Chinese pianist Lang Lang performs at UN Day concert

The United Nations celebrated its 69th birthday with its messenger of peace, world-renowned pianist Lang Lang performing at a concert on Friday evening.

Held in the newly-renovated General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York, the concert was hosted by American actor Alec Baldwin, and drew hundreds of guests including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and General Assembly President Sam Kutesa to commemorate the United Nations Day.

Performing with Lang Lang is an international youth orchestra representing five continents, assembled especially for the occasion, conducted by Manuel Lopez-Gomez.

Lopez-Gomez, as well as many of the youth musicians, hail from the renowned El Sistema program, which provides music education to children from disadvantaged social-economic backgrounds.

The guests were dazzled also by Sting, 16-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and composer, who joined the concert as Lang Lang's special guest and sang two of his most popular songs "Fragile" and "Englishman in New York."

Tonight kicked off the 70th year of the United Nations, Ban said in his remarks, "as we enjoy this concert, let us think of our colleagues in the world' s hot spots and all the people they serve -- and let us resolve to advance a life of dignity for all."

"United Nations Day is a chance to pay tribute to our hardworking staff around the world," he said. "In these times of despair, a lot of conflicts and troubles, tonight's concert sounds a note of hope."

For his part, Kutesa said, "For centuries, music has been the universal language with the power to bring together people." Beyond our differences, music fosters unity, harmony and tolerance.

Entitled "UN Day Concert 2014: Lang Lang & Friends," the concert is presented by the United Nations in collaboration with the Lang Lang International Music Foundation.

Marking an important milestone during the global observance of the 69th anniversary of the organization, it offered an opportunity to highlight the UN's focus on youth and the education of global citizens.

UN Day commemorates the birth of the organization with the entry into force of the UN Charter on Oct.24 1945. The day has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by member states as a public holiday.

The UN Day concert observance serves as an occasion to highlight, celebrate and reflect on the work of the United Nations and its family of agencies through the universal language of music.