The launching ceremony of 2017, Year of the Rooster stamps was held yesterday at the China Cultural Centre in Fiji in Suva.

The Ambassador of China to Fiji  Zhang Ping and Mrs Zhang, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa, the acting chief executive officer of Post Fiji Ltd Willie Wong and the director of China Cultural Centre, Deng Xianfu, were present at the launching ceremony and made remarks.

The designer of the stamps and the director of China’s Guangdong Fine Arts Museum, Wang Shaoqiang, arrived all the way from China to attend the launching ceremony and introduced his art creation process for the Year of the Rooster stamps. He also gave his hand draft paintings of the original design to Post Fiji for their collection in the archives.

This is the second time for the China Cultural Centre in Fiji to co-operate with Post Fiji Ltd to issue the Chinese New Year Zodiac stamps.

Last year, they worked together to issue the Year of the Monkey stamps, which were well received by the stamp collectors from both China and Fiji.

Mrs Vuniwaqa said: “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.”

This year, before the launching ceremony, more than 1000 sets of the Year of the Rooster stamps have been ordered by the stamp lovers in both China and Fiji.

Though the stamps are very small, they carry the deep understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and combine two different cultures together.

Each stamp has a rooster and a special Fijian Plant combined together with the background of the South Pacific Ocean Waves, symbolising the cultural exchanges and friendship between China and Fiji.

The designer, with his special talent, has made the small stamps very colourful, artistic and rich in cultural content.

The stamp set, and the giftpack of the Year of the Rooster stamps can be purchased from the philatelic department of the Post Fiji Ltd.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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