STORY: Asian American heritage celebrated in New York
SHOOTING TIME: May 12, 2024
DATELINE: May 14, 2024
LENGTH: 00:00:00
LOCATION: NEW YORK, U.S.
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the event at Flushing Town Hall in New York City
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CHRISTOPHER MARTE, Member of the New York City Council
3. various of the event at Flushing Town Hall in New York City
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): MA YUNFEI, Director of China National Tourist Office in New York

STORYLINE:

Asian American heritage was celebrated at Flushing Town Hall in New York City in the form of photo and art exhibition, Asian cuisine tasting as well as cultural performance on Sunday evening.

Present at the event were more than 100 guests from various ethnic groups.

According to a release by the Sino-American Culture and Arts Foundation, which organized the event, scores of photos showcased cultural and natural heritage sites including China's Yellow Mountain and Dazu Rock Carvings, Japan's Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Malaysia's Batu Caves, traditional Balinese dance of Indonesia and others.

The photo exhibition started on Thursday and will last for 10 days.

Performers and artists presented music and dancing from China, Malaysia, South Korea, Myanmar and Japan.

Guests also had a chance to taste traditional Asian foods and have an up-close look at cultural handicrafts from several Asian countries.

The event is part of national celebrations of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, which is observed in May in the United States.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CHRISTOPHER MARTE, Member of the New York City Council
"It's so great to be here today to look at the artwork that not only represents so many cultures, but especially now during AAPI Heritage Month, we get to know where our communities come from and how their connection is still deeply connected. It's long overdue that we start learning about these cultures and how they affect our society every single day in a positive way."

Currently, China and the United States have shared interests and goals in tourism, noted Ma Yunfei, director of the China National Tourist Office in New York.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): MA YUNFEI, Director of China National Tourist Office in New York
"Enhancing bilateral tourism between the United States and China is very important to strengthening people-to-people exchanges and better friendship between the two peoples."

May was officially designated AAPI Heritage Month in 1992 in the United States. The month-long observance provides an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the AAPI community's contributions to American culture, society and history over the centuries.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New York, U.S.
(XHTV)