On May 22, 2018, Consul General Hong Lei attended an Asian-Pacific Heritage Month Reception hosted by Mayor Emanuel of Chicago. More than 100 people including Mayor Emanuel, Consul Generals from South Korean, Indonesian, the Philippines, and other Asian countries in Chicago, representatives from various Asian American communities in Chicago, and officials from many departments of the City of Chicago attended the event. Deputy Consul General Liu Jun also attended the event.

Mayor Emanuel thanked Asian-Pacific citizens for their significant contributions to the development of Chicago. He said that Asian-Pacific immigrants have injected vitality to Chicago. Cultural exchanges between Chicago and Asian nations have also enriched community life in the city. The construction and development of Chicago require everyone to work together. The city government is willing to work with citizens of all ethnic backgrounds to create a better future for generations to come.

Consul General Hong Lei thanked Mayor Emanuel for his longstanding care for the Chinese American community and his support for the development of China-U.S. relations. He added that the Chinese Consulate attaches great importance to Mayor’s upcoming China visit in July. The Chinese Consulate will maintain close communication with the office of the Mayor to ensure that his visit will achieve positive results and deepen cooperation between China and Chicago in various fields.

Consul General Hong Lei also cordially talked with representatives of the overseas Chinese community, congratulated them on their important contributions in their respective fields.