PARIS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- France postal service company La Poste issued a full version of zodiac stamp as well as rooster collection stamp to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and embrace the year of Rooster.
The initiative to issue Chinese zodiac stamps dated back to 2005. Each year the French postal service company celebrates the Chinese New Year by issuing the stamp featuring the year's zodiac animal.
The rooster collection is divided into two kinds -- one for French distribution and another for international distribution.
The Chinese astrology has 12 animal figures and the rooster is the 10th in the series, representing trust and accuracy in the Chinese culture because it wakes up people in time.
The designer of the stamps is Chinese painter Li Zhongyao, who has been the creator of the zodiac stamps since 2005.
A French philatelist Martin told Xinhua that the design is pretty and futuristic. He said he has participated in the issuing ceremony since 2005.
Martin is one of the French philatelists who have been collecting the zodiac stamps for 12 years. What attracts them the most is the fine and exquisite Chinese art design.
Chinese ambassador to France Zhai Jun and Philippe Wahl, president and chief executive officer of La Poste, attended the issuing ceremony.
The new stamps will be on sale on Jan. 30 in French post offices and the site of the postal service company.
