Chinese diplomats celebrated the country's traditional Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, at Veinna on Wednesday at the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) with their foreign colleagues.

Red lanterns and other decorations of traditional Chinese flavor added a festive atmosphere to the UN office during the 2008 Spring Festival in UNOV.

It is the first time that celebrations of the Chinese Spring Festival were held at UNOV.

Franz Baumann, acting director general of the UNOV, said the UN office in Vienna has all along enjoyed good cooperation with the Chinese side and that he was happy that UNOV was able to play host to the celebrations.

Baumann said the exuberant activities served to demonstrate China's long history and unique culture.

Tang Guoqiang, the Chinese ambassador to the UN office in Vienna, said Spring Festival embodies such values as unity, happiness and harmony.

He said the Chinese diplomats and delegates to the UN and other international organizations are willing to share their joys for the festival with their foreign colleagues.

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2008)