(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-29 21:28

BEIJING - Lien Chan, Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT), attended a ceremony held here Tuesday for the installation of a sculpture for the Olympic Games.

Participants pose for a group photo after the ceremony for installing a sculpture presented by Lien Chan near the National Aquatics Center dubbed the "Water Cube", in Beijing, capital of China, April 29, 2008. [Xinhua]

Lien Chan and his wife Lien Fang-yu witnessed the installation of the sculpture, which is a magnification of an original masterpiece created by late Taiwan artist Yuyu Yang, in the Olympic Park in the northern part of Beijing.

The masterpiece of Yang, based on the inspiration of landscape in Taiwan and sleeves of Beijing opera costume, was presented by Lien Chan to General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Hu Jintao during their meeting in April 2006.

The eight-meter-high sculpture has been installed standing near the National Stadium, or Bird's Nest, and the National Aquatics Center, known as Water Cube.

"Beijing Olympic Games will be a brilliant and successful international sports gathering and the sculpture here will be a witness," said Lien Chan at the Olympic Park, adding that Chinese around the world would have many joys and happiness in 2008.

He said in his speech at the venue that the masterpiece created by Yuyu Yang, who used to study in Beijing, had rich meaning in Chinese philosophy and could make people think of the long-standing Chinese culture.

Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong said at the ceremony that the sculpture has a special meaning, representing a blessing to the Beijing Olympics from Taiwan compatriots.

Director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Chen Yunlin attended the ceremony.