Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ma Zhaoxu (C) attends the United Nations international bazaar held at the UN Headquarters in New York, June 6, 2019. The annual humanitarian event, sponsored by the UN Delegations Women's Club (UNDWC), on Thursday presented products and food from around the world. All proceeds of the bazaar will benefit refugee, women and children projects in Yemen and South Sudan supported by UNDWC. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
UNITED NATIONS, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese silk scarves, Russian dolls, Thai iced tea ... These are a few of the many goods sold at a recent international bazaar held at the UN Headquarters in New York City.
The annual humanitarian event, sponsored by the UN Delegations Women's Club (UNDWC), on Thursday easily presented products and food from around the world, as the vendors are participating missions of the UN member states.
All proceeds of the bazaar will benefit refugee, women and children projects in Yemen and South Sudan supported by UNDWC.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Therese Tommo Monthe, president of the bazaar and wife of the Cameroonian ambassador to the UN, said: "Even though we come from different backgrounds, we are able to unite for a common cause, rightfully describing and upholding the concept of Unity in Diversity."
Richard Towle, the UN refugee agency's (UNHCR) representative to the bazaar, said Yemen and South Sudan have about 4 million refugees and internally displaced persons, and expressed appreciation for the humanitarian work by the UNDWC.
The Chinese UN mission set up two stalls at the bazaar, respectively selling goods and food characteristic of China, including panda dolls, sandalwood fans, Kung Pao Chicken and fried vegetable spring rolls.
The Chinese silk scarves were most popular, which sold out within two hours, a worker at the stall told Xinhua.
As the bazaar coincided with the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, Zongzi, a traditional food associated with the holiday that was made with glutinous rice wrapped in leaves, was among the food prepared by the Chinese mission.
Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ma Zhaoxu said: "We brought Zongzi because for one we want to contribute to the charity work of the UN, and for another we want to extend the Chinese festival greetings to the UN staff and to the whole world."
Vitavas Srivihok, permanent representative of Thailand to the UN, was one of the many other diplomats standing by their missions' booths. He told Xinhua that his mission was selling the top five Thai cuisines -- Pad Thai, Mango with Sticky Rice, Chicken Massaman, Thai Red Ruby in Coconut Milk and Thai Tea.
Products of some luxury brands, Salvatore Ferragamo, Ermenegildo Zegna and Ray-Ban, were also sold in the bazaar, priced much lower than in the market.
The bazaar enlisted many young volunteers to help with the logistics, setting up booths, handing out entry passes, or selling raffle tickets.
Besides the bazaar, Thursday's charity work also included a raffle and an auction of travel packages, the proceeds of which will also go to projects helping the Yemeni and South Sudanese refugees.
