On August 25th, Chairman Xu Jiaqing attended the “Heartfelt Love for Taiwan” Taiwan Banquet held at Nanwan. The event featured classic Taiwanese dishes paired with performances such as San Tai Zi drumming, puppet shows, and opera, allowing guests to deeply experience the unique Taiwanese culture.
That evening, the Nanwan Overseas Chinese Education Center set up 20 tables for the banquet. The banquet, hosted by Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission Xu Jiaqing, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco Lai Ming-Chi, Director of the Overseas Chinese Education Center Zhuang Yashu, and President Gao Chunhui, began with the sound of drums.
Following that, FASCA youth volunteers presented nine classic Taiwanese dishes to the guests in a “serving show,” including Five Blessings platter, Shrimp Floss for Prosperity, Braised Pork Chop, Eel and Rice Cake, Squirrel Fish, Dried Bamboo Shoots with Pork, Stir-Fried Pumpkin Rice Noodles, Red Bean Wheel Cake, and Fried Glutinous Rice Balls.
Chairman Xu Jiaqing visited the United States on August 9 and despite only staying in San Francisco for less than 24 hours, she made a special appearance at the banquet that evening. She mentioned that second-generation Taiwanese Americans have gradually integrated into mainstream society, growing in their respective professions, social circles, and communities. Their perspectives are vastly different from the first generation. Therefore, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission will gradually adjust policies and plans, focusing on supporting the next generation of Taiwanese Americans. They encourage second, third, and even fourth-generation young people to innovate and use the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission and the Overseas Chinese Education Center as their solid support to promote Taiwanese culture together.
Gao Chunhui, the person in charge of “Heartfelt Love for Taiwan,” stated that the event was creatively planned by Lee Wenxin, a candidate for the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission’s International Youth Goodwill Ambassador, and she hopes to hold an outdoor banquet next year.
Lee Wenxin, a candidate for the International Youth Goodwill Ambassador, is a second-generation Taiwanese in California and currently studying at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She mentioned that her inspiration came from the warm and lively atmosphere of traditional banquets she experienced in her hometown during her cousin’s wedding. She noted that in the past, for families to hold large celebrations, they often relied on the collective effort of the entire village. “This sense of community spirit is not often seen in modern culture,” she hopes to continue passing down this tradition.
The distinguished guests who attended the banquet that day included Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein, Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, Vice Mayor Yang Shao, Cupertino Councilmember Liangfang Zhao, Saratoga Mayor Yan Zhao, Hillsborough Councilmember Wuming Fang Zhuang, as well as Overseas Chinese Affairs Commissioners Longwen Wang, Hanwen Li, Dezhen Wei, Yiming Wu, and Zhengyuan Lin.