sydney Harbor to watch the huge fireworks display. The last places on Earth to see in the New Year were minor outlying US islands of Baker and Howland.
 Fireworks light up the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during 2018 new year celebrations on Sydney Harbour, Australia. (Photo: Reuters)
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a pledge in her New Year message that she’ll team up with France to hold the European Union together and form her next government “without delay.” She called for EU’s solidarity, which, she said, is essential for its development.
British Prime Minister Theresa May said she is making progress on the Brexit negotiations. Although Brexit is crucial, it is not the limit of the UK’s ambitions, she added.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un used his New Year address to open the possibility that North Korean athletes would participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. He added that Pyongyang’s nuclear forces are now a reality, but will be put into operation only when its security is threatened. Kim also announced ongoing preparation for the next intercontinental ballistic missile test.
In his New Year's Eve tweet, US President Donald Trump was confident that 2018 will be a great year for America with prospered securities market and greater foreign investment.
 President Trump's New Year tweet
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French President Emmanuel Macron promised to press ahead with economic and social reforms. In his televised address, Macron called on the French to stay united to tackle discrimination which can weaken France.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his New Year greetings to world leaders, including Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong. Putin highlighted progress in the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and Vietnam and said he believes the implementation of agreements adopted in 2017 will lift up all-round bilateral relationship.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Sunday that he is ready to work with Putin in consolidating mutual trust and expanding pragmatic cooperation. Xi noted that 2018 and 2019 will be the years of cooperation and exchanges between the two countries at local levels.