On the afternoon of June 3, Mr. Harry Lee, Chairman and CEO of Griggs China, attended the Sponsor Appreciation Reception hosted by the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou as a special representative. The event was held at the grand ballroom of The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou, and celebrated the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

The event was hosted by Pauline Kao, Consul General of the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou and David Perdue, U.S. Ambassador to China. U.S. Ambassador David Perdue delivered a warm and heartfelt speech, enthusiastically standing on a ladder, holding his phone to take group selfies with everyone, creating a very cordial atmosphere.

Ambassador Perdue's speech 

Sponsors group photo

Participating sponsors also showcased their brands and products in a dedicated public area.

At 6:00 p.m., the celebration of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence officially began.

Nearly a thousand guests attended the celebration, including officials from U.S. diplomatic and consular posts in China: U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, Consul General in Guangzhou Pauline Kao, and others; representatives from the Guangdong Provincial and Guangzhou Municipal Governments: Ms. Zhang Guozhi, Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr. Hu Hao, Vice Mayor of Guangzhou, Mr. He Rusheng, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, Mr. Yang Yong, Director of the Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office, and others; as well as representatives from foreign consulates in Guangzhou and delegates from various industries and sectors.

The host announced the official start of the celebration. First, singer Ms. Chen Xiaoman performed the stirring national anthem of the People's Republic of China, "March of the Volunteers." This was followed by a choral performance of the national anthem of the United States of America, "The Star-Spangled Banner," by representatives of the staff from the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou.

Consul General Pauline Kao remarked that Guangzhou was the first port of call for the American merchant ship "Empress of China" in 1784, marking the beginning of 242 years of connection between the peoples of the two countries. 

Swipe left to read full text of Pauline Kao’s speech

U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue emphasized the foundational principles of the United States: that all people are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He noted that America's strength is based on its founding framework, which has endured to this day — imperfect, but part of an ongoing experiment to realize an ideal nation.

Swipe left to read full text of Ambassador Perdue’s speech

Ms. Zhang Guozhi, Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, delivered a speech warmly congratulating the 250th anniversary of American independence. She noted that during President Trump's recent visit to China, the two heads of state had charted the course for building a stable and strategic China-U.S. relationship, and expressed her hope to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries for the benefit of the people of both nations.

Ambassador Perdue and his wife invited Vice Governor Zhang Guozhi, Vice Mayor Hu Hao, and Consul General Pauline Kao to jointly raise their glasses in a toast, wishing for a brighter future together!

Hosts and guests toasted and chatted cheerfully as the band played lively music. The atmosphere was extremely warm and the evening reception concluded successfully at 9:00 p.m.

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