To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the UN and
of the victory of the world's war against fascism, China held a
cultural soiree on Thursday evening at Palais des Nations,
headquarters of the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG).
"The UN was created amid the ashes of the Second World War to
save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and achieve
peace and development worldwide," Sha Zukang, Chinese ambassador to
the UNOG, said at the beginning of the soiree.
"The Chinese people, like their counterparts in Europe and
elsewhere, made tremendous sacrifices and historic contributions to
the final victory of the war.... We celebrate in order to ensure
that that tragedy shall never repeat. We hope that all nations can
get along with one another in harmony, and all people can all enjoy
the fruits of peace and prosperity," he said.
Participants to the party included Sergei Ordzhonikidze,
director-general of the UNOG, Li Bing, vice minister of the State
Council Information Office of China, and Geneva-based diplomats
from all over the world.
The party named "The Spirit of China -- A Breath of Chinese
Culture" featured Chinese Shaolin kung fu, one of the major schools
of Chinese martial arts with a history of over 1,000 years, and
Chinese folk music played by the 12-girl orchestra from Sichuan
Province.
"China's civilization goes back thousands of years. We have
learnt that culture and arts are emissaries of peace. May peace be
with us forever," said Ambassador Sha.
A variety of activities have been held in Geneva to commemorate
UN' birthday and the victory of the Second World War. Some UN
officials described Thursday's Chinese cultural gathering as one of
the largest that attracted the biggest audience.
(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2005)