Scott No: -
Serial number: 2012-6
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: April 1, 2012
Denomination: 120 fen
Designer: Chen Jingyi
Size of stamps: Bottom 44 mm, hypotenuse 30 mm, height 25 mm (parallelogram)
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 12
Size of sheet: 230 * 142 mm
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

On April 1, 2012, China Post issued the commemorative stamp for the "50th Anniversary of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union" with catalog number 2012-6. The set consists of one stamp, titled "50th Anniversary of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union," with a face value of 1.20 yuan. The stamp was designed by Chen Jingyi, with Dong Yan serving as the responsible editor. Materials were provided by the Asian-Pacific Postal Union, and the stamp was printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. Anti-counterfeiting features include anti-counterfeiting paper, anti-counterfeiting ink, and fluorescent spray codes.

This stamp was issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union and to highlight the achievements of postal exchange and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU) is an intergovernmental international postal organization affiliated with the Universal Postal Union, serving the Asia-Pacific region. In 1961, representatives from multiple countries met in Manila, Philippines, to negotiate and sign the "Asian-Oceanic Postal Convention," which came into effect on April 1, 1962. The Asian-Oceanic Postal Union was subsequently established, with its headquarters initially in Manila. In 1981, the organization was officially renamed the Asian-Pacific Postal Union, and in 2002, its headquarters were relocated to Bangkok, Thailand. The Union is dedicated to optimizing regional postal networks, simplifying international mail clearance, promoting postal technology exchange, and fostering economic and people-to-people exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region. China officially joined the APPU in 1975 and has since actively participated in regional postal cooperation activities.

The stamp adopts a rare parallelogram shape, echoing the outline of the APPU emblem. At the center is the APPU logo, which resembles a dove carrying a letter, symbolizing postal delivery and communication. A faint background map of Asia, the Pacific, and Oceania indicates the organization's coverage area. The lower portion of the stamp features commemorative text in Chinese and English, along with the years 1962–2012. The overall design is simple and modern, with a clean color palette conveying an open and inclusive visual impression. The sheet border incorporates the classic red and blue diagonal stripes of international airmail envelopes, further reinforcing the postal theme.

The unusual die-cut shape is rare among modern Chinese stamps, giving this issue a distinctive identity. It is a valuable collectible for international postal and Asia-Pacific themed collections.