To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the UN and of the victory of the world's war against fascism, China held a cultural soiree on Thursday evening at Palais des Nations, headquarters of the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG).

"The UN was created amid the ashes of the Second World War to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and achieve peace and development worldwide," Sha Zukang, Chinese ambassador to the UNOG, said at the beginning of the soiree.

"The Chinese people, like their counterparts in Europe and elsewhere, made tremendous sacrifices and historic contributions to the final victory of the war.... We celebrate in order to ensure that that tragedy shall never repeat. We hope that all nations can get along with one another in harmony, and all people can all enjoy the fruits of peace and prosperity," he said.

Participants to the party included Sergei Ordzhonikidze, director-general of the UNOG, Li Bing, vice minister of the State Council Information Office of China, and Geneva-based diplomats from all over the world.

The party named "The Spirit of China -- A Breath of Chinese Culture" featured Chinese Shaolin kung fu, one of the major schools of Chinese martial arts with a history of over 1,000 years, and Chinese folk music played by the 12-girl orchestra from Sichuan Province.

"China's civilization goes back thousands of years. We have learnt that culture and arts are emissaries of peace. May peace be with us forever," said Ambassador Sha.

A variety of activities have been held in Geneva to commemorate UN' birthday and the victory of the Second World War. Some UN officials described Thursday's Chinese cultural gathering as one of the largest that attracted the biggest audience.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2005)