Sha Zukang (left), Under Secretary General for UN Economic and Social Affairs, and Ding Guanjia, Vice Chairman of the China Painting & Calligraphy Art Committee, at the opening of the United Nations Focus on Ink and Wash International Art Exhibition at UN headquarters in New York on June 22 (CHEN WEN)

A total of 120 Chinese ink and wash paintings made their debut at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York on June 22, kicking off a series of ceremonial events for UN Public Service Day.

Hosted by the China International Cultural Communication Center together with the Chinese Mission to the UN and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Ink and Wash International Art Exhibition, the first of its kind, displays masterpieces of famous Chinese artists, including Han Meilin, the designer of the 2008 Olympic mascots.

"Chinese calligraphy and painting is not only the cream of traditional Chinese culture and arts, but also a unique component of Chinese civilization," said Ambassador Zhang Yesui, Permanent Representative of China to the UN, addressing the opening of the exhibition. These works, which "vividly depict the beautiful landscapes and the ethnic and social traditions and customs in China," Zhang said, "will help people in the United Nations to have a better understanding of China, and will also open a window of friendship for the cultural exchanges between the people in China and the rest of the world."

Sha Zukang, Under Secretary General for UN Economic and Social Affairs, said at the ceremony that "by letting the light of art shine through the policymaking world, we can boost the spirit of public service."

Ambassador Zhang Yesui (1st left), Permanent Representative of China to the UN, addresses the opening of the United Nations Focus on Ink and Wash International Art Exhibition in UN headquarters in New York on June 22 (CHEN WEN)

The United Nations Focus on Ink and Wash International Art Exhibition kicks off on June 22 in UN headquarters in New York (CHEN WEN)

 (Reporting from New York)