The Torch of the Hangzhou Asian Games Passes Through the Hometowns of Overseas Chinese in Southern Zhejiang. Multiple Overseas Chinese Elected as Torchbearers Culture | Torchbearers | Southern Zhejiang
Wenzhou and Lishui, located in the southern part of Zhejiang Province, are famous hometown of overseas Chinese in China. The strength of the overseas Chinese community plays an important role in promoting the economic and social development of the two regions and promoting international exchange and cooperation. From September 15th to September 16th, the torch relay stations of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Wenzhou and Lishui, were successively launched, with many overseas Chinese participating as torchbearers.
Feng Dingxian, Vice Chairman of Zhejiang Overseas Chinese Federation and President of Wenzhou Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce, served as the 14th torchbearer at the Wenzhou Station of the torch relay. In recent years, he has taken various measures to assist the development of his hometown, vividly interpreting the spirit of "commerce in the world, kindness in the world".
"The torch in my hand seems to be a heavy responsibility, which makes me more determined to do practical things for my hometown." Feng Dingxian said in an interview, "As an overseas Chinese businessman, I highly recommend and welcome everyone to invest and develop in Wenzhou, a land full of vitality and energy, promote economic and trade exchanges between China and foreign countries, achieve complementary advantages and mutual benefit, and also hope that athletes and guests from afar can learn about Wenzhou and fall in love with Wenzhou through this grand event."
In Wenzhou, "using overseas Chinese as a bridge" is not only reflected in economic cooperation, but also in cultural exchange. Wenzhou is a "famous dragon boat city in China", and also the venue of the dragon boat event of the Hangzhou Asian Games. Dragon boat culture relies on the power of the overseas Chinese community to expand overseas.
As the vice-chairman of China Dragon Boat Association and the former vice-chairman of the Chinese Federation of Overseas Chinese, Wang Chengyun, the 52nd torch bearer of Wenzhou Station, has been committed to the organization of dragon boat movement and the spread of dragon boat culture in recent years.
Turning to the "going to sea" of dragon boats, he said that nearly 90 countries and regions overseas now have dragon boats, more than 70 percent of which are "exported" by overseas Chinese in Wenzhou. "The Hangzhou Asian Games is a great opportunity to promote dragon boat culture. Next year is the the Year of the Loong, our dragon boat team will increase its efforts to" go to sea "and show its charm to international friends.".
Qingtian County in Lishui City, adjacent to Wenzhou, is influenced by overseas Chinese culture and is known as the "Little Europe in the Mountains" due to its European style architecture and diverse types of "foreign goods".
At the Lishui Station of the Hangzhou Asian Games Torch Relay, He Bing, Vice President of the Qingtian Wine Industry Association and the second generation of overseas Chinese, served as the fifth torchbearer, promoting Qingtian's overseas Chinese culture to the world.
"Although Qingtian is only a county-level city, there is a wide range of 'foreign goods' such as red wine, coffee, and Spanish ham. We hope that athletes and tourists who come to Zhejiang to participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games can come to Qingtian and experience the unique charm of this city." In He Bing's view, the Asian Games is an international event, and the flame of the Asian Games is also a flame of international exchange. "We overseas Chinese will continue to rely on our own advantages to pass on Chinese stories.".
