A Reception for the 2022 Chinese New Year of the Tiger, which is themed “A Vigorous Year of the Tiger, A Joyful Rendezvous for Winter Olympics”, was held online by the Chinese Embassy in the US on the evening of January 30. At the reception, Ambassador Qin Gang delivered a speech, former US President Jimmy Carter sent a congratulatory letter, and invited guests including President of the National Committee on US-China Relations Stephen Orlins, President of the US-China Business Council Craig Allen, Chairman of the Board for the Utah Chinese Civic Center Professor Le Taowen delivered congratulatory remarks.

In his remarks Ambassador Qin said, it is my great pleasure to join you online on the New Year’s Eve and celebrate this festive moment together. In Chinese culture, tiger is the symbol of bravery, wisdom and strength. In the coming year of the tiger, we must have the courage and vision and follow the agreement reached by the two Presidents in their virtual meeting last year, uphold the spirit of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, take the difficulties head on, and work for the sound and stable growth of China-US relations. This is for the benefit of people of both countries and the whole world. Let’s not forget the Flying Tigers and many other touching stories in China-US relations, and do our best to further our friendship in the new era.

Ambassador Qin said, a major event at the beginning of the year is Beijing Winter Olympics, which will open soon. China will host a streamlined, safe and splendid Winter Games. I hope that athletes from China, the US and all other countries will enjoy the Games, and that you will feel its TIGER feature, which means Tense, Inclusive, Green, Extraordinary and Refreshing. Its slogan — Together for a shared future — is a best resolution for the new year.

In a congratulatory letter, former President Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander wrote, 43 years ago, Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping visited the White House during the Chinese New Year. Deng’s historic visit to the US and his meetings with American officials and citizens laid a strong foundation for the new relationship to flourish in the coming decades. We wish the Chinese people a happy and prosperous Year of the Tiger and hope the bilateral relationship between the US and China returns to peaceful and constructive engagement.

Stephen Orlins, President of the National Committee on US-China Relations, said that the tiger is the king of the animals and represents good health, vitality, and strength. We need these characteristics to improve the health of the peoples of the world and US-China relations. As we enter the Year of the Tiger, on behalf of the board and staff of the National Committee on US-China relations, I wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. I know that together we will strengthen US-China relations in the Year of the Tiger.

Craig Allen, President of the US-China Business Council, said that in the Year of the Ox we saw continued strong top-line performance from our members with an overwhelming majority showing profitability and a will to increase their investments in China. So now we embrace the tiger who is known for competitiveness but also for courage and ambition. That is the perfect analogy for the US-China commercial relationship in 2022. The United States and China are the world's two largest economies, home of the world's largest, most dynamic and most innovative companies, and we represent together a huge proportion of global consumption. We support the American business community in China to grow the US-China commercial relationship and support our shared prosperity.

Professor Le Taowen, Chairman of the Board for the Utah Chinese Civic Center, said that a steady and positive relationship between the two countries and between the two peoples is a desire and expectation shared by all overseas Chinese. We will continue rendering our efforts in promoting friendly exchanges and mutually-beneficial cooperation and deepening friendship between the two peoples. He extended best wishes to our great motherland for safety and prosperity, to the Beijing Winter Olympics for a great success and to the Olympians for new achievements. He also wished China and the US for a trouble-free relationship full of new promises.

After the speeches by Ambassador Qin and the guests, performances including Chinese lantern exhibition and Spring Festival Cultural Week, Panda Reunion, "Winter Olympic Imagination — Joy on Ice & Snow" were on show, which gave viewers immersive experience of the New Year atmosphere at the Kennedy Center lights show, the happy life and online family reunion of giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Tai Shan, Bao Bao and Bei Bei at the giant panda breeding base in Sichuan, China, as well as a spectacular combo show of acrobatics and winter sports.

Also from January 26 to 29 for four consecutive days, on the Embassy’s Youtube and Facebook channel were shown Documentary "New Endeavors", Chinese and American Youth Spring Festival Gala, Spring Festival & Winter Olympics Celebration by Overseas Chinese in the US, and "My China Album" video highlight, which heated up the celebration for the Year of the Tiger Spring Festival and Beijing Winter Olympics.

The online reception was lived through Chinese Embassy social media accounts and media outlets People's Daily, Xinhua New China TV, China Media Group CCTV&CGTN, China News Service, China Daily and Dragon TV's Kankan News.