On 9 December, the inauguration ceremony of the 18th Executive Committee of the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA) was held at Hilton Hotel, London. More than 500 representatives of the Chinese community attended the ceremony. Charge d’Affaires Ni Jian of the Chinese Embassy in the UK and Lord Mayor of Westminster Audrey Lewis attended and addressed the ceremony.

Charge d’Affaires Ni Jian extended congratulations on behalf of the Chinese Embassy to the newly elected Chairman and President of LCCA Chu Ting Tang and members of the Executive Committee. He commended LCCA on its the positive contributions in serving and building the Chinese community, improving the well-being of overseas Chinese, safeguarding their lawful rights and interests as well as promoting Chinese culture. He applauded the annual LCCA Chinese New Year Celebration in Trafalgar Square, calling it an impressive showcase of Chinese culture, and expressed high hopes for the inclusive and enterprising new Executive Committee to carry forward this wonderful traditions and work for greater unity and prosperity of Chinese community.

Charge d’Affaires Ni Jian noted the gratifying changes taking place within the Chinese community, including its increasing number, growing financial strength and surging enthusiasm for promotion of Chinese culture. He attributed these to the development of China and expansion of China-UK exchanges areas across the board as well as the continuous efforts of the Chinese community in pursuit of self-improvement and harmony. He stressed that the Chinese Dream of the great renew of the Chinese nation, stable China-UK relations and strong Chinese community are the shared objective of the Chinese Embassy and Chinese community.

“In the spirit of putting people’s interest first”, Charge d’Affaires Ni Jian said, “the Chinese Embassy will do its best to provide services for overseas Chinese in the UK”. The Embassy will, as always, support LCCA and other Chinese community organisations, develop innovative services and improve the quality of services. In whatever the Embassy does, it will strive to safeguard the rights and interests of overseas Chinese.

Lord Mayor of Westminster Audrey Lewis praised the Chinese community for their important role in strengthening the vigor, creativity and entrepreneurship of the city and promoting multi-cultural development. She also expressed her thanks to the Chinese community for their support in the development of Westminster and Chinatown, and said she was looking forward to attending the inauguration of a new archway in Chinatown.

Mr. Chu Ting Tang, President and Chairman of the 18th Executive Committee of LCCA, reviewed the work of the Association, and expressed his appreciation to the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese community for their encouragement and support. He pledged to make persistent efforts to serve the Chinese community and foster harmony, and promote China-UK exchanges and cooperation in various areas. He announced that preparations for a new landmark to be built in London’s Chinatown, a traditional Chinese archway, are well underway and an inauguration is scheduled for August 2015.

Charge d’Affaires Ni Jian was invited to present letters of appointment to all the members of the Executive Committee and to join them for a group photo.