Dundee 2017 Chinese New Year celebrations

A series of events have been arranged in Dundee today (Saturday 4 February) welcoming the Chinese New Year of the Rooster and honouring the Chinese Consul General, Pan Xinchun for his efforts to promote cultural and business links between Dundee and China.

The key event will be a Lord Provost’s reception in the City Chambers when Consul General Pan will be made an Honorary Burgess of the City. This unique occasion will be witnessed by around 100 civic dignitaries, Provosts and Chinese & Asian leaders from around Dundee and Scotland.

Thorntons Solicitors will host a special VIP luncheon (at the Apex City Quay Hotel) beforehand and there will be a special Chinese New Year performance for the public in City Square from 3.15 p.m. until 4.15 p.m.

Traditional lion dances will be performed by the Yee’s Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association alongside the pipe band of the 6th/8th Dundee Company of the Boy’s Brigade and pupils from the High School of Dundee will assist with dragon dancing performers.

One of the key highlights will be the spectacular 2017 Chinese New Year Gala Night performance in the Caird Hall from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. This event has been organised by the Dundee Chinese Students and Scholars Association jointly with the well-established Dundee Chinese School and will include a variety of performances by talented students, choirs and cabaret performers.

Lord Provost Bob Duncan commented “bestowing Chinese Consul General Pan Xinchun with this Honorary Burgess title is yet another great privilege for me as Lord Provost. The City of Dundee already has a rich heritage with international links that help us promote the city in many parts of the world. I feel certain that today is yet another milestone in our endeavours to promote Dundee; and I know that Consul General Pan is a worthy recipient of this unique honour through his promotion of cultural and commercial ties with China.”

Chinese Consul General Pan Xinchun commented:

“I have a great honour to become an Honorary Burgess of the City of Dundee. This honour not only belongs to me, but also reflects the friendship between China and Dundee. Over the years our relationship has grown from strength to strength with many achievements of fruitful cooperation in education, sports and scientific research, etc. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Lord Provost, Thorntons and friends from Dundee for their great support and valuable contributions to the development of our close ties. With the new honour, I will give my best to foster our friendship and exchanges to the benefit of our people and wish the City of Dundee and its people success and prosperity in the Chinese New Year of the Rooster!”

Thorntons’ Chairman Colin Graham said:

“We are delighted to support the 2017 Chinese New Year celebration in Dundee in honour of Chinese Consul General Pan Xinchun. The honorary Burgess title which he received from the Lord Provost and Burgesses of the City is a well-deserved tribute as I know that Mr. Pan is working hard to promote business and cultural links between Dundee and China.

Thorntons have a growing international client base and provide a variety of services covering immigration and visas through to property and commercial advice. So we were especially pleased to welcome key Chinese and Asian community representatives from across Dundee and Scotland to share in this special celebration.”

Dave Valentine MBE, one of the organisers of the event said:

“I must add my own congratulations to Consul General Pan Xinchun on receiving this unique honour. We must also thank the Lord Provost and Burgesses of the City of Dundee for organising such a splendid reception with dignitaries from around Dundee and elsewhere in Scotland here to witness what is a truly unique occasion. The organisers must also thank Thorntons for their huge support in hosting the VIP luncheon and a variety of other sponsors including Mrs Pan from Wing Fung Trading, Tony Reilly from the Grosvenor Casino and Edward Siu Ming Tsang, President of the Asian Association of Culture Commerce and Education for providing the lion dancers and public performances in the City Square”