Honourable Senator Yuen Pau Woo,
Honorable Parliamentary Secretary Susie Chant,
MLA Teresa Wat and MLA Hon Chan,
BC First Nations Summit Executive Director Howard Grant,
Your Worship Mayor Mark Sager, Mayor Simon Yu,
Colleagues from the BC Consular Corps,
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening!
Welcome to the Chinese Consulate General, joining the “2025 Chinese New Year’s Eve Feast” reception!
One month ago, Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional new year was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The Spring Festival is a vital emotional bond connecting individuals, families, and the nation. It embodies core values of Chinese people such as peace, amity and harmony. The New Year’s Eve dinner, which is one of the most important events of spring festival celebration has rich cultural significance. Today, as we enjoy the flavors of “A Bite of China,” we hope this feast can provide a glimpse of the vibrant world of Chinese culinary culture.
Chinese culinary culture is rich and diverse, shaped by varying climates, geographies, and customs, which have given rise to unique regional flavors and cooking philosophies. Nowadays, there are over 40 traditional cooking techniques in Chinese cuisine, and Eight Major Cuisines—Shandong, Sichuan, Cantonese, Jiangsu, Fujian, Zhejiang, Hunan, and Anhui. Tonight, our culinary team is from Shandong Province of China.
Chinese culinary culture is rich in connotations and contains the philosophy of Chinese aesthetics. Every Chinese dish strives to achieve harmony in color, aroma, and taste. Beyond flavor, the beauty of a dish is in its poetic name, unique shape, or historical origins. Tonight, each course has been thoughtfully prepared, conveying heartfelt blessings for the Lunar New Year. As each dish is served, the MC will give you a brief introduction.
Chinese people also places a high value on tableware. The chopsticks, with one round end and one square end, symbolize the ancient Chinese philosophy of seeing earth as square and sky as round. Chinese food also emphasizes the belief that mankind should be in harmony with nature, reflected in the use of seasonal ingredients and the appreciation of natural flavors. Furthermore, the Chinese culinary culture emphasizes dietary balance, combining meat and vegetables with suitable cooking methods, illustrating the beauty of moderation. No Chinese banquet is complete without fine Chinese Baijiu liquor. As the great poet Li Bai once said in his poem over 1,300 years ago, “Seize the moment of joy in life, let not the golden goblet face the moon in vain!”
Chinese cuisine has also become a natural bridge for fostering mutual understanding among nations. The Metro Vancouver is known for some of the best Chinese food outside of China. Likewise, Canada’s beloved Tim Hortons now has over 900 branches in China, reflecting the mutual appreciation of culinary culture. You may also notice that tonight, alongside Chinese Baijiu, we’ve also included red and white wine—reflecting how western dining customs have influenced Chinese banquets over the past decades. This mutual exchange reflects the inclusiveness of Chinese culture.
Chinese food culture in some way reflects the ancient Chinese philosophy of governing the country. 2,500 years ago, the great Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said in his renowned book Tao Te Ching-The Classic of the Virtue of the Tao that “Governing a big country is as delicate as frying a small fish.” This metaphor suggests that just as a delicate fish requires gentle handling, effective and sound governance requires consistency and careful balance. The success of The Communist Party of China lies in its ability to unite the nation, and ensure continuity in policymaking, allowing it to transform an undeveloped country into the world’s second-largest economy in just over 40 years of reform and opening-up.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In the past year, my colleagues and I have visited different regions in BC and Yukon. The sincerity and kindness of the Canadian people have deeply touched me, reaffirming my belief that the foundation of China-Canada friendship lies at the local and grassroots levels.
The year 2025 marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Canada, the 20th anniversary of the China-Canada strategic partnership, as well as significant anniversaries of sister-city and sister-province relationships. The Consulate General looks forward to taking this opportunity to work with friends from all walks of life in BC and Yukon to further advance China-Canada relations for the benefit of our two peoples.
In just a few days, we will usher in the Year of the Snake. In Chinese culture, the snake symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and innovation. As we celebrate the new year, I would like to extend my best wishes to you all for happiness, prosperity, and success in the coming year.
Happy lunar new year! Thank you!