China News Agency, Paris, January 18 (Reporter Li Yang) On the evening of January 18 local time, the Chinese Permanent Mission to UNESCO held a reception for the 2023 Spring Festival of the Year of the Rabbit in Paris.
Madogo, Special Representative of the Director-General of UNESCO, Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations of UNESCO, Yang Jin, Permanent Representative of China to UNESCO, Permanent Representatives of various countries to UNESCO, officials, UNESCO Secretariat Officials and hundreds of guests gathered to celebrate the traditional Chinese festival.
This event is the first time that China has held a New Year reception at UNESCO headquarters since the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his speech, Yang Jin first extended his New Year greetings to all the guests, saying that the Spring Festival is the Chinese Lunar New Year. It is the most important festival and tradition for Chinese people all over the world, and it is also a day for family and friends to reunite.
He introduced that in traditional Chinese culture, each Chinese New Year is represented by an animal in the Chinese zodiac, of which the rabbit is the fourth.
Yang Jin said that after three years of fighting against the COVID-19 epidemic, and as the hopeful Year of the Rabbit is about to ring, China is fully resuming its opening-up and development momentum, further fulfilling its promise to join hands with people from all over the world to create a better future for mankind.
Yang Jin pointed out that UNESCO is an international family with a lofty mission and rich professional experience. Over the past 76 years, it has played an important role in promoting global education, science, culture, communication and information exchange.
He emphasized that China attaches great importance to the close cooperation and friendship it has established over the years with the permanent missions of various countries to UNESCO and the UNESCO Secretariat.
China is willing to take the coming of the Year of the Rabbit as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with all parties, better practice genuine multilateralism, and jointly contribute to the noble cause of UNESCO and the building of a prosperous world for mankind.
Madogo expressed his best wishes for the Spring Festival of the Chinese Year of the Rabbit with "Happy New Year" in Chinese.
Madogo said that through the joint efforts of both parties, the strategic cooperation between China and UNESCO has reached a new level every year, and it fits the meaning of Ruitu - longevity, peace, prosperity and goodwill.
Madogo is particularly grateful for China's support for global education reform, UNESCO Special Envoy for Girls' and Women's Education Professor Peng Liyuan's commitment to global girls' and women's education, and China's pioneering participation in UNESCO's response to the COVID-19 epidemic project.
He emphasized that UNESCO is working with China to promote the development of global education, protect cultural heritage and mitigate climate change, and hoped that international cooperation and multilateralism could bring more prosperity and hope to the world, UNESCO and China in the new year.
A traditional Chinese cultural performance was held at the reception that night.
French artists Rémy Aron, Matt Serrin and Nathalie Mir also presented Chinese Spring Festival oil paintings to the Chinese Permanent Delegation to UNESCO.
(Finish)