Programs & Events

WELCOMING REMARKS AND TOAST

CONSUL GENERAL STEPHEN B. WICKMAN
INDEPENDENCE DAY RECEPTION -- JUNE 30, 2008
总领事魏思文独立日招待会-2008年6月30日
欢迎辞和祝酒辞

Consul General Stephen B. Wickman delivers speech at the American Independence Day Reception in Shenyang

Honorable Governor Li, Mayor Yang, Foreign Affairs Directors from Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang, fellow Consuls General, friends:

It is a great honor to be surrounded by so many of you today as we gather here to celebrate America’s 232nd Independence Day. 

But before going on, I’d like to use this occasion once again to honor all those who so tragically lost their lives in last month’s earthquake in Sichuan by having you join me in a brief moment of silence.

The Fourth of July is traditionally a day of togetherness, when Americans gather with family, friends and neighbors in homes and in parks, in backyards and in public squares.  On this day it is traditional to have a barbeque outside, perhaps attend a parade, toss a ball with the children and then watch some fireworks.  Today I can't offer you fireworks, but I can offer you plenty of great company and fine food to enjoy—samples of American culture and cuisine at their best.  For this we are indebted to our corporate sponsors, great American companies who have so generously supported and enriched this event. 

We thank Starbucks and McDonalds, Anheuser-Busch and Tahitian Noni International, Baskin-Robbins and Pepsi, Subway and I Love New York Pizza, Tyco and Goodyear, Shenyang Maryland International Industry and Amercable, Wal-Mart and Sheraton, the Shenyang International School and Intel, Oracle and Dell.  We are proud of them and of the opportunities they provide every day for so many local managers, investors, and employees throughout northeast China. 

On this day of togetherness, we welcome you all to celebrate with us as friends, as family, as Americans.  And I ask you to join me in a toast.  This year we not only wish all of you, and all of the countries and companies represented here, the very best of success.  We not only toast the U.S.-China relationship, so vital to the world’s future peace, security and prosperity, and especially our warm relations with the people of Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang Provinces.  But most importantly this year, we raise our glasses to toast those undertaking what we are certain will ultimately be a speedy—and full —recovery in Sichuan and a successful Olympics, and further strengthening of Sino-American relations in this American election year.