A welcoming party, hosted by Bilingual Chinese Journalists & PR association （BCJPA）and the International Press Club, for the new Bureau Chief of Xinhua News was held on May 23, 2012. Journalists from different media representing newspapers, magazines, radios and TV stations in the Greater Houston area were in attendance:
- Yongxing Zhang, new Bureau Chief, Xinhua News Agency in Houston
- Kevin Hsieh, Director, International TV Station
- Charlie Zheng, President of Bilingual Chinese Journalists & PR Association and Manager of the China Press-Texas Office,
- John Robbins, Director of International Press Club
- Yujiang Zhou , Chief Press Officer, Consulate General of PRC in Houston
- Al Hoang, Houston Council member and Legal Advisor of BCJPA
- Zhuang Li, Press Officer of Consulate General of PRC in Houston
- Ruwei Chen, out-going Bureau Chief, Xinhua News Agency in Houston
- Keryl L.Douglas , candidate of Harris County Democratic Party Chair
- James Noteware, former Director of Houston Housing & Community development department
- Keping Xie, CEO of Chinese Civic Center
- Yingying Sun, CEO of 2012 China National Artists Houston Performance Committee
- Alvaro Ortiz，Press Secretary of Congressman Al Green
- William Hua, Standing Advisor, BCJPA
- Danny Nguyen, Council Member, Missouri City
- PR officers Houston Police Department
- Wea Lee, President, Southern Chinese News Group
Mr. Wea Lee made the initial speech. He welcomed all honored guests, Xinhua News Houston Bureau Ruwei Chief Chen, in-coming Bureau Chief Zhang and Huan Wang of CNS Houston Bureau.
The soon-departing Bureau Chief Chen thanked everyone and expressed his appreciation from the community for making his stay in Houston so pleasant. He then introduced his successor Zhang. Zhang worked for Xinhua News Greece Branch for 5 years and then followed with 7 years in Singapore. Zhang also served as the Xinhua News Editor for the North America Headquarter in New York.
Zhang graciously acknowledged the accolades and then introduced the five fellow staff reporters of the Houston Branch which covers regional news in Texas, New Mexico, Okalahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. He then cited quotations from former Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom and from current Prime Minister of PRC Wen Jiabao to illustrate the importance of China and Xinhua News.
Prime Minister Blair once said: While the West dominated the 20th century, they will have to share power with China in the 21st. There's not a single global problem that can be resolved today without China's help. Curiously, Prime Minister Wen also said: When I log on the internet every night, Xinhua News pops right out!
Zhang emphasized: Xinhua News Agency (Xinhua) is a State news agency of the People’s Republic of China. It is the largest news and information gathering and distribution center in China and also one of the most modern news agencies in the world. Founded in 1931, Xinhua became a state news agency in 1949 when the People’s Republic of China was founded. Its headquarter is in Beijing with branch offices in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities; sub-branch offices and correspondent stations in more than 50 large and medium-sized cities. Xinhua has more than 160 bureaus in over 100 countries and regions. It has seven regional offices in North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Xinhua’s motto is to ‘publicize China and report the world.’ It is an important window to China: politics, economy, society, science, technology, education and culture. Xinhua pursues timely, accurate, creditable and fair news coverage. Xinhua releases news items 24 hours daily in eight languages, namely, Chinese (simplified and traditional), English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Japanese and Portuguese by using multimedia communication means via texts, photos, graphics, audio messages, video, blogs, ipodcast, microblog, short messages, and cell phone news. As a result, it can reach directly and instantly its audiences at home and abroad at crucial moments of major news coverage and breaking events. Xinhua, being a member of a number of international news organizations, has a growing influence on the international press circles. It has signed- cooperative agreements with its counterparts in more than 110 countries on commercial or non-commercial exchanges, personnel and technical issues. It has also established relations of cooperation with some foreign information organizations.
Zhang then introduced the CNC，the International Television network owned by Xinhua News, broadcasting in English and Chinese, operating 24 hours continuously news and program coverage via satellite, stratified by Asian-Pacific, North America, and Africa regions in 10 self-owned or co-operative stations.
Zhou Yujiang, Press Officer of the Consulate General of PRC Office in Houston noted that the inter-cooperative effort of PRC and USA has now reached a unique milestone in history with unforeseen cultural exchanges between its citizens and official group visits to Houston from China are ever-increasing. These activities invariably carry an extra burden by the media. There is still space for mutual understanding to bridge the gap of cultural differences.
Subsequent speakers included: Councilman Al Hoang, and Missouri City Councilman Danny Nguyen.
The event was supported by many volunteers, the community outreach director of BCJPA Bo and Sam prepared old Beijing style fried source noodle with the inspiration phrase: Life is just like a bowl of noodle，not sumptuous, but real. It can easily make you happy when you feel hungry. You can add sugar, sweet bean paste, chili, salt or even bitter melon as dressing, just like you can choose whatever the life style you prefer.
During social hours, news reporters from English, Vietnam, and Chinese press exchanged business cards and made new friends. Morton Large, Director of Energy Magazine, was thankful of the Bilingual Chinese Journalists Association for providing the opportunity toward finding potential partners from Chinese media industry.
Bilingual Chinese Journalists & PR Association consists of Chinese American journalists focusing on advising English audience ‘who is who’ in Chinatown and what is happening in China and Chinese community. Its mission is to promote better understanding of Chinese community and connections to American firms seeking business partners in China. The contact info is: Charlie.zheng@yahoo.com, 832-790 3003
Picture notes:
Picture 1: at the scene
Picture 2: From left to right: Mr.Zhang, John Robbins, Charlie Zheng,Wea Lee, Mr.Chen ,Mr.Noteware
