On 22 January, the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons(OPCW) and the Permanent Mission of China to the OPCW co-hosted a China theme cultural event entitled Happy Hour -Celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year of Ox at the headquarters of the OPCW. H.E. Mr. Rogelio Pfirter, Director-General of the OPCW, H.E.Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the OPCW, and over 300 staff of the OPCW attended the event. The visiting Jilin Art Troupe of China presented splendid art performance at the event.

Ambassador Zhang, in addressing the participants, conveys his greetings to all the staff of the OPCW on the occasion of the forthcoming traditional Chinese Lunar New Year of Ox. He stresses that the OPCW has played an important role in monitoring the destruction of chemical weapons and safeguarding world peace and stability in recent years. This is the result of concerted efforts by the staff of the Technical Secretariat headed by the Director-General as well as all States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention(CWC). As a responsible player, China always honors its obligations set out by the CWC in the field of multilateral chemical disarmament and supports the work in the OPCW. China will continue making its own contribution to international security and stability. Ambassador Zhang wishes to see even greater contribution by the OPCW and its staff to global security in the new year.

Director-General Pfirter delivers his new year greetings to the Chinese people and thanks the Permanent Mission of China for its great support to this event. He says that it is of special importance to have such a China theme cultural event, especially the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year at the OPCW, as it reflects the extensive and far-reaching influence of Chinese culture. China, as an influential nation and important member of the OPCW, has always been fulfilling its CWC obligations earnestly and contributing to world peace and stability. The OPCW stands ready to further its good cooperation with China with a view to advancing the goal of the CWC.

The delegates’ Lounge of the OPCW is decorated with red lanterns and Chinese scenery posters. The art performance is composed of a fantastic collection of Chinese music, ethnic dance and fancy acrobatics. The mood of the participants runs high with the performance and all other cultural presentations, which fully displays Chinese cultural tradition and ethnic characteristics as well as a taste of the Chinese Lunar New Year. When interviewed by the media, Director-General Pfirter and his staff hail this event as the most successful cultural feast ever in the OPCW, which not only spurs their strong interest in the Chinese culture, but also gives them a chance to see a new China on its way of development.

The OPCW was established in 1997 according to the CWC, with the aim of monitoring the destruction of chemical weapons and preventing the proliferation of such weapons. With its headquarters based in the Hague of the Netherlands, it has a staff of over 500 from 78 countries. Currently, 186 countries are members to the OPCW.