On May 3, 2022, China Institute, with a history of nearly 100 years, held the Blue Cloud Gala 2022 at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, New York. Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping attended with Madame Zhang Aiping, and accompanied by Deputy Consul General Qian Jin.

Huang Ping first read out the congratulatory letter by Chinese Ambassador to the US Qin Gang. Ambassador Qin says, for nearly a century, China Institute has working actively to promote the friendship and cooperation between the Chinese and American people, making great contributions to the development of China-U.S. relations. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the issuance of “Shanghai Communiqué” and President Richard Nixon’s visit to China. Over the past five decades, China and the U.S. have achieved major progress in their relations and delivered tangible benefits to our two peoples. Fifty years later today, China-U.S. relations have come to a crossroads again. In a rapidly changing world, the relations between China and the United States, respectively the largest developing country and the biggest developed country, not only concern the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples, but also bear on the future of the whole world. China is ready to work with the U.S. to take the relations back to the right track based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. The China-U.S. relationship has been moving forward because of the joint efforts of all walks of life in both countries. We hope to work together with China Institute and other American friendship organizations and make unremitting efforts to this end.

Huang Ping added his congratulations to China Institute and honorees and said, History is our best guide, as President Nixon said at the Great Wall in China 50 years ago, “A people who have a great past to be proud of must also have a great future.” Both Chinese and American peoples are very proud of their past. But our futures are not guaranteed to be a great one, if we mess up our relationship. As a matter of fact, in this ever so closely interconnected world, we could only have a SHARED great future by working together with each other and with all the countries in this planet. So let’s shoulder responsibility and lead by example. Let’s build up bridges rather than walls, share opportunities rather than hostilities, seek cooperation rather than confrontation, make peace rather than conflict.

This year’s Blue Cloud Awards were presented to Kent M. Swig, President of Swig Equities; Dr. Finian Tan, Founder and Chairman of Vickers Venture Partners; Michael Tang, Chairman of Tang Industries. The Special Award was presented to the Nixon Family, in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of President Richard Nixon's visit to China, which opened the door of diplomatic normalization between China and the US. CI President James Heimowitz, Co-Chair Chien Chung Pei, Yue-Sai Kan, Vice-Chair Anla Cheng and Board member Hank Wuh delivered speeches and presented awards to the honorees.

Founded in 1926 by Chinese reformers Hu Shi and Kuo Pingwen and American educators John Dewey and Paul Monroe, China Institute is the oldest bicultural, non-profit organization in America to focus exclusively on China. China Institute advances a deeper understanding of China through programs in education, culture, art, and business. China Institute is the go-to resource on China—from ancient art to today’s business landscape and its rapidly shifting culture.