On the evening of October 15, the Federation of Chinese Associations in the Netherlands organized an event at the Oceanium in Rotterdam, bringing together the overseas Chinese community in the Netherlands to discuss arrangements for the t Chinese New Year 2025 celebrations by various Dutch circles. Heads (representatives) of major overseas Chinese organizations in the Netherlands attended the meeting.

Chairman Huang Qilin of the Federation of Chinese Associations in the Netherlands was on a business trip in China, so Executive Chairman Chen Long, entrusted by him, delivered the opening speech. He stated that, as is well known, the annual Chinese New Year celebration is the most demanding event in the overseas Chinese community in the Netherlands, involving the most complicated preparation work and bringing the greatest pressure to the chairman of the organizing committee. As the chairperson of the t Chinese New Year 2025 celebrations, President Xu Haiyan and her team have been busy with intensive preparations, and he hoped that all parties would provide comprehensive cooperation and support for the event.

Xu Haiyan, chairperson of the t Chinese New Year 2025 celebrations by various Dutch circles, introduced the preliminary preparations and financial budget.

Director Ye Rui of the Consular and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands noted that the Chinese New Year celebration has become one of the most influential events hosted by the overseas Chinese community. He hoped that overseas Chinese in the Netherlands would build on their past achievements, continue to successfully hold the 2025 celebration, and make new contributions to promoting friendship between China and the Netherlands.

Li Guannan, interim person in charge of the Consular and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, thanked the overseas Chinese community in the Netherlands for organizing the event. He said that this was his first participation in an event of the overseas Chinese community in the Netherlands, and he was deeply touched by the warmth and sincerity of the overseas Chinese. He pledged to maintain close contact with overseas Chinese communities and compatriots, carefully listen to their opinions and suggestions, and strive to provide high-quality consular services. He also attached great importance to the upcoming Chinese New Year 2025 celebrations.

Guo Guoqian, President of the General Association of Overseas Chinese in the Netherlands; Huang Yue, President of the Netherlands Association for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China; Sun Xiefang, President of the Netherlands Qingtian Fellow Townsmen Association; Li Bin, President of the General Association of Overseas Chinese in Limburg, the Netherlands; Chen Haiqun, President of the Chinese Cuisine Association of the Netherlands; Dong Lili, President of the Chinese Youth Federation of the Netherlands; Yang Xiurong, Head of the Huaxing Art Troupe of the Netherlands; and Tu Haiyan, President of the Sino-Dutch Association for Cultural and Trade Promotion (listed from top to bottom in the photo below), delivered speeches respectively.

The event was hosted by Chen Jie, Secretary-General of the Federation of Chinese Associations in the Netherlands.

On the same evening, representatives of the overseas Chinese community also bid farewell to Director Ye Rui upon his departure for China and welcomed Li Guannan, the interim person in charge of the Consular and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, to his new post.

Since 2003, with the exception of 2021 and 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the t Chinese New Year celebrations by various Dutch circles have been held at The Hague City Hall for more than 20 sessions. Following official procedures, Xu Haiyan, President of the Netherlands-China Economic and Trade Promotion Association, has been recommended and appointed as chairperson of the 2025 Chinese Lunar Snake Year celebrations. The grand celebration will be held at The Hague City Hall on February 1, 2025. At present, all preparatory work is proceeding in full swing. (Photo by Chen Jialiang)