“中国日”活动在费城花展期间举办，黄屏总领事与费城市长吉姆·肯尼出席

On June 17, the Sino-American business & Travel Association held a "China Day" during the 193rd Philadelphia Flower Show. China's Consul General in New York City, Huang Ping attended the event and delivered a speech. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney, Deputy Secretary of the Office of International Business Development at Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development David Briel, Philadelphia City Councilmember Mark Squilla and Helen Gym, and President of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Matt Rader attended the event and delivered speeches.

More than 60 local Chinese and American guests attended the event, including Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs Stephanie Sun,  Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement  Romana Lee-Akiyama, Director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs and Mayor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs Amy Eusebio, Executive Director at Philadelphia Orchestra Association Ryan Fleur, Chief Executive Officer and President at World Affairs Council of Philadelphia Lauren Swartz, Manager of Civic affairs at the Philadelphia Orchestra Kristen Chun, Temple University John Smagula and more.

Consul General Ping Huang delivered a speech at the event, emphasizing the need for China and the United States to work together to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding. In his speech, Huang Ping said that the theme of this year’s flower show, "In Full Bloom," reminded him of the old Chinese saying, "A single flower does not make spring, while one hundred flowers in full bloom bring spring to the garden." Comparing China and the United States as "two different flowers in the world garden," Huang said that the two countries need to treat each other as equals, respect each other, seek common development, and create conditions for others to make the world's "garden" more vibrant. 

Mayor Kenney thanked Chinese immigrants for serving as a bridge. In his speech, he said that the Chinese immigrants have deep historical ties with the city. Chinese is the third most spoken language in Philadelphia. June is Immigrant Heritage Month, and Philadelphia will host more events focusing on the immigrant community. Mayor Kenney also expressed his expectation for the 50th anniversary of the Philadelphia Orchestra's visit to China next year, which the U.S. and China will celebrate together. 

Congresswoman Scanlon talked about the history of Pennsylvania's culture exchanges and cooperation with China over the decades. The Philadelphia Orchestra's first visit to China in 1973 was a great success. Soon after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China, Philadelphia became a sister city with Tianjin, China, bringing the two countries even closer together. As one important group in Pennsylvania, the Chinese American have contributed greatly to the development of the community and have added to the multicultural development of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society President Matt Rader and Deputy Secretary of Office of International Business Development at the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development David Briel also emphasized the importance of Chinese Americans to the development of cultural diversity in the United States, affirmed the contribution of Chinese Americans to the development of American society, and expressed their expectations for the development of China-American cooperation.

City Councilwoman Helen Gym is the first Asian-American female member of the Philadelphia City Council. In her remarks, she said, "As a Korean-American, I have found a sense of home in Philadelphia's Chinatown." Helen Gym believes that without personal development, the city, and even the country, will stagnate. In 2022, with the dramatic growth of the Chinese Americans population, Chinese has become the official language of the Philadelphia ballot. As a vital group in Philadelphia, Chinese Americans have contributed greatly to public education, safety, civil rights, and many other social issues

City Councilmember Deputy Whip Mark Squilla introduced the experience of exchange and cooperation between China and the United States in various fields, including economic, trade and culture, over the past few years. He emphasized the positive impact of such exchanges and expressed his good expectations and wishes for continued local exchanges and joint development between China and the United States, as well as for the multicultural development of Pennsylvania.

The "China Day" event featured traditional Chinese musical instruments, lion dances, Beijing opera, Chinese tea ceremony, kung fu performances and promotional videos of the eastern Chinese cities of Hangzhou and Yangzhou, as well as elements of intangible cultural heritage along China's Grand Canal, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the infinite charm of Chinese culture.

Notably, the Philadelphia City Council honored the host, the Sino-American Business & Travel Association, for the positive impact the organization has had on 

the cultural and economic exchange and development of the city.

The fan is written by Ren Meiqing , President of the Sino-American Business & Travel Association. The banner calligraphy "花样中国" is a Chinese and English calligraphy work by calligrapher Mr. Zhang Wendong to congratulate this event.