(Special Correspondent, New York Mo Ren, reported) On February 2nd, the Sino-American Fujian Minhou Chamber of Commerce held its 2026 Spring Festival Gala at the Golden Thai Restaurant in New York. Attendees included Consul Xiang Yutao and Rong Ding from the Chinese Consulate General in New York, Chairman Chi Honggui, Prime Minister Lin Jiting, Executive Chairman Zhang Kaiguo, Speaker Lin Xiuzhu, First Executive Vice Chairman Zhao Jinfeng, Supervisor Pan Jianming, Director Chen Fakai, Secretary-General Yang Zongdian, English Secretary-General Gao Jiayi, Office Director Huang Jianle, Honorary Chairmen Zheng Siqi, Ren Xuming, Zheng Zhenhe, Su Huangguang, Zheng Quancai, Zheng Xiugan, Li Qintan, Lin Jie, Lin Jifang, Lin Yao (male), Lin Zheng, Zhang Junkeng, Qiu Qinggang, Zhao Rukeng, Zhao Rurong, Lin Peigan, Li Zhenqi, Chen Rixiang, Zheng Shankai, Lin Yao (female), Huang Qunjin, Guo Shaoquan, Zhang Xiansheng, Chen Qiaolin, Wu Zhenwen, Fang Bilian, Lin Hongzhen, Zheng Xiangle, Fang Qiang, Jiao Shengan, Zhang Xiuping, Zhang Shanshan, He Qixiong, Lin Gengsheng, Wu Liming, Lin Shankun, Ren Yi, Huang Xiufeng, Chen Rixiang, Lin Anzhi, Lin Shuhua, Lin Yanfang, Wu Yujin, Lin Ri, Liu Xiuhua, Liu Xinyong, Zhao Mingwen, Ni Jianhua, Lin Guangrong, Wu Yiming, Lin Ping, Deng Hanchao, Chen Qiaolin, Lin Xinyue, Chen Yanyan, Chen Zhengshou, Zheng Xiangle, Zhao Ruzeng, Hong Li, Li Qingsong, and over 180 other Minhou-born overseas Chinese leaders.
The evening was hosted by Wang Yongying. Sino-American Fujian Minhou Chamber of Commerce Chairman Chi Honggui delivered a welcome speech. Sino-American Fujian Minhou Chamber of Commerce Chairman Chi Honggui's welcome speech: As the seasons change, a new chapter unfolds! As the Chinese New Year approaches, I am delighted to be here with you all to participate in the "Celebrating the Year of the Horse 2026" New Year's Eve Gala hosted by the Sino-American Fujian Minhou Chamber of Commerce. On behalf of all the members of the Sino-American Fujian Minhou Chamber of Commerce, I would like to extend our warmest welcome and highest respect to Consul Xiang Yutao and Consul Rong Ding from the New York Consulate General, who have taken time out of their busy schedules to join us in this celebration! We also extend our warmest welcome and sincere gratitude to all the community leaders, friends, and guests who have strongly supported and enthusiastically participated in tonight's event!
The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation. It embodies the core values of Chinese culture: "family reunion" and "bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new," conveying the values of kinship, peace, and auspiciousness.
The Spring Festival is not just a holiday; it is a sentiment, a spirit, a "Chinese soul" forever etched in our hearts. No matter where Chinese people go, the warmth in our blood flows continuously, converging into a powerful force and belief in our genes—that is the fervent and unwavering "Chinese heart." Today, we are holding the "Welcoming the Year of the Horse 2026 Spring Festival Gala," which holds significant practical importance for inheriting and promoting traditional Chinese culture, advancing cultural exchange and integration between China and the West, and enhancing our sense of national cultural identity and confidence. In the past year, the Sino-American Fujian Minhou Chamber of Commerce has guided its development with new development concepts, striving to help members keep abreast of business trends and market changes, share development opportunities, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.
We have listened to the needs of businesses and acted on their requests, actively providing members with policy and investment information, establishing contact mechanisms with financial institutions, and working hard to create opportunities and promote development for Fujian businesses. While upholding the principle of "establishing the chamber to protect and assist businesses," we have also practiced the concept of "using business to support philanthropy," helping many businesses facing difficulties overcome their challenges, demonstrating the chamber's responsibility and commitment. At the same time, we have actively participated in various activities organized by large overseas Chinese associations, playing a positive role in consolidating the strength of the overseas Chinese community and inspiring patriotic enthusiasm. Like a galloping horse covering a thousand miles, may the new year bring even greater achievements! In the new year, we will strengthen our purpose and forge ahead, advancing on a new journey with a new spirit, helping Fujian businesses develop and demonstrating our responsibility and commitment. We will actively integrate into the new wave of reform and opening up in our motherland, promote Sino-US economic and trade cooperation and exchange, and strive to facilitate investment and entrepreneurship for Fujian businesses returning to China. We serve as a bridge and link between China and the United States.
We must strongly support the construction of Chinese-style modernization and the economic development of our hometown, the Haixi Corridor, contributing new strength to the stable and long-term development of China-U.S. relations and economic cooperation! Taking this opportunity, I extend my early New Year greetings to our compatriots at home and abroad! I sincerely wish our great motherland prosperity and peace! I sincerely wish all friends and guests a happy New Year, family happiness, peace and good fortune, and abundant wealth in the Year of the Horse! Remarks by Consul Xiang Yutao of the Chinese Consulate General in New York: First of all, on behalf of Consul General Chen Li and Consul Rong Ding of the Chinese Consulate General in New York, I extend my most sincere greetings to all compatriots and friends present. In 2026, the China-U.S. Fujian Minhou Chamber of Commerce will continue to unite and serve, inheriting and carrying forward excellent traditional Chinese culture, promoting China-U.S. friendship, and contributing to the development and prosperity of the overseas Chinese community. In 2026, China-U.S. relations will also maintain dynamic stability under the guidance of the two heads of state. These all create favorable conditions and environment for everyone's work and life in the new year. In the new year, I hope that the Minhou Chamber of Commerce and all the outstanding community leaders present will continue to work hard, unite, and strive forward. We will, as always, do our best to provide services and work together with everyone. Finally, as the Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse is approaching, I wish all overseas Chinese friends present good health, to be at the forefront, and to achieve great success!
