A father and son display the Chinese Year of the Dragon stamp stamp and first day cover at the Chinese Year of the Dragon stamp and first day cover issue ceremony in Fiji on 3 February. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Sang Qinlong).
Suva, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Fiji, an island nation in the South Pacific, held a ceremony for the issuance of stamps and first day covers for the Chinese lunar year of the dragon on February 3.
The launch ceremony took place in Nausori Square, 20 kilometers from the capital Suva. In his speech, Fiji ** Katoniwere expressed the blessing of the Year of the Dragon to the Chinese people. He said that this event is a good opportunity for cultural display and a testimony to the friendship between the two peoples.
Ma Guoliang, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Fiji, said that the dragon is the totem of the Chinese nation, symbolizing luck, prosperity and strength, and believes that the dragon will bring good luck to Chinese and Fijian friends.
Isaac Mo, CEO of Fiji Post, said that the design of the dragon stamp integrates the artistic characteristics of Fiji and China, and the issuance of the stamp will further promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
Han Xiaoyan, director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Fiji, introduced that this set of 4 stamps for the Year of the Dragon is designed by the Ruoqi Jewelry Culture and Art Museum in Qingdao, Shandong Province, and is inspired by the image of the dragon in ancient Chinese cultural relics. This is the 9th consecutive year that Fiji Post*** has cooperated with the China Cultural Centre in Fiji to issue Zodiac stamps.
The issuance of dragon tickets kicked off the "Happy New Year" series of activities in Fiji. On the same day, a Spring Festival temple fair was also held in Nausori Square to bring back the long-lost traditional "New Year's flavor" of the Spring Festival for overseas Chinese.
On 3 February, people purchased stamps for the Chinese Lunar Year of the Dragon at the Chinese Lunar Year of the Dragon Stamp and First Day Cover Issuance Ceremony in Fiji. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Sang Qinlong).
A Fijian child poses for a photo in front of a display board introducing the Chinese Year of the Dragon stamp at the Chinese Year of the Dragon stamp and first day cover issuance ceremony in Fiji on 3 February. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Sang Qinlong).
This is a Chinese Lunar Year of the Dragon stamp taken at the Chinese Lunar Year of the Dragon stamp and First Day Cover issuance ceremony in Fiji on 3 February. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Sang Qinlong).
*:Xinhua.