The New York Chinese Chamber of Commerce presidential election has come to a close, with acting president Zeng Weikang stepping down from his position after two years and two months. On May 1st, Zeng handed over the keys to the Chinese Building owned by the chamber to the newly elected president Zhu Chaoran. Wu Jianping, the president of the Taishan Ningyang Association, and Liang Hanben, the president of the Eastern United States Penang Society, were both present to witness the handover.
Zeng Weikang was recommended by the Taishan Ningyang Association in 2022 and became the youngest president of the New York Chinese Chamber of Commerce in half a century at the age of 38. Originally scheduled to step down in March of this year, the election of a new chamber president faced difficulties. Zeng Weikang thus served as the acting president, handling the traditional overseas Chinese community affairs.
The new president of the New York Chinese Chamber of Commerce was successfully elected on April 19th, with Zhu Chaoran, the president of the Nanhai Shunde Fellow Townsmen’s Association, emerging victorious. The handover ceremony between the outgoing and incoming presidents is set to take place on May 16th.
During the key handover ceremony, acting president Zeng Weikang stated in an interview with the media that his shoulders feel much lighter now. He praised the newly elected president Zhu Chaoran, who had previously served in the New York City Department of Corrections and as the former president of the New York Chinese American Veterans Association, as an outstanding leader deeply rooted in the community for many years.
Zeng Weikang mentioned that he and the new president Zhu Chaoran discussed various pending matters, including the discussion that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce needs to be involved in regarding the Chinatown archway. He also mentioned that he would be present to a lesser extent during the progress of the archway project to help the new president understand the developments.
With a smile, Zeng Weikang said, “Apart from dealing with traffic congestion fees, I have successfully advanced many important tasks during my tenure. The issue of traffic congestion fees will now be the responsibility of the new president Zhu Chaoran!”
After stepping down from the presidency, Zeng Weikang mentioned that he would continue to be active in Chinatown every day and make good use of his time to serve the community as a volunteer, including serving as an Auxiliary Captain at the 5th Precinct of the New York City Police Department (NYPD). He also mentioned that if the new president Zhu Chaoran needs any assistance, he would be there to help.
“For young leaders, participating in community affairs is a great learning experience and process. Learning is endless, and only through participation can one further understand the political ecology of the overseas Chinese community,” Zeng Weikang said. “Compared to when I first took on the role of president, I have become more mature.”
In conclusion, Zeng Weikang expressed his gratitude to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce staff who had assisted him in administrative affairs over the past two years. He also mentioned that many people have a fondness for the chamber staff and often come back to visit their colleagues.
On May 1st, the 68th president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Zhu Chaoran, had already taken up residence in his dedicated office, with the Chinese secretary Cai Weiyi and the English secretary Mei Yingda also settling into their respective positions.
In an interview, the new president Zhu Chaoran expressed, “I hope to be able to help resolve disputes within the overseas Chinese community in this position and hope that all organizations can unite to promote the economy of Chinatown.”
Zhu Chaoran said, “I hope that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce can provide more assistance to new immigrants because new immigrants may face language barriers when they first arrive. Therefore, I hope the chamber can recruit more volunteers to help new immigrants adjust to life in their new environment.”