Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Huang Yong at the Spring Festival Party
2013-02-08 13:20

(7 February, 2013, Civic Center, Suva)

Your Excellency President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau,

Honorable Ministers and Permanent Secretaries,

Colleagues from the Diplomatic Corps,

Friends, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening! Xin Nian Hao

First of all, on the occasion of the Chinese Lunar New Year, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, to wish the people of Fiji, our distinguished guests and friends a happy and prosperous New Year!

I would also avail myself of this opportunity to express my gratitude to Dr Jiko Luveni, Minister for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation and President of Fiji-China Friendship Association, and Mr Chand Umaria, Special Administrator of the Suva City Council. This party becomes real only because of your support and cooperation.

Distinguished guests,

The Spring Festival is a symbol of China’s tradition and origin as an agricultural society: it is the time for the peasants to spend lavishly on children and meat food with frugal savings from pasr year, the time to pay tribute to ancestors, the time for family reunion, and a respite before the sowing season.

We celebrate this Festival because spring is the season for new life and new hope, and for  people to pray for the well-being of  their families, a good harvest and peace in the coming new year. Harmony, Humility and peace are deeply rooted values in the Chinese Culture. it is every Chinese's aspiration that the world should be harmonious and accommodating as they believe in harmony between nature and man.

The Chinese people have also learnt important lessons from their long history of agricultural activity: the more ploughing and weeding, the better the crop; people can only overcome the disasters by uniting like one family; respect yourself by respecting others, establish yourself by establishing others, to mention a few. This is why wherever the Chinese go, they always cherish the merits of hardworking, inclusiveness, mutual-accommodation and are happy to live in harmony with others. This is why they welcome and fancy other cultures,too.Nowadays many young people in China  celebrate Christmas, and next week they will be celebrating the Valentine’s Day as well.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

About 140 years ago, the first Chinese came to Fiji. They were fortunate because Fiji was as open, inclusive and accommodating as she is today. As a culturally diversified country, Fiji has accommodated different races, religions and cultures, and churches, mosques and Hindu temples scatter all over the country. the vast Pacific Ocean bestows the people of Fiji a big heart to reach out to other cultures and peoples.The Chinese community has being living harmoniously with the iTaukis, and the Chinese culture has become an ingredient color in the Fijian Masi.

Ladies and gentlemen,

on this spring season,let us now sow understanding, friendship and cooperation.

please allow me to conclude by proposing a toast to the friendship between China and Fiji,

to the well-being of the people of our two countries, and,

to the good health of all of you.

Cheers and Happy New Year! Venaka!