The following is the address from the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa at the launching ceremony of the Year of the Rooster stamps at Level 7, Ganilau House yesterday

His Excellency the Ambassador of China tFiji, Mr Zhang Ping,

CEO of Post Fiji Ltd,

Director of China Cultural Centre

Mr Wang Shaoqiang, designer of the stamps and the director of China’s Guangdong Fine Arts Academy,

Invited guests

Ladies and gentlemen

A very good morning.

I am honoured to be amongst you all today as we gather to witness the launch of the four beautiful, meaningful stamps of the year of the Rooster.

In the Chinese calendar, 2017 marks the Year of Rooster, a symbol of integrity, punctuality, promising future, and good luck.

This is the second time for the Chinese Cultural Centre in Fiji to co-operate with Post Fiji Ltd to issue the Chinese New Year Zodiac Stamps and I am very happy to see this successful collaboration being sustained by the two organisations.

The relationship between Fiji and China dates back in history and culture, with strong economic, diplomatic, cultural and educational ties.

Fiji was the first Pacific Island country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, in 1975.

China established an embassy in Fiji in 1976, and Fiji opened its embassy in China in 2001.

The former President of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau described the country’s “relationship with the Government and the people of the People’s Republic of China as one of its most important”.

And today we are celebrating yet another major relation formed between the two countries, through the combination of important Fijian elements, namely the Hibiscus, Tagimoucia, Frangipani and Coconut Tree into the Rooster stamps.

The significance of the Year of the Rooster being that of integrity, punctuality, promising future, and good luck is very apt for Fiji as well.

As we embark on our journey towards nation building leaving no Fijian behind, these are the very qualities that we depend on to make the dream of an inclusive, smart, free and safe nation for all, possible.

I wish to congratulate the China Cultural Centre and Post Fiji for effectively making the year of the Rooster stamps happen, with a full incorporation of Fiji’s symbols of beauty, tradition and culture.

I look forward to more of your creative designs and collaborative efforts in the coming years.

It gives me great pleasure to now officially launch the Year of the Rooster Stamps.

Vinaka