The Grand Celebration of the 50th Golden Anniversary of Thai-Chinese Friendship: Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance 2025 Lantern Festival Gala
【Bangkok Post】Amidst the heartwarming melody of the
"Spring Festival Overture," the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance 2025 Lantern Festival Gala commenced in a vibrant atmosphere filled with distinguished guests. On the evening of February 8th, the 11th day of the Chinese New Year, the annual Lantern Festival Gala of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance (hereinafter referred to as "Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance") took center stage in the banquet hall on the second floor of the Royal Thai Army Club. The Thai emcee and Chinese emcees Huang Xiaofan and Wang Yongliang jointly presented the opening ceremony with the theme "Golden Snakes Dance Wildly for New Year, Thailand and China Celebrate Chinese New Year Together." Amidst the stirring anthems of Thailand and China, all attending guests and members of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance stood and sang together, their voices echoing through the banquet hall, numbering over 300. The annual festival arrived, and the New Year brought joyous family reunions. The Thai Youth Song and Dance Troupe was the first to perform, waving long dragons, leaping lions, and showcasing martial arts, bringing a strong Chinese New Year atmosphere to the stage and demonstrating the spread and influence of Chinese culture. Following this, three professional Chinese singers invited by the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance delivered brilliant performances. The first was Huang Xiaofan, a senior director of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance and a former singer from the Battle Flag Art Troupe of the Chengdu Military Region, who performed the bel canto soprano "Ballet of Spring." The second was the renowned singer Silan from Beijing, who performed the folk soprano "Huangmei Melody." The third was Xiao Shiyi, a bass-baritone from Beijing studying for his doctorate at the Mahidol University College of Music in Thailand, whose rendition of "Father's Grassland, Mother's River" brought the gala to a climax of excitement. The guest of honor for the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance 2025 Lantern Festival Gala was the Chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Lin Chuqin, who happily stated: "On behalf of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, I extend New Year greetings to all the guests present and the members of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance! Happy New Year to everyone! As we celebrate the 50th golden anniversary of Thai-Chinese friendship, let us raise our glasses together tonight for this Lantern Festival gathering, and for Thai-Chinese friendship! I commend the efforts made by the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance last year; you are an outstanding organization within the Thai-Chinese community." Chairman Fu Wentong of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance said in his speech: "In this Year of the Snake, we gather here to celebrate the Lantern Festival! On this beautiful day when the Chinese nation anticipates reunion, I, on behalf of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, extend my most sincere blessings and gratitude to every leader, guest, and friend present tonight! Greetings to the brothers and sisters of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, Happy New Year!" Chairman Lin Chuqin of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Chairman Fu Wentong of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, and Police General Pongchai delivered speeches. Figure 2: (From left) General Thetsa, General Ku Shun, and Founding Chairman Lin Xu delivered speeches. Figure 3: Lin Chuqin, Zhuang Hanzhong, Wang Zhimin, Fu Zengyou, Fang Wenguo, Fu Wentong, and Lin Xu were seated at the main table at the Lantern Festival Gala. Figure 4: Founding members Lin, Wu Lingping, Wu Xiaohan, Kong Ping, Fang Fang, Zheng Yanyan, Liu Jiaming, Ma Ling, Kang Dan, Hou Shaoyan, Meng Ling, and others came on stage to toast the attendees. Fu Wentong stated: "Looking back at the past year, the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, with everyone's collective efforts, has achieved fruitful results. As a民間力量 (non-governmental force), on the platform of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, we have proactively taken on our mission and actively contributed to the cultural and economic exchanges and development between Thailand and China. In the new year, may we be as clever and wise as the nimble snake, with extraordinary wisdom and hearts full of sunshine. Let us continue to move forward hand in hand, upholding our original aspirations and mission, and create more brilliance with even greater enthusiasm and firmer conviction!" Fu Wentong continued: "Tonight, the brothers and sisters of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance will wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to presenting our song and dance performances for the gala, celebrating the Lantern Festival and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China! Thanks to the artists from China who joined our performance - thanks to Chinese singer Silan from Beijing, thanks to the famous emcee Wang Yongliang from Shandong, thanks to Chinese dance artists Chen Lingling and her daughter Zheng Shiwen, thanks to Chinese students from Mahidol University College of Music and Bangkokthonburi University College of Music... May our Lantern Festival Gala be splendid and forever memorable." The Lantern Festival Gala also specially invited Thai Police General Chaiyaporn Panichchuta, Thai Army General Thetsa Tankul, and Thai Army General Ku Shun Chutchai to deliver speeches. The generals, dressed in red Tang suits, expressed their sincerity and joy in participating in the overseas Chinese Spring Festival gala. The generals all affirmed the contributions of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance to Thai society and hoped that it would continue to play an important role as an overseas Chinese cultural organization. Meng Ling, Deputy Secretary-General of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, served as the现场翻译 (live interpreter). General Ku Shun also sang a Chinese song, "The Moon Represents My Heart," stating that he is a fan of Chinese songs and sings better than he speaks, and wished to perform for tonight's gala. Forever Honorary Chairman Lin Xu of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance said in his speech: "As the permanent chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, I am proud that we have come so far together, as a big family. I often recall the founding of the association, and today, I invite the founding members present here - Wu Lingping, Wu Xiaohan, Kong Ping, Fang Fang, Zheng Yanyan, Liu Jiaming, Ma Ling, Kang Dan, Hou Shaoyan, Meng Ling, and others - to come on stage. We have grown and contributed together with the Alliance, and we have created achievements and splendor for cultural organizations in the Thai-Chinese community. Let us raise our glasses together!" The gala was packed with distinguished guests. Other invited guests included: Honorary Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance and President of Thailand San Yau Group, Zhuang Hanzhong; President of the Thai-Chinese Peaceful Reunification Promotion Association, Wang Zhimin; Former Counselor for Overseas Chinese Affairs at the Chinese Embassy, Fang Wenguo; Former Dean of the Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University, Professor Fu Zengyou; Director of China News Service Thailand Branch, Li Yingmin; Director of Xinhua News Agency Thailand Branch, Lin Hao; Director of China Report Magazine Bangkok Branch, Chang Xiang; General Manager of China Southern Airlines Bangkok Office, Zhao Yang; Chairman of the Thai Puning Hometown Association, Li Chuxiong; Vice Chairman Xu Hongbo; Chairman of the Thai Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, Lin Danqian; Vice Chairman Ye Feng; Senior Vice President of Kasikornbank, Cai Weicai; Former President of the Thai Alumni Association from China, Ding Peipei; President of the Thai Liaoning Chamber of Commerce, Kang Dan; Chairman of the Thai Whampoa Alumni Association, Cao Xiangming; President of the Thai Sichuan Association, Xie Hui; President of the Thai Chinese Business Association, Zhuang Jia; Honorary Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance and Former Chairman of the Thai Yunnan Association, Ouyang Jiayun; Director of the Thai Yunnan Association Women's Committee, Ma Chongying, and others, as well as Chinese students from Mahidol University College of Music and Bangkokthonburi University College of Music. The gala featured a continuous stream of wonderful performances. 9-year-old Chinese girl Zheng Shiwen performed the dance "The Bard"; Chen Na, Executive Director of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, sang the Teochew song "Hometown Tune"; Chinese student Qin Yiyi from a university music academy played the electric piano piece "The Moon Represents My Heart"; Wu Xiaohan, Executive Vice Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, sang "Ode to Pear Blossoms"; Ma Chenlin, Business Director of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, sang "Sailor"; Ju Jia, Senior Director of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, sang "All Things Grow"; Xu Mingjie, Executive Vice Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, sang "True Forever"; Wei Xinchen, a Chinese student from Mahidol University College of Music, played the oboe piece "Why Are the Flowers So Red?"; Zhang Qi, Vice Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, sang "I Really Miss You"; Chen Jian, Vice Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, sang "Paint You"; the female vocal ensemble of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance, including Wu Xiaohan, Zheng Yanyan, Kong Ping, Chen Na, and Zhang Qi, collectively sang "Wind with Affection, Water with Smiles" and "Thailand and China Are One Family"; invited dancer Chen Lingling performed the dance "Ode to Spring"; Honorary Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance and President of the Thai Liaoning Chamber of Commerce, Kang Dan, performed the tenor solo "I Love You, China" as the finale. Finally, the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance performed a grand chorus of "Young Friends, Let's Meet Again" and "365 Blessings." The gala was met with rounds of applause, laughter, and a harmonious atmosphere. The event attracted many local Thai new media outlets. In front of the theme board, led by Chairman Fu Wentong, President Wang Zhimin, Chairman Fu Wentong, Honorary Chairman Ouyang Jiayun, General Thetsa, Executive Vice Chairman Wu Xiaohan, and others delivered their New Year greetings.
Over 200 members and their families from the Thai-Chinese Cultural Alliance attended the Lantern Festival Gala in formal attire.
