Local officials try making Chinese knots at an event that included a speech by Zhang Qiyue, Chinese consul general in New York, at the Massachusetts State House in Boston on Wednesday. (Photo/China News Service)
The 19th CPC National Congress came at a key time in China's history, a Chinese envoy speaking to an official gathering in Boston said on Wednesday.[Special coverage]
Zhang Qiyue, consul general of China in New York, said the 19th Communist Party of China's National Congress was particularly significant because it was concluded at a crucial stage for China－when it has a chance to achieve the goal of building a moderately prosperous society and to strive for the success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era.
"Over the past week, a very important event took place in China－the twice-a-decade Party congress," Zhang said in a speech to more than 600 guests at the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House.
In attendance were state officials, representatives of the state and the city government, members of the Asian-American Caucus and business, educational and cultural leaders in the U.S. state.
"It resulted in the reelection of President Xi Jinping as the Party's general secretary; it also resulted in a new leadership lineup. The Party Constitution was revised, and the congress set the vision, agenda and priorities for China in the coming years," Zhang said.
In his speech, Ronald Mariano, the majority leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, congratulated the CPC on a successful meeting and Xi's reelection as general secretary.
Mariano said he will lead a delegation to China on Nov 28 for a weeklong visit to Beijing and other cities.
"I'm excited about going to China and seeing some important changes that are taking place now," he added.
Mariano said he was impressed by the report Xi gave, especially about lifting people out of poverty and recognizing problems such as unbalanced development and income disparity.
"And China has been a leader in environmental protection for a very long time, and we as a country could take a lesson from the way they are dealing with some of their environmental issues," he added.
"It's great to see a consistency of leadership in the Chinese government as well as the ability to bring in a new leadership team to push China forward in the global economy," said Tackey Chan, a Massachusetts state representative and a member of the Asian-American Caucus, which hosted the event. "And one of the biggest things, … China has made a strong commitment to improve the environment and become one of the leaders in the world on this."
Chan also noted China's willingness to be more open on its economy, tourism and cultural and educational exchanges.
Gene Hartigan, the co-chair of the U.S.-China Partnership Committee, said the congress's report "sends a very clear message that reforms are going to take place, stabilization must happen".
Zhang said that China-U.S. relations have maintained sound momentum this year and that she hopes to see more cooperation on the economy, education, technology and cultural exchange.
"I believe that there is a great future for the China-U.S. relationship and the China-Massachusetts relationship," Zhang said. Zhang was honored by the Asian-American Caucus for her efforts to promote that relationship.
