Pakistan has underscored the need for promoting peace, international cooperation and harmony.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi at a special ceremony at the United Nations marking the International Year of Nowruz said for thousands of years, our people, irrespective of culture, religion and language, have come together to reaffirm and share the values of this day.

Referring to Nowruz as a symbol of equality, she said this was the same spirit of equality on which the United Nations was founded.

In his remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also pointed out that Nowruz encourages reconciliation and good neighbourliness.