The United Nations system in China and the United Nations Association of China on Monday jointly held a "Stand Up for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)" special event to mark the 62nd anniversary of the UN and the midpoint for the MDGs.

The event took place inside of Tian'anmen's Shan Gong Park, a beautiful area affiliated with the Forbidden City. Over a thousand guests from the government, diplomatic corps, special guests, and the media filled the Forbidden City Concert Hall. After the ninety-minute reception a special evening of Naxi traditional music was provided.

The opening reception included a lavish buffet filled with Chinese and Western gourmet entrees. Then a bi-lingual 78-year-old senior master musician, Mr. Xuan Ke, hosted the musical performance. He merrily explained the history and significance of all the songs. His troupe members ranged from octogenarians to young people in their early twenties, all in national costume. "We are living cultural treasures and I am a living cultural relic because I'm so old," he quipped. "The songs you will hear tonight are ancient, some are over seven hundred years old," Mr. Xuan said. "But they have not changed in spirit or cadence at all."

Thirteen songs were presented, ranging in variety from group ensemble numbers to special pieces that highlighted instruments. The performance included an outstanding solo by a young woman using a type of mouth organ. Her harmonica had originally been made from bamboo but now the Naxi people use a copper variety. Mr. Xuan welcomed the audience to his home in Lijiang, located in southwest Yunnan Province.

"My city has become more modern and accessible to outsiders but the Naxi people, my people, treasure their culture and traditions. Now Lijiang is a UNESCO Protected Cultural Heritage Site," he explained. "The city and the Naxi people are some of China's priceless treasures." 

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi spoke highly of the UN's efforts and achievements in safeguarding world peace and prosperity, promoting economic and social development of all countries and creating a better world. The UN Resident Coordinator in China, Mr. Malik Khalid, attended the event. He praised China's achievements in realizing the MDGs, saying that China is leading the way in achieving the MDGs and it has achieved ahead the fundamental goal of reducing poverty by half.

China in conjunction with the UN has eight millennium goals: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; promote global partnership for development.

"It is very close identity between the UN MDGs and China's goal to build 'Xiaokang' - harmonious society ... my colleagues at the UN system are ready to be here with you to make the goals work," the coordinator said.

(China.org.cn by Valerie Sartor, October 23, 2007)