ROME, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Wednesday held a celebration at its headquarters here to mark the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, with Director-General Qu Dongyu urging the organization to draw inspiration from the spirit of the horse to accelerate progress toward its goals.

Addressing the gathering, Qu said the Year of the Horse carries a message that resonates with FAO's shared mission.

With the world confronting several challenges, Qu said FAO should be inspired by the horse as a symbol of strength, resilience and stamina. Just as the horse signifies momentum and forward motion, he added, FAO must gallop forward, overcome hurdles and quicken its pace.

"Let us learn from the spirit of the horse," Qu said. "No matter how many burdens, it keeps galloping forward," he added.

The event showcased traditional Chinese cultural elements, featuring martial arts performances, guzheng music and other festive traditions, with participants writing good wishes for the year ahead.

The ceremony also featured a video message from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in which he conveyed Lunar New Year greetings and expressed appreciation for China's commitment to multilateralism.

In an interview with Xinhua, FAO Assistant Director-General Alexander Livingston Jones said the organization, with 194 members, values cultural diversity. Noting that China holds "a very special place" in FAO, he said cooperation with China is two-way, with the two sides working closely on climate, food security, technology, and agricultural production and innovation.

"We have a lot of things to do together," Qu said. "Let's have a bright future, working together and learning from the horse." ■