UNITED NATIONS, May 5 -- The China Shanxi Food Festival kicked off here in New York on Monday at the headquarters of the United Nations.

With hundreds of UN staff gathering at the opening ceremony of the four-day event, prominent chefs brought various regional styles of Shanxi cuisine, including boiled beef of Pingyao style, chicken in Shanxi vinegar and corn pancakes. Some chefs also demonstrated the traditional Shanxi foods made of flour such as the sliced noodles.

Under Secretary-General of the United Nations Vijay Nambiar, who once worked as the Indian ambassador to China, said at the reception that in many ways, food culture is an aspect of the great civilization. "This is true of most civilizations," he said.

"We are witnessing today some of the very basic and most fundamental items of the Chinese cuisine, which have been famous in the world and which has been the basis of its civilization," Nambiar said, adding that it is a great unique opportunity to be able to come and taste the flavors of which have over 5,000 years' history.

Known as "the Home of Chinese Flour Foods," Shanxi is famous for its Jin Cuisine, which is characterized by a wide selection of ingredients, strong flavor and color, and the preference for vinegar, spice and a strong taste. In the development of the Chinese civilization and culture, Jin Cuisine and Shanxi flour foods has constituted an indispensable part of Chinese food culture.