UN treated to crawfish-tasting by Qianjiang

Crayfish, the most iconic Chinese late-night food, made its debut at the United Nations headquarters in the Delegates Dining Room in New York on Tuesday.

A crayfish-tasting event was hosted by the city of Qianjiang in Hubei province in Central China, which is China's major producer of crayfish.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture's 2018 crawfish industry development report, crawfish production in the city rose by about half from the year prior to 70,000 tons in 2017. Currently, the city boasts 70 percent of the world's export volume.

At the UN, multiple crayfish dishes cooked by Chinese chefs were offered for tasting. Officials from UN headquarters, the World Food Programme, the UN Democracy Fund as well as UN diplomats spoke highly of the richness and variety of the cuisines.

Representatives from Qianjiang introduced the city's innovative farming method, crayfish-rice symbiosis, which was appreciated by the guests for it ecological significance.