Xiamen Foreign Affairs Official Bid Ambassador Farewell
On January 22, Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office Director General Chen Aijing and her staff bid the Ambassador and his family farewell as they departed Xiamen to return to Beijing.
Ambassador Meets with Xiamen Daily Reporter
Before departing Xiamen on January 22, Ambassador Huntsman sat down with Xiamen Daily reporter She Zheng in an exclusive interview.
Taiwan Research Institute Scholars Share Views on Cross Straits Issues
On January 22, scholars of Xiamen University's Taiwan Research Institute shared with Ambassador Huntsman and Consul General Goldbeck their views on key cross straits issues. Observing that there is still room for improvement, Ambassador Huntsman noted that the relationship appears to be moving in a "good direction."
Migrant Workers Describe Opportunities and Challenges
On January 22, the Ambassador met with eleven migrant workers during a luncheon meeting held at the Nanputuo temple's vegetarian restaurant. Participants commented on employment opportunities and challenges facing migrant workers.
Ambassador Visits Nanputuo Temple
On January 22, Ambassador Huntsman briefly toured Nanputuo Temple, one of southeast China's largest and oldest Buddhist temples.
Xiamen Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Welcomes Mrs. Huntsman
On January 22, Mrs. Huntsman and Mary Anne Huntsman toured the Xiamen maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, including a special Maternity and Gynecology Center established in collaboration with John Hopkins International.
Ambassador Visits Lifetime Equipment Manufacturing Facility
On January 22, Ambassador Huntsman visited the Xiamen manufacturing facility of Lifetime Products. Headquartered in Utah, Lifetime Equipment makes portable basketball standards, folding tables and chairs, and other recreational and playground equipment. During the visit, Lifetime CEO Richard Hendrickson highlighted the company's new eco-housing concept and the company donated two of their basketball standard systems to the Tong Xin Charity Orphanage located in Xiamen.
Goodwill Piano Concert Features Mary Anne Huntsman
Capping a full day of activities on January 21, Mary Anne Huntsman participated in a Goodwill Piano Concert that also included performances by two students, Huang Zhouwen and Lai Yichao, and a professor, Chen Shuhau, from the Art College of Xiamen University. Mary Anne dazzled the full-house audience on hand with her masterful performance of selections by Debussy, Rachmaninoff, and Listz.
Mary anne Huntsman Provides Impromptu Performance at Piano Museum
On January 21, long-time Xiamen resident Dr. Bill Brown guided the Ambassador and Mrs. Huntsman and daughter Mary Anne on a tour of Gulangyu during which they visited the Gulangyu Piano Museum. During the tour, Mary Anne responded to an invitation to play one of the pianos in the impressive collection by pounding out a rousing selection by Listz.
Xiamen Music School Welcomes Mary Kaye and Mary Anne Huntsman
On January 21, Mrs. Mary Kaye Huntsman and daughter, Mary Anne Huntsman, visited the Xiamen Music School, an elementary and middle school for musically gifted children, where students provided a special concert of pipa lute and piano music.
Ambassador Tours Former U.S. Consulate on Gulangyu
On January 21, visited the former U.S. consulate building located on Gulangyu. Built with red bricks imported from the U.S., the building stands as a silent witness to the U.S. consular presence in Xiamen dating back to the first posting of a consul in Amoy in 1844.
Mrs. Huntsman Meets with Xiamen Women's Federation
On January 21, Mary Kaye Huntsman participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Xiamen Women's Federation. Nine leading women in the Xiamen community were present, including educators, lawyers, and government officials. Women's Federation President Weng Jinzhu told Mrs. Huntsman that women make up 51.1 percent of the professional population, and in the higher education system, more than 68 percent of the students are women.
Xiamen Port Officials Describe Transportation Links
On January 21, at the Dongdu Ferry Terminal, Xiamen Harbor Bureau Director General Wang Yong Jun provided an overview of the Xiamen port operations, highlighting the port's cross-strait connections. This briefing was followed by tour of the port's Haitian container terminal.
Ambassador Meets with Xiamen Media Representatives
On January 21, Ambassador Huntsman met with Xiamen-based media representatives. Although national media reported on the Ambassador's visit to Xiamen, the Fujian press (although present at the media event) was apparently prevented from publishing news about the Ambassador's visit.
Mayor Liu Cigui Welcomes Ambassador and Mrs. Huntsman to Xiamen
On January 21, the Ambassador met with Xiamen Mayor Liu Cigui, after which the Mayor hosted a welcome luncheon for the Ambassador, Mrs. Huntsman and the accompanying party.
Discussing U.S-China Relations at Xiamen University
On January 21, Ambassador Huntsman spoke with 200 clearly engaged students at Xiamen University and offered his assessment on the future of U.S.-China relations. The Ambassador responded to student questions and noted that the biggest challenge in the U.S.-China relationship is overcoming misunderstandings and misperceptions, noting that only after American better understand Chinese culture and Chinese citizens gain a better understanding of U.S. values will we begin to clearly see the dramatic scope of our shared interests. The Ambassador emphasized that learning each other's language and culture is vital to increasing understanding between both countries.
Ambassador Meets with Xiamen University President
On January 21, President Zhu Chongshi welcomed Ambassador Huntsman to Xiamen University. Ambassador Huntsman observed that the university had one of the most beautiful campuses that he had seen--anywhere in the world.
American Business Representatives Describe Business Environment
On January 21, Ambassador Huntsman met with representatives of American businesses in Xiamen during a breakfast meeting hosted by the American Chamber of South China. Participants described local business conditions and concerns.
Visit to the Xiamen Computer Market
On January 6, Officer-designee for Fujian visited the Xiamen computer market where he noted that several vendors were selling discounted--and presumably illegal--copies of popular software programs.
Officer-designee meets with Xiamen FAO
On January 6, Officer-designee for Fujian Gary Oba met with Deputy Director General Li Xiaoping of the Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office to discuss arrangements relating to an upcoming high-level visit.
Meeting with Xiamen Culture Bureau
On January 6, Xiamen Culture Bureau Deputy Director Hou Nanjiang met with Officer-designee for Fujian Gary Oba to discuss procedures for arranging performances in cooperation with the Culture Bureau.
2009
