Chinese central government delegation sent on Friday a bronze tripod, a traditional Chinese sacrificial vessel symbolizing unity, to the government of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the region's founding on Saturday.
Luo Gan, head of the delegation and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Wang Lequan, Communist Party secretary of Xinjiang, unveiled the tripod inscribed with its name written by Chinese President Hu Jintao -- "National Unity Tripod".
The tripod represents the central government's care and hopes for all nationalities in Xinjiang and friendship and congratulations of the 1.3 billion Chinese people, said deputy head and Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu at the ceremony.
Xinjiang's 50-year-long glorious past shows that in the multi-nationality family, unity is the force, treasure and victory, he said.
Wang Lequan returned the gift with an arras depicting scenery of Tianchi, a famous scenic spot in Xinjiang.
Other gifts sent by the central government included a fund for bringing up more educational and scientific talents, computers, TVsets, DVDs and watches.
(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2005)