China gifts the UN 'Zun of Peace' for 70th anniversary

President Xi Jinping and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon unveil the "Zun of Peace" as a gift to the UN, commemorating its 70th anniversary. The gift, modeled after Chinese ancient bronze artefacts "Zun" using cloisonné technique, shows China's support to the UN. [Photo/Xinhua]

Ban said the Peace Bottle represents the common values and close cooperative relationship between China and the UN. He thanked China for its contributions towards world peace and development.

Ban said the UN was eager to continue strengthening its cooperation with China in realizing the Millennium Development Goals, reducing world poverty and tackling climate change.

The Peace Bottle was created using the Cloisonné enamel technique, an art form regarded to be part of China's intangible cultural heritage.

Using “Chinese red" as the main color, the Peace Bottle is decorated with dragon ornamentation on top, symbolizing the quest for peace, and elephant heads and phoenix ornaments on both sides, representing social harmony and people's well-being.

The body of the bottle is decorated with traditional Chinese auspicious patterns, with elements of the Silk Road inserted, bearing the concepts of peaceful development, exchange and cooperation.

There are also seven doves representing the 70 years that the UN has been fighting for world peace.

Hong Xiao in New York contributed to this story.