Honourable Mr. Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang,

Mr. Ang Cho Teing, Chairman of the Penang Chinese Clan Council (PCCC),

Mr. Soon Lip Chee, Penang State Executive Councilor,

Mr. Teh Lai Heng and Mr. Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, members of Penang State Legislative Assembly,

Dear guests and friends,

Good evening! I am very glad to attend the launching ceremony of the 2022 Penang Chinese New Year Celebration (Miao Hui) supported by the Penang State Government and organized by the Penang Chinese Clan Council (PCCC). As the Chinese New Year is approaching, on behalf of the Consulate General of China in Penang, I would like to extend sincere congratulations to this event. At the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to extend New Year greetings and wishes to overseas Chinese in the consular district and all the friends who participated in the Penang CNY Celebration (Miao Hui)!

The Spring Festival is a traditional festival of the Chinese nation. All the family members gather together, welcome the new year, and look forward to a better life in the new year. Temple fair (Miao Hui) is a traditional Chinese folk cultural event, which enjoys long history of thousands of years and is deeply loved by the public. The Penang CNY Celebration (Miao Hui) organized by the PCCC has entered its 23^rd year. It has become a bright name card that highlights the profound cultural heritage of Penang, a famous cultural brand in Malaysia and even in the world, and a grand festive ceremony held annually for the local Chinese community to actively participate in. The theme of this year’s Penang CNY Celebration (Miao Hui) is “Check-In”, which is very meaningful because it’s not only a call for families to go home and reunite during traditional festivals, but also is the original aspiration to cherish the memories of the past and to inherit Chinese traditional culture. The Penang CNY Celebration (Miao Hui) was held online for the first time last year. This year, Penang CNY Celebration combines the traditional culture with modern science and technology, arts, music and so on to create new highlights such as website games, live streams, and flash mobs to showcase the charm of multiculturalism, inclusiveness and harmony of Malaysia. Here, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the organizer of the Penang CNY Celebration (Miao Hui), the PCCC, the planner of the event, Penang Cultural Inheritors Society, and the volunteers’ team for their pioneering and innovative work and selfless dedication in the organization of the Penang CNY Celebration (Miao Hui) over the years, as well as their persistence of inheriting Chinese culture and building a spiritual haven for overseas Chinese. I am also very pleased to see that more and more young people are participating in the Penang CNY Celebration (Miao Hui), giving full play to their wisdom and youthful vigor, so that the traditional Chinese culture can realize lasting development and pass on from generation to generation!

The year 2021 was an extraordinary year for China. We celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and are embarking on a new journey to the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects. The 19^th Central Committee of the CPC convened its sixth plenary session and adopted the Resolution on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century. Looking back on history over the past century, the vast majority of Chinese people abroad have been always concerned about their hometown, and been always paying attention to and supporting China’s endeavors in revolution, development, reform and opening-up and national rejuvenation. They have played a unique role in different historical periods, made indelible contributions, and have written the most magnificent chapter in the millennia-long history of the Chinese nation!

China and Malaysia are geographically close and share close people-to-people bonds. The friendship between the two countries has a long history, and are good neighbors of mutual trust and good partners for win-win cooperation. China and Malaysia have joined hands to fight the pandemic, jointly promote economic growth, enhance Belt and Road cooperation, and advance regional economic integration, so as to contribute to world development and bring more benefits to the peoples of both countries.

Dear friends,

In 2022, we will welcome the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the Hangzhou Asian Games, and will convene the 20^th National Congress of the CPC. In the new year, I hope that more friends, especially young friends, will pay attention to China, experience China’s development and changes, understand China’s history and culture, become a bridge and link between China and Malaysia, and become the ambassadors of China-Malaysia friendship.

When the wind and frost have all gone under the heaven and the universe is in harmony, the swallows welcome the spring with green twigs in their beaks. Here, I wish all of you a Happy Chinese New Year, good health, success in your work, and family happiness. As we celebrate the Year of the Tiger, I wish you good luck and may you have the courage and strength of the tiger. Lastly, I wish the 2022 Penang CNY Celebration (Miao Hui) a great success!

Thank you!