Photo exhibition on opening-up visits Queens

A photo exhibition on the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up is shown on Tuesday at Queens Library in Flushing, New York.

NEW YORK — An old photo of the Shenzhen Duty Free Shop reminded Harriette Lo how much China has changed in the past four decades.

"Nowadays, there are more and more duty-free shops, and we can even use renminbi in these shops," said Lo, president of the Tianjin Commerce Association USA Inc. "All the changes are benefits from China's reform and opening-up."

Lo was attending a two-day photo exhibition at the Queens Library Flushing Branch on Tuesday, the focus of which was the 40th anniversary of that opening-up.

Hosted by the United Federation of Chinese associations in the Eastern United States and China News Service, the exhibition, in Chinese called Never Forget the Place We Start, Keep Going for the Brighter Future, includes 50 photos taken in the past 40 years.

"This kind of exhibition should be hosted more, and in more Chinese communities, like Long Island," said Lo.

Qiu Jian, vice consul-general of the Chinese Consulate General in New York,thanked the federation and news service and supporting associations for the exhibition and also encouraged overseas Chinese to promote exchanges between China and the United States.

Liu Man, the general counsel of the federation, called on all associations to make contributions to promote friendly relations between China and America.

James C. Hsiung, professor of politics at New York University, also spoke about China's reforms and opening-up.

After Wednesday, the exhibition will move to Brooklyn Borough Hall on June 8; Lin Zexu Square on June 10; and the New York Gallery of Chinese Art on June 11, 12 and 13.

Naiwen Cui in New York contributed to this story.