French President Jacques Chirac has unveiled A EUR 260 M riverside museum in the shadow of Paris' Eiffel Tower, seen to be his legacy to the nation.
The new museum designed by French architect Jean Nouvel displays indigenous art from three continents: Africa, Asia and Australasia.
The artifacts going on display range from masks and spears from Papua New Guinea to costumes from Vietnam and Thailand.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was among the guests at Tuesday's inauguration of the Musee du Quai Branly.
Guatemalan Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu, the premier of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, Paul Okalik, and French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin also attended the opening.
The museum officially opens to the public on June 23, BBC reported.