The Chinese Republic National Day Committee in the Golden Bay Area held a Thanksgiving dinner at the Nanwan Overseas Chinese Education Center on the evening of December 7th (last Saturday). The event aimed to express gratitude to overseas compatriots for their strong support and sponsorship of the National Day activities, and to extend invitations to people from all walks of life to participate in the 2025 Nanwan Chinese Republic New Year Flag-raising ceremony.
On that evening, the Chairman of the Golden Bay Area National Day Committee, Mr. Ye Yunhe, and his wife, the Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Mr. Lai Mingqi and his wife Yun Wenzhen, the Director of the Overseas Chinese Education Center, Ms. Zhuang Yashu, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Advisory Committee member Mr. Cui Jingqian, Mr. Lin Guihong and his wife, as well as Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee members Ms. Wei Dezhen, Mr. Lin Zhengyuan and his wife, Mr. Li Wenxiong and his wife, along with over two hundred guests, attended the Thanksgiving dinner to support the committee.
During the banquet, Chairman Ye Yunhe expressed gratitude to the Overseas Chinese Affairs Advisory Committee member Mr. Cui Jingqian for sponsoring $1,000 to support the dinner, and thanked everyone for their support to the National Day Committee. He particularly highlighted the committee’s visit to Taiwan in November, which initiated an “ice-breaking trip” of interactive exchanges with Taiwan, building bridges for US-Taiwan relations. He mentioned that the acting Mayor of Hsinchu expressed that they were the first overseas delegation to visit them and invited future mutual visits. Chairman Ye expressed his hope for the committee to deepen its ties with Taiwan and explore more cooperation opportunities in the future.
Chairman Ye Yunhe also urged overseas compatriots to actively participate in the 2025 New Year Flag-raising ceremony, scheduled for 10 a.m. on January 1st at the Overseas Chinese Cultural Center, Nanwan. After the flag-raising ceremony, there will be performances, and everyone is welcomed to bring their family and friends to join.
In his speech, Director Lai Mingqi mentioned his 35 years of diplomatic work, where he participated in numerous flag-raising ceremonies and was deeply moved each time, understanding the deep emotional connection overseas compatriots have with the Chinese Republic. He thanked all volunteers, committee members, and supporters for their selfless dedication, and also acknowledged Chairman Ye for leading everyone to successfully overcome the high risks, difficulties, and costs of the National Day flag-raising event, ensuring the smooth and successful implementation of this year’s activities.
Lai Mingqi described the Golden Bay Area National Day Committee as a big family, with members from all directions embracing a common belief – supporting the Chinese Republic, upholding freedom and democracy, and supporting Taiwan. He firmly believes that this enthusiasm for the Chinese Republic will never change.
The banquet featured a special screening of the short film from the visit to Taiwan, capturing the highlights of the activities, and presented certificates of appreciation to the overseas leaders to express gratitude for their support to the National Day Committee. During the performance segment, Mrs. Yun Wenzhen sang two songs, “Red Dust Comes and Goes, A Dream” and “Take Advantage of It Early.” The performances by the Feather in the Wind group, the American California Line Dance Association, the Hot Dance 120 class, and the Sirius Performance Troupe were also remarkable. The karaoke segment at the end of the banquet saw enthusiastic participation from guests who eagerly took to the stage to sing, creating a lively atmosphere.