【ANN NEWS, SEATTLE】 On the evening of September 6 local time, a large-scale celebration marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the Mid-Autumn Festival was held at the Meydenbauer Center Theatre in Bellevue. The event was organized by the Washington State New Immigrant Federation, with participation from the Seattle Huayin Performing Arts Group and the Seattle Chinese Orchestra. About 500 guests and audience members from local political, Chinese community, business, cultural and arts circles attended the event to celebrate National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The celebration consisted of a guest reception and cultural performances. The reception began at 6 p.m., with the national anthems of China and the United States performed at the venue.
Miao Qihu, president of the Washington State New Immigrant Federation and president of Weishan Bay Group, extended holiday greetings to guests and introduced the federation’s work in recent years in serving overseas Chinese, strengthening the community, and promoting economic, trade, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. He said that under the current international environment, strengthening people-to-people exchanges and enhancing mutual understanding are of great significance, and expressed hope that the Chinese community would continue to serve as a bridge and contribute to friendly exchanges between the peoples of China and the United States.
Wang Wenhui, cultural counselor at the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, delivered remarks in both Chinese and English and shared the story of American teacher Ronald Sakolsky’s 27-year connection with China. In 1999, Sakolsky raised $5,000 to support China’s desertification-control efforts, and related projects subsequently planted more than 50,000 trees in the Mu Us Desert. Wang said that goodwill and exchanges accumulated over time among ordinary people can also become a positive force in advancing China-U.S. relations.
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith attended the event and delivered remarks. He recognized the Chinese American community’s longstanding contributions to local business, education and public affairs, and said China-U.S. relations are among the most important bilateral relationships in the world. Even when differences exist, he said, the two sides should maintain communication, reduce hostility and seek more opportunities for cooperation. During the event, Smith also presented congratulatory letters to Wu Xiaoming, founding president of the Washington State New Immigrant Federation, and Miao Qihu, the federation’s president.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson extended holiday greetings to the event via video.
Bellevue City Councilmember Jared Nieuwenhuis also attended the celebration and read a proclamation on behalf of the city government recognizing the local Chinese community’s longstanding contributions to Bellevue’s economic development, cultural development and diverse community.
At 7 p.m., the cultural performances officially began. The Seattle Huayin Performing Arts Group opened the program with the dance Ode to Coral, followed by a dizi solo of Spring Comes to the Xiang River, the dance Joyous Songs of the Grassland, performances by a women’s instrumental ensemble and a guzheng ensemble, among other programs.
The performance combined Chinese dance, traditional Chinese instrumental music, vocal performances, and Chinese and Western classics, showcasing the richness and diversity of Chinese culture and arts.
The Seattle Chinese Orchestra performed the classic piece Blooming Flowers and Full Moon, echoing the Mid-Autumn Festival theme of reunion and expressing overseas Chinese people’s longing for their hometowns, families and friends. At the end of the program, all performers joined together to sing Sleepless Tonight, bringing the evening’s celebration to a close.
The Washington State New Immigrant Federation was established in 2015, with Wu Xiaoming serving as its founding president. Over the years, the organization has continued to participate in local community services, the promotion of Chinese culture and China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges, while organizing National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations for many consecutive years.
Wu Xiaoming and federation president Miao Qihu said the performers and staff involved in this year’s program spent several months preparing for the event. They said they hoped to celebrate the holidays with the local Chinese community through music, dance and other art forms while allowing more people from different ethnic backgrounds to experience and learn about Chinese culture.
Lei Quandu, president of the Seattle Suey Sing Association, Vice President Fang Dongya and other local Chinese community figures also attended the event and presented calligraphy and paintings as well as floral arrangements in congratulations. Organizers said they hope cultural events of this kind will further strengthen the local Chinese community while promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding among people of different ethnic backgrounds.
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