'Prelude to the Spring Festival Gala' US event held in Washington

The US session of the "Prelude to the Spring Festival Gala: The World Watches the CMG Gala Together" event was held on Tuesday at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington state.

Shen Haixiong, president of China Media Group, said the "Prelude to the Spring Festival Gala" has been held for three consecutive years, with a growing number of Americans experiencing Chinese culture by celebrating the Chinese New Year and watching the Spring Festival Gala. Shen expressed hope that the event would help foster a brighter future for China-US relations and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Xie Feng, Chinese ambassador to the US, said the Spring Festival symbolizes the return of spring, the melting of ice and snow, and the revival of all living things, adding that the two countries should deepen people-to-people ties, reinforce public support for China-US relations, and inject more "spring warmth" into bilateral ties in the year ahead and beyond.

Anders Ibsen, mayor of Tacoma, said the city's friendly exchanges with China have helped expand local trade and business cooperation, deepen cultural exchanges and promote the development of a wide range of youth programs.

During the event, 25 students from Lincoln High School performed the Chinese song "On the Fields of Hope" and the English song "Stand by Me," conveying their best wishes for China-US friendship through music.