Official photo of David Ige, governor of the U.S. state of Hawaii. (Source: governor.hawaii.gov)
"Our predecessors had the foresight to establish these relationships which allowed us to share ideas, develop initiatives and exchanges in business, education, and culture and the arts," says the governor.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- David Ige, governor of the U.S. state of Hawaii, recommitted to strengthening the friendship between the people of Hawaii and the Chinese people in a video message to congratulate China on the National Day during an online celebration organized Wednesday by the Consulate General of China in Los Angeles.
In celebration of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival which falls on the same day, Oct. 1, this year, the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles presented the event which features performances of some local musicians and opera singers.
"As we celebrate the 71st anniversary of the People's Republic of China, let us recommit to continuing the goodwill and strengthening the friendship between the people of Hawaii and the People's Republic of China," said the governor in the video, with a "special aloha" to Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Zhang Ping. Aloha is a Hawaiian word for love, affection, peace, compassion and mercy.
Ige noted that the only U.S. state located in the Pacific Ocean has had a rich history of goodwill and long-lasting friendship with China since 1778 when the first immigrants from Asia arrived in Hawaii.
Hawaii has sister state/province relationships with China's provinces of Guangdong and Hainan. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between Hawaii and Guangdong.
"Our predecessors had the foresight to establish these relationships which allowed us to share ideas, develop initiatives and exchanges in business, education, and culture and the arts," the governor added.
Hawaii has extensive relationships with China in economic, trade, cultural, tourism and other fields. In 2018, trade volume between Hawaii and China exceeded 422 million U.S. dollars, according to the data from the economic and commercial office of the Consulate General of China in Los Angeles. ■
