On January 1, 2002 (November 18, 2001 in the lunar calendar), the euro officially entered circulation. At 0:00 on January 1, 2002, when the euro countdown clock set by the European Union in the Royal Palace of Brussels struck for the last time, the euro officially entered circulation. The 12 countries in the euro zone were immediately immersed in an atmosphere of joy. People spoke in different languages and in different ways. Celebrate this historic moment. From Rome to Paris, from Helsinki to Brussels, fireworks and lasers illuminate the night sky of the city, and songs, dances and laughter dispelled the chill of the severe winter. In Frankfurt, Germany, more than 10,000 citizens braved the severe cold of minus 3 degrees Celsius to flock to the European Central Bank building on New Year's Eve. Amid the music of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", the colorful lanterns on the large euro sculpture were lit up and colorful fireworks rose into the sky. In Madrid, about 100,000 people gathered in Puerta del Sol Square in the city center, where cheers of "Happy New Year" and "Welcome to the Euro" came and went. At 0:00 on the 1st, in a flower shop in central Vienna, European Commission President Prodi spent 32 euros to buy a bunch of red and white roses for his wife. He said with emotion: "From tonight on, we are all Europeans! "In Amsterdam, Christine, who was waiting in line to withdraw euros from a cash machine, said excitedly: " I feel that the Netherlands has gotten bigger. The euro has 'expanded' the Dutch territory to the entire euro zone." According to statistics provided by the European Rapid Information Network, as of the afternoon of December 31, the 12 countries in the euro zone had issued 6 billion euro banknotes and 37.5 billion coins, with a total value of 144 billion euros, accounting for 40% and 74% of the banknotes and coins produced in the euro zone respectively. A spokesman for the European Central Bank said in Frankfurt on the 1st that the conversion to euros was operating normally that day and no problems occurred. On January 1, newspapers in various European countries reported the news that the euro had officially entered the market on their front pages. Many newspapers said,"Hello! Euro "serves as the front page headline. France's Le Figaro and Liberation published long reports titled "Farewell to Franc" and "Franc, Motherland Thanks You" respectively. According to regulations, the "dual currency circulation period" between the original currencies of the 12 euro zone countries Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Luxembourg and Greece and the euro shall not exceed two months at most. After that, the euro will become the only legal tender of these 12 countries. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a statement here on the 31st through his spokesperson, warmly welcoming the imminent entry of the euro into circulation. The statement said that 12 EU countries have decided to formally put the euro into circulation starting from January 1, 2002. This is a "bold and far-sighted decision to unite rather than split, cooperate rather than confront, have a common future and not a past full of differences." The statement said: "Introducing the euro is much more than an economic decision. It will go down in history. To see people and different countries that were once enemies unite on the issue of enjoying the same currency in order to get rich together is to witness them taking political action of unity and integration." The statement said this sets an example for the world that unity and diversity can flourish side by side. Solidarity in achieving economic progress and achieving political stability does not mean sacrificing the diversity that distinguishes the characteristics of each country and each nation. Alliance between countries can achieve greater benefits for their respective citizens than one country acting alone.