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BEIJING, 22 April 2010 – Well known broadcast journalist and entrepreneur Yang Lan was today appointed as United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Ambassador. With this appointment Yang Lan became the first Ambassador to be appointed by the UNICEF office in China.

©UNICEF/China/2010 Dr. Yin Yin Nwe(R), UNICEF China Representative hands over the certificate of appointment to Ms Yang Lan, UNICEF Ambassador.

"I am delighted to accept this appointment as UNICEF Ambassador. UNICEF has a successful and wide-ranging programme of cooperation with the Government of China to improve the situation of children throughout the country. I am eager to lend whatever support I can." Yang Lan remarked at the announcement event at agency's Beijing office compound.

UNICEF was the first United Nations agency to appoint celebrity Ambassadors to help call the public's attention to the urgent needs of children. The first UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador was American comedian Danny Kaye, who was appointed in the 1950's. Today, nearly 200 celebrities and artists from numerous countries serve as UNICEF Ambassadors at international and national levels throughout the world. 

"We are very pleased to welcome Ms. Yang Lan as the first UNICEF Ambassador," said Dr. Yin Yin Nwe, UNICEF China Representative. "As one of China's best known media personalities and a successful philanthropist in her own right, she would be an excellent advocate on children's rights and concerns."

UNICEF China aims to enlist Yang Lan's support for public advocacy on key child rights issues such as support for migrant and left behind children, ending discrimination against children affected by HIV/AIDS and inclusion of children with disabilities – among many other urgent issues.

©UNICEF/China/2010 Ms Yang Lan(L), UNICEF Ambassador takes questions from the media at the announcement event.

Ms. Yang Lan will visit UNICEF projects in the most remote rural communities in China, support awareness raising programmes and appear at key public events.

UNICEF will begin a new five year programme of cooperation with the government of China in 2011, focusing on the most vulnerable children and women in China.

About UNICEF in China:
UNICEF first assisted China between 1947 and 1951, providing emergency services, food and nutrition, health and hygiene training during and after the War of Liberation. In 1979 UNICEF recommenced its cooperation with the Government of China which today supports child health and nutrition, clean water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  

For further information, please contact:
Dale Rutstein, UNICEF China, +86 13910973801, (Eng) drutstein@unicef.org,
Liu Li, UNICEF China, +86 13701066671, (Chn) liliu@unicef.org