U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday sent "warm wishes" to people around the world celebrating the Lunar New Year.

With the Year of the Rabbit falling February 3, 2011, the secretary of state said she was "offering our warm wishes for good health, good fortune, peace and prosperity" to everyone celebrating the festival.

"All over the globe, families are coming together to recognize and celebrate the importance of their heritage. In the United States our Asian-American communities are contributing in ways large and small to our society," Clinton said in a statement.

"President Obama and I are committed to the people of the Asia-Pacific Region -- committed to strengthening our ties with traditional allies, to making new friends, and working to forge constructive relationships throughout the region," she added.

President Barack Obama also issued a statement Wednesday, wishing all who celebrate the new year "peace, prosperity and good health."