That evening, the venue was beautifully decorated with colorful lights and red lanterns, while horse-themed ornaments symbolized progress and hope. Familiar hometown dialects and laughter filled the room. Many compatriots who had not seen each other for years reunited and exchanged greetings, creating not only a festive mood but also a long-missed sense of closeness and solidarity.
Members of the association’s board and Houyu compatriots from the East Coast and across the United States gathered together. Consul Xiang Yutao and Consul Rong Ding from the Chinese Consulate General in New York, New York State Assemblyman Ron Kim, New York City Council Member Marte, as well as several community and overseas Chinese leaders and Houyang clan representatives were invited to attend, joining the community in celebrating the New Year and discussing future development.
Zhang Mingteng stated in his remarks that the association is not only a platform for festive gatherings, but also an important long-term bridge serving compatriots and connecting their hometown with overseas communities. Over the past year, the association has continued to promote charitable initiatives such as poverty relief and care for seniors within the overseas Chinese community, while also actively supporting infrastructure development in Houyu through projects such as road repairs and improvements to public facilities, ensuring that the community’s care and resources are translated into concrete results. He noted that the new board will place greater emphasis on broad participation, welcoming compatriots of different backgrounds and age groups to join the association, so that while serving others, members may also find greater support and reliance in their lives overseas.
First Executive Vice President Zhang Junli further emphasized in his speech that the association’s development depends on the proactive participation of compatriots. He pointed out that in recent years, more and more young Houyu compatriots hope to learn about their hometown, integrate into the community, and participate in public service. The association serves as an important platform to carry these aspirations. In the future, the board will establish more practical projects and service mechanisms so that members are not only “in name and in title,” but truly “have responsibilities to take on and contributions to make,” turning participation into a genuine and lasting experience.
The event specially invited respected senior compatriot Zhang Junpin of Houyu to attend. Mr. Zhang reviewed the decades-long development of Houyu hometown associations overseas, noting that the association has been able to continuously unite hearts and minds precisely because generation after generation of compatriots have been willing to step forward, assume responsibility, and serve the community. He encouraged everyone to cherish the existing platform, support the work of the new board, and enable more newcomers to find direction and a sense of belonging within the association.
At the dinner, traditional Min Opera excerpts, lion dance performances, and modern song-and-dance numbers presented by the younger generation of overseas Chinese were showcased side by side, reflecting a blend of cultural heritage and contemporary vitality. Many attendees expressed that the banquet was deeply inspiring, revealing a more open and pragmatic development direction for the association, and strengthening their willingness to participate in its affairs and become members, hoping to support community and hometown development through concrete actions.
Several guests remarked that this Spring Festival banquet was not only a celebratory event, but also a gathering that helped build consensus. Through face-to-face交流 and sharing, compatriots gained a clearer understanding that the association does not belong to just a few, but is a platform that welcomes broader participation and collective building.
The successful hosting of this event not only added a strong Spring Festival atmosphere to New York’s Chinatown, but also further strengthened the Fujian Houyu Association of America’s pivotal role in uniting compatriots and consolidating overseas Chinese strength. Looking ahead to the new year, the association will continue to adopt an open and inclusive approach, inviting more compatriots to join and work together to contribute to the well-being of overseas Chinese communities and the development of their hometown.
