On January 17, the 2023 Chinese New Year Celebration and Gourmet Night was hosted by the Chinese Embassy. Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy Minister Xu Xueyuan, and Minister Jing Quan attended the event, as well as nearly 800 guests from various sectors of the United States, including Ms. Laura Rosenberger, Senior Director for China Affairs, U.S. White House National Security Council; Mr. Kin Wah Moy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Mr. Scott Weinhold, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Ms. Laura Lochman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources, U.S. Department of State; Mr. Jason Hafemeister, Acting Deputy Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The reception began with the singing of China’s national anthem by the students from the Embassy's Sunshine School and the playing of U.S. national anthem. Chargé d'Affaires Xu Xueyuan delivered a speech welcoming friends from various sectors to the Embassy, after three years, to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Chargé d'Affaires Xu said in her remarks that the Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival in China. It carries Chinese culture and values that have lasted for thousands of years. It represents the Chinese people's aspiration for a better life. The year 2023 is the Year of Rabbit. In Chinese culture, rabbit symbolizes peace and fortune. The Chinese civilization values peace, and believes that development and prosperity can only be achieved on the basis of peace and harmony. At the 20th CPC National Congress held last year, it was announced that we will advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. This has been made the central task of China for the new era. Chinese modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all, and it features harmony between humanity and nature, as well as peaceful development. Our goal is both big and simple. It is essentially about delivering a better life to the people.

Chargé d'Affaires Xu pointed out that since Day One of reengagement in the 1970s, China and the U.S. have realized that our two countries are hugely different. But such differences have not hindered the mutual understanding between the two peoples, and have not hindered the exchanges and cooperation between the two major countries for more than half a century. Facing new circumstances, we still need to find the right way to get along in harmony. This is not optional, but a must. For our relations to go steadily forward like a giant ship, our priority is not building “guardrails” to prevent accidents, but setting “guidelines” for safe navigation. These guidelines must contain basic elements such as no conflict or confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. In the new year, we look forward to working with people from various sectors in the U.S., to implement the important common understandings of the two presidents, reduce as many differences and frictions as possible, and build as much dialogue and cooperation as possible. We hope to continuously minimize the noise and add pleasant melodies to the relationship.

Chargé d'Affaires Xu said that China has substantially adjusted its COVID response measures, effective from January 8. The Chinese economy is expected to regain a 5% growth. China is again welcoming visitors from all over the world with open arms. Chinese companies are making tens of thousands of overseas trips to take orders. Chinese tourists are planning to travel abroad and spend money that they didn’t splurge for three years. A reopening China is creating huge opportunities for the world. The Year of the Rabbit is fast approaching. Let’s raise glasses and toast to a lucky, promising and productive Year of the Rabbit, for both countries and the whole world, and we wish everyone a happy and auspicious Chinese New Year. 

Mr. Kin Wah Moy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Department of State, said in his remarks that it was a pleasure to see that people could all get together after quite some time. He expressed appreciation to the Chinese Embassy for hosting this event to allow people to taste wonderful food, and he agreed with Chargé d'Affaires Xu that though China and the United States have differences, those differences make us unique and beautiful. They can mean positive outcomes, and there can be hope. What people are looking for this year is hope that the U.S. side will work hard to make sure that the U.S.-China relationship is in the right place. He expressed best wishes to everyone for a happy Chinese New Year and a prosperous Year of the Rabbit.

The reception was filled with joy and festivity throughout the whole night. It began with energetic lion dances performed to the rhythmic and resounding gong and drum beats. The dancers executed various stunts and moves such as kicking, jumping and rolling with great agility and fluidity, winning cheerful applause from the audience. Chinese American musicians presented an enchanting ensemble of viola and piano “Song of the Grassland”. Kyle Dillingham, a country music artist nicknamed “Oklahoma’s musical ambassador”, played “Old Friends” and “The Girl from Dabancheng” on violin, delivering a harmonious blend of Chinese and Western music. The performance ended with “Face Changing”, a show of magical art from Sichuan Opera, which received spontaneous bravos from the audience and took the reception to a climax.

Guests present lined up in long queues at the food booths featuring the gourmet food made by the Embassy chefs and well-known Chinese restaurants in the DMV region. In a joyous “Chinese Gourmet Night”, they tasted Peking roast duck, drunken pork ribs, golden shrimp balls, cold noodles with shredded chicken, mapo tofu, tofu skin rolls, glutinous rice pudding, hot and spicy noodles, pork belly bao buns, sesame pancakes and other Chinese dishes. They also gathered at the Chinese tea booth to sip tea and experience Chinese tea culture. Chargé d'Affaires Xu and Mr. Moy presented certificates of recognition to the Chinese restaurants and tea house present, and they took group photos together. The guests also toured the Embassy chancery, saw the collection of paintings, calligraphy works and handicrafts, as well as the photo exhibition “An Extraordinary Decade of China in the New Era”, and had in-depth exchanges with Chinese diplomats. The event lasted for nearly four hours, and the guests fully enjoyed the event and expressed great appreciation.

The event was broadcast live on the Embassy's social media, and covered by the People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, CGTN, China News Agency, China Daily, Phoenix TV, Dragon TV and Al Jazeera.