BEIJING, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, extended on Thursday the New Year greetings to Chinese artists who were conducting dress rehearsal marking the lunar Chinese New Year at the Central Television Station.

He expressed gratitude and appreciation to performers during a visit to the China Central Television (CCTV).

The performance on New Year's eve has been rehearsed for three months, and it will be broadcast live nationwide by CCTV from 20:00 on Feb. 17 as one of the highlights of the Chinese lunar New Year activities.

The Spring Festival, China's lunar new year, falls on Feb. 18 this year.