Vienna, 1 Feb (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese Permanent Mission to Vienna and the Chinese Speech Society of the United Nations in Vienna jointly held a Spring Festival reception at the Vienna International Center on 31 January. This is the first time that the Permanent Mission of China has held a Spring Festival celebration at the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna.
Ambassador Li Song, Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Vienna and other international organizations, and Mr. Wally, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, attended and delivered speeches, and more than 700 people attended the reception, including Chinese Ambassador to Austria Qi Mei, Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other international organizations, permanent representatives of various countries, and Chinese international staff.
On January 31, Li Song, Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Vienna and other international organizations, delivered a speech at the Vienna International Center in Austria. (Photo by He Canling).
Li Song said that China hopes to provide the Vienna multilateral family with a New Year's opening ceremony for the Vienna multilateral family to come together, exchange and learn from each other, and forge ahead in unity. As one of the centers of multilateral diplomacy, Vienna's multilateral agenda is closely related to the three major global initiatives, and has unique advantages in maintaining international peace and security and promoting global sustainable development. China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Vienna international organizations and member states, actively advocate true multilateralism, jointly uphold the "Vienna Spirit" of consensus, solidarity and cooperation, and jointly advance Vienna's multilateral cause.
In his speech, Wally extended New Year greetings and best wishes to the Chinese people. Recalling his visit to China last year, he said that he was deeply impressed by China's development achievements, appreciated China's efforts to eradicate poverty, develop education and industrialize, and said that China's inspiring development story has brought positive energy to the world.
The Mozart Hall of the Vienna International Center, the venue for the reception, was decorated with red lanterns, Chinese knots, and paper-cut blessing characters, which were full of Chinese cultural charm and strong New Year's flavor. Guests from all over the world exchanged Spring Festival blessings, tasted Chinese delicacies such as dumplings, glutinous rice balls, and spring rolls, and watched "Spring Festival Overture", "Jasmine", Peking Opera, Dunhuang Dance and other theatrical performances with Chinese characteristics.
*:Xinhua.