On the evening of 14th July, the 12th Inauguration Ceremony of the Board of Directors and Supervisors of Minnan Association of Australia and the 25th Anniversary Celebration were held in Sydney. More than a hundred people, including overseas Chinese leaders, leaders at all levels and Minnan sages from the political and business circles in Australia gathered together to witness this historic moment.
political and business circles in Australia gathered together to witness this historic moment.
Established in 1999, the Australian Minnan Association is a non-government, non-profit Chinese community organisation with thousands of members. The founding purpose of the Association is to build a platform for members to unite the Minnan villagers in Australia, to strengthen liaison, mutual help and mutual love, to actively carry out all kinds of friendship activities, to promote the exchange of civil society, and to play the role of a bridge and a link for the benefit of members, and to safeguard the rights and interests of the villagers. Actively participate in charitable and public welfare activities. While integrating into the Australian mainstream society, we uphold, disseminate and promote the excellent Chinese culture.
community organisation with thousands of members. The founding purpose of the Association is to build a platform for members to unite the Minnan villagers in Australia, to strengthen liaison, mutual help and mutual love, to actively carry out all kinds of friendship activities, to promote the exchange of civil society, and to play the role of a bridge and a link for the benefit of members, and to safeguard the rights and interests of the villagers. Actively participate in charitable and public welfare activities. While integrating into the Australian mainstream society, we uphold, disseminate and promote the excellent Chinese culture.
At the ceremony, Hong Wenyuan, the former president of Australian Minnan Fellowship Association, delivered a passionate speech. He reviewed his work and the achievements of the association during his term of office. He mentioned that since he took over the presidency in 2019, the hometown association has made remarkable progress in a number of areas, including the successful organisation of the Mid-Autumn Festival Bocca Celebration, active participation in charitable donations, and support for his hometown in the fight against the New Crown Epidemic. He would like to express his special thanks to all the council members, villagers, friends and relatives for their unfailing support, which has made it possible for the Association to continue to grow and develop.
(Speech by Past President Mr Hung Man-yuen)
Mr Hung Man Yuen particularly mentioned that during the outbreak of the New Crown Epidemic in 2020, the Association spared no effort in supporting his hometown. He, together with Executive Vice President Ms Hong Bik Ching, Honorary President Ms Cai Hong Ya, and President-elect Mr Hong Jing Wei, jointly funded the purchase of 4,000 sets of medical protective suits, which were donated to their hometowns of Quanzhou City and Jinjiang City, as well as 10,000 medical masks to the town of Yinglin in Jinjiang. This fully embodies the spirit of Minnan people, ‘one side in trouble, support from all sides, hand in hand to overcome the difficulties’.
President Hong Wenyuan said: ‘The success of these activities cannot be separated from the dedication and efforts of every member. Here, I would like to thank you again for your enthusiastic support! It is because of your contributions that the activities of the Association have become more and more exciting! I believe that with your concerted efforts, the Association will grow stronger and stronger tomorrow!’
In his speech, the new president Hong Jingwei expressed his warm welcome and high respect to all the guests and villagers. He said that taking over the presidency of the Australian Minnan Association is an honourable mission and an inherited responsibility. Together with the new members of the Board of Management and Supervisors, he will uphold the purpose, fulfil his duties conscientiously, and continue to contribute to the development of Minnan Fellowship. President Hong Jingwei said: ‘Thank you for your trust and love for me, giving me the important position of the 12th President of the Australian Minnan Clansmen’s Association, which is an honourable mission, a responsibility of inheritance, and an opportunity to challenge myself. I am well aware of the responsibility on my shoulders, I will be supported and supervised by the supervisors and all members, uphold the purpose, seriously fulfil the duties of the president’.
(Speech by the new President, Mr Hung Ching-wai)
Mr Hong Jingwei said: ‘The Australian Minnan Association is the home of our Australian Min folks in Sydney. We are grateful to the founding president, poet Mr Zhuang Weijie, and several other initiators including Mr Shi Jiongzhang and Mr Huang Huicheng for setting up the platform of Minnan Fellowship Association twenty-five years ago. Later on, under the leadership of the past presidents and the joint efforts of the members of the Board of Directors and Supervisors, the Association has gradually grown to its present size of thousands of members. The new Board of Directors and Supervisors will definitely co-ordinate the planning and put this donation to practical use. The new council, will continue to hold the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival Pok Pok activities at the same time, more with the various sister associations to strengthen liaison, mutual exchanges, and common promotion, so that the Minnan folks more united, so that we Minnan people love to fight and win the enterprising spirit of Sydney, this beautiful city, continue to carry forward the light!’
President Hong Jingwei also said, ‘This year is the 25th anniversary of the founding of our hometown association and the traditional Chinese Year of the Dragon. In the coming term, I will work with all the council members to serve the Minnan Association wholeheartedly, stay on the ground, go all out and do my best to create a new chapter for the Australian Minnan Association as far as possible!’
(Speech by Mr Xu Jingcong, Chairman)
His Excellency Cai Zhifeng, Minister Counsellor and Consul-General of the Chinese Embassy in Australia, Mr Jason Li, MP, Mr Chen Hui, Executive Vice President of Quanzhou Chamber of Commerce, Ms Nancy Liu, MP for Georges River, Mr Benjamin Cai, MP for Strathfield, Mr Zhuang Weijie, Founding President of the Minnan Association of Australia, Mr Hong Hexiang, Permanent Honorary President of the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Gao Mingqing, President of the Federation of Fujian Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Australia, and other distinguished guests delivered speeches in high praise of the event. Mr Zhuang Weijie, Founding President of the Minnan Clansmen Association of Australia, Mr Hong Hexiang, Permanent Honorary President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, and Mr Gao Mingqing, President of the Federation of Fujian Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Australia, delivered speeches to highly praise the important contributions made by the Association in uniting the villagers, promoting Chinese culture and facilitating the integration into the mainstream of the Australian society, as well as to express their continued support for the development of the Association.
(Speech by His Excellency Cai Zhifeng, Minister Counsellor and Consul-General of the Chinese Embassy in the Commonwealth of Australia)
(Speech by Mr Jason Li, MP, State Councillor)
(Speech by Mr Chen Hui, Executive Vice President of Quanzhou Chamber of Commerce)
(Speech by Ms Nancy Liu, Georges River City Councillor)
(Speech by Mr Benjamin Cai, Member of Parliament for Strathfield)
(Speech by Mr Zhuang Weijie, Founding President of the Australian Minnan Association)
(Speech by Mr Ang Hee Siang, Permanent Honorary President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines)
(Speech by Mr Gao Mingqing, President of Australia Fujian Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
The new President, Mr Hong Jingwei, presented the letter of appointment to the new Board of Directors, marking the official assumption of duties by the new Board of Directors and Supervisors. Sydney Chinese singers sang, adding a joyful atmosphere to the celebration. Finally, the VIPs sang the chorus of ‘Love Spells Win’, and the atmosphere of the scene reached a climax, which fully demonstrated the perseverance and unity of the spirit of Southern Minnesotans.
Under the leadership of the new team, the Australian Minnan Association will continue to uphold the founding purpose, actively carry out various activities, unite the Min folks in Australia, promote cultural exchanges and cooperation, and further enhance the influence and cohesion of the Association. President Hong Jingwei said that he and the members of the Board of Management and Supervisors will wholeheartedly serve the Minnan Association, be practical and do their best to create a new chapter for the Association.
The inauguration ceremony of the 12th Board of Directors and Supervisors and the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Australian Minnan Association has come to a successful conclusion, which not only shows the brilliant history and fruitful achievements of the Association, but also points out the direction of the future development. It is believed that under the leadership of the new leadership, Minnan Association will continue to flourish, become an important force in the Australian Chinese community, and make greater contributions to the friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia.
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