1，At the beginning of 2008, a warm wind from poets’ community was blowing quietly in the calm, auspicious days. A ceremony celebrating the first publication of a poetess residing in America , Yang Liuhong’s latest collection of poetry called ‘Afterlife’, exclusively designed by US-China Foundation, co-organized by the Club of Chinese Poets and the Press of Hong Kong for Chinese Culture, was held at a well-known, rustic club called “Old Story”on January 4, 2:30 pm. The celebrities from poetry, literature, artistic community attended this ceremony. The attending guests included: famous poets, poetry critics, poetry fans, famous painters and many well-known reporters across China . The billboard at the scene was very impressive: Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco and the Yuanfe Pavilion of Summer Palace in Beijing in the background of blue waving Pacific; white sails, flying sea gulls, and red clouds in the sky; ‘Afterlife’ in two Chinese characters in the foreground; the whole picture symbolizing Yang Liuhong’s life experience.
Ms. Yang Liuhong was recruited to literature department of Renmin University in 1982. After graduation in 1986, she worked as a teacher in sociology in Renmin University in 1986，then went to the US. When she was in university, many of her poems were published in the university’s journal; she organized the club of poetry and participated in the founding of the new style poems called “The Third Generation” or “The New Generation”. The collection of poetry called ‘White Sand Island’co-written by Yang Liuhong and her good friend Su Liming was published by Beijing Press in 1985 May. When she was in America , many of her articles or poems were broadcasted or published on TV, radio, internet, periodicals, and journals.
The style of Yang Liuhong’s poems was fresh, natural; fine and smooth in content. Her liveliness and deep understanding about life and emotion were expressed in creative thinking and words in her collection of poetry called ‘Afterlife’
Yang Liu said: ‘After enduring hard experiences, the poet can still be able to write poems with the characteristics of freedom, transparency, beauty and kindness.’
The ceremony, hosed by assistant of PR department of US-China Foundation Wu Ying, assistant to president of US-China Foundation Dai Tongde, began with enthusiastic opening speech; Chu Tianshu , director of the club of Chinese Poets thanked all guests for their attending; Ms. Yang Liuhong explained the whole process of writing this collection of poetry to the audience; well-known poetry critics Xie Mian, Tang Xiaodu, Zhang Tongwu, Wu Sijing expressed their opinions about this collection of poetry; president of US-China Foundation, Larry Lee, explained the purpose of holding this event and gave his congratulations to Ms. Yang.
Former Chinese foreign minister, well-known poet, Li Zhaoxing asked his secretary to send a telegraph of congratulations to Ms. Yang.
Several poetry fans recited some poems of Afterlife such as ‘The Morning of Beijing’, ‘Flying like a Bird’ and ‘Afterlife’ etc., the audience perceived the beauty and mood of the poems enjoying the beautiful combination of poems and music.
In the end, well-known calligrapher Zhou Hongxing wrote his inscription at the scene: ‘Songs expressed the hearts in rhyme, poems recorded the times to music’.
Larry Lee, on behalf of US-China Foundation, presented Ms. Yang with a calligraphy wrote by calligrapher Wang Shanli: ‘The Splendid Stage of Sino-US Relationship’ The climax put end to this ceremony. Ms. Yang thanked everybody for attending this meeting and photographed together with all attending guests.
This event indicated the theme of humanity and Olympic spirit in Beijing in 2008 and became the first event in humanism. All attending guests gave this up-scale cultural program great praise.
2，On the afternoon of January 9, Larry Lee, the president of USCF was specially interviewed by the magazine “Ours” in the Beijing office of USCF.
3, Larry Lee, president of USCF, was invited to attend the opening ceremony for developing Chinese traditional culture held at the People’s Great Hall in Beijing on the morning of January, 12. This program was co-organized by the Center for International Literature Exchange of China National Science Institute and the Center for China Education Development. Professor Zhou Hongxing, one of chief designers for this ceremony, delivered a keynote speech entitled ‘Promoting Traditional Culture, Creating National Talents’. Ma Di, administrative supervisor of USCF was also present at this ceremony.
4, Jan.25th, at the 2008 Hainan Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) Evening Outdoor Show, Julia Zhu, the Art Director of US-China Foundation, was specially invited to sing her original song “Nice to be home” as a solo singer, won the applause from tens of thousands of audiences. This video will be broadcasted to the audience in China on February 5.
During the stay in Hainan, the provincial committee and the Party committee and the minister of Propaganda Department, Zhou Wenzhang specially invited Larry and Julia to have meals. Minster Zhou gave his new writings to Larry and Julia.(See the attachment)
During the time in Hainan, Larry and the local government and department and NGOs reached an agreement on the celebration of 20 anniversary of founding Hainan province.
5，On January 31, President Larry Lee and the art director of USCF, Julia as a specially invited artist went to the US to attended the 16th Chinese New Year Show of Chinese Business Association of Atlanta.
