The postal administrations of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran have jointly issued a set of two special stamps in Xi'an, west China's Shaanxi Province.
Titled Bell Tower and Mosque, the two stamps depict an ancient bell tower in China and a mosque in Iran. The stamps were jointly designed by two Chinese stamp designers and an Iranian stamp designer.
The Bell Tower in Xi'an built in 1384 and the Mosque in Iran built in 1621 are masterpieces of ancient Chinese and Iranian architecture.
The stamps also symbolized the lasting friendship of the two peoples, said Tan Xiaowei, deputy director of the State Post Bureau.
The Iranian ambassador to China, Fereydoun Verdinejad, attended the issuing ceremony.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2003)
