Remarks by Consul General David E. Brown to Welcome the Washington Wizards/Bullets Delegation
Remarks by Consul General David E. Brown
Consulate Reception to Welcome the Washington Wizards/Bullets Delegation
Consul General’s Residence
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
September 12, 2009
Mr. Li Xiaolin, Deputy President of the China People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries,
Mr. Peter Biché, Head of the Washington Wizards/Bullets 30th Anniversary Delegation;
Members of the Wizards Delegation and Friendship Association,
Honored Guests:
Good evening.
I want to thank all of you, Chinese guests and members of the Wizards delegation alike, for taking the time on a Saturday evening to come to this welcome reception. I know for a fact that the Wizards had a very busy day, traveling to see earthquake recovery projects in Dujiangyan, visiting schools and playing an exhibition game with the University of Electronic Science and Technology. So to all of you, thank you for your participation. My wife Lanhua and I extend to you a warm welcome to our residence for what we hope is not just a reception but also a celebration.
As most of you know, this delegation has come to China in order to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries and to commemorate the first visit of their basketball team, then known as the Washington Bullets, shortly thereafter.
We often remember “ping pong diplomacy” as one the first steps taken by President Nixon and his Chinese counterparts as they worked to reestablish the relationship. Shortly after that, at Deng Xiaoping's invitation, the Bullets became the first NBA team ever to come to China, practicing then their own special form of “basketball diplomacy.” In those early days of the renewed relationship, we saw that American and Chinese people could come together through the common interest in and passion for sports. After watching the exhibition game this afternoon at this 30-year milestone, I would venture to say that this is still true today.
The Wizards’ delegation includes at least one star player from each of the three decades that have passed since that first historic visit – including Wes Unseld, one of the NBA’s top 50 All-Time players and a member of the original delegation that travelled to China; Gheorge Muresan [pronounced George Mur-a-san], the tallest player ever to play in the NBA; Caron Butler [pronounced Kuh-RON], a two-time NBA All-Star and current Wizard.
It is appropriate to emphasize this tonight, because it reminds us symbolically of the years that have passed as well as the many ways we have grown and changed. Since that time, the U.S.-China relationship has expanded tremendously into what is now the most important bilateral relationship in the world. In numerous areas – including trade, environmental cooperation, and educational and cultural exchange – the web of relationships between our two countries continues to grow stronger and more extensive. And there is no doubt that the United States and Southwest China also share that special relationship.
So tonight we celebrate together the Wizards’ visit to China, especially this important stop in Chengdu. We can also take the opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our diplomatic relations and the friendship that we will continue to share in the years to come.
So please join me now in giving a warm welcome to the Wizards and the special history they represent.
Please enjoy the party. Thank you very much.
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