Qiu Jian (L), Deputy Consul General at the Chinese consulate general in New York, presents Chinese books to Dennis Walcott, Director of Queens Library, in New York City on December 13 (YUAN YUAN)

The China-U.S. Tourism Year 2016 Photography Exhibition kicked off in the Queens Library in New York City on December 13, as the second such event in this venue since 2015.

As part of a series of activities themed "China Today", this exhibition displays, in the lobby of the library, a collection of pictures showing both China and the United States.

"The 'China Today' activities held in Queens Library last year had attracted many residents from diversified cultural background and it was like a window for knowing more about China," said Qiu Jian, the Deputy consul general of Chinese Consulate-general in New York. "The new series will carry more various of activities and we hope it can further strengthen the understanding between people from the United States and China."

"There is a increasing demand of learning Chinese culture in the local communities in the Queens area," said Dennis Walcott, the Director of Queens Library. "We are looking forward for more such activities in the near future."

"Everybody is welcomed to China, climbing up to the Great Wall, having authentic Chinese food, learning Chinese kungfu and even having the chance to cuddle the baby pandas," Wang Yanjie, the Director of China National Tourist Office New York.

"Presenting China to the world will definitely not be limited to holding such activities," Wang said. "We are exploring more ways in this regard and we believe with the promotion of Silk Road project, it will be a hot spot in the future for sure."

Qiu, on behalf of Chinese Consulate General in New York, presented a series of Chinese books to Queens Library at the event.

(Reporting from New York City)

Copyedited by Sudeshna Sarkar

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