China’s national flag to fly outside White House
- Source: Global Times
- [23:39 July 13 2009]
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By Wen Xian in Washington DC and Zhang Wen in Beijing
The national flag of the People’s Republic of China will be raised for the first time on the south lawn of the White House on September 20.
Overseas Chinese planned the ceremony in the US to celebrate China’s National Day, which falls on October 1.
“The ceremony has gotten official approval,” Xiao Shuigen, secretary of the Union of Chinese American Professional Organizations, said Sunday.
According to He Xiaohui, chairman of the Coordination Council of Chinese-American Associations, the ceremony is hosted by overseas Chinese organizations.
To celebrate the 60th birthday of China, and to express their love for the motherland, overseas Chinese will raise the Chinese flag at 10 am that day.
Chen Ronghua, chairman of the US-Fujian Association, was the proponent of the event.
“It was always my dream to raise a Chinese flag in the center of Washington DC,” he told the Global Times. “This year, my motherland’s 60th birthday, is the perfect time for it.”
“The ceremony getting official approval is due to the good relations between China and the US,” Chen said.
As well as the flag-raising ceremony, there will also be performances, with nearly 1,000 people participating, Zhao Luqun, the director of the ceremony, said.