Artist pays tribute to police dog

Acclaimed Chinese artist, sculptor and environmentalist Yuan Xikun unveiled a commemorative sculpture of a legendary narcotics detection dog named Jijunxing, who was one of China's "Meritorious Dogs" for serving on the country's front lines against drugs, in Beijing Jintai Art Museum on June 24.

Yuan, the inaugural United Nations "Artistic Master for the Environment", is renowned for his environmental advocacy and animal-themed art.

Yuan said that the country's fight against drugs, safeguarding public health and security traces a pivotal moment to Lin Zexu's (1785-1850) historic 1839 opium destruction in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.