By Zhang Jian

‘Thank people in hometown for caring about us!’ On 23 January, Xuan Guping who was in Lima of Peru talked with the reporter through wechat. It was late night local time, Xuan Guping just returned home after a busy day, still passionate in our ‘the Belt and Road’ overseas Chinese new year greetings event.

Xuan Guping is an overseas Chinese leader from Sanxing Linxi, an overseas Chinese home in Haimen. He stays in Peru now. Nantong ‘the Belt and Road’ overseas work station Peru office was opened last August and Xuan Guping is the director. He is also vice chairman of Jiangsu chamber of Commerce in Peru, and founder of famous brand in Peru Mingjia. Xuan Guping worked in Romania in his early days, moved to Peru in 2010. His products are popular in local people’s daily life.

Talking about the similarity and differences between cultures of the two countries, Xuan Guping said that Peru and China both have a long history. The history of Chinese immigration can be dated back to Taipingtianguo period in Qing dynasty. There are more than 1.5 million Chinese staying in Peru. Chinese culture is deeply rooted in local people’s life. Every year before Chinese New Year, lion and dragon dance in china town start the celebration of Chinese New Year. Local people join the celebration with passion and there are a lot of people in china town.

Xuan Guping told the reporter that in the past he always returned to China in Chinese New Year. This year he stayed in Peru, celebrated the New Year with the staff in his company, his fellow-townsman and other friends in Jiangsu. They prepared a feast of hometown delicacies to welcome the Chinese New Year.

Talking about his wish in the year of the mouth, Xuan Guping said that in the coming year, as the person in charge of ‘the Belt and Road’ work station Peru office, he would work hard and build a bridge for friendship between the two countries.