On February 11, Consul General Hong Lei and Guangdong Friendship Working Group led by Director General Chen Qiuyan of Guangdong Foreign Affairs Office met with Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, who attended the "Happy Spring Festival" show presented by the Guangdong Provincial Art Troupe at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Detroit, Michigan.

Consul General Hong Lei said that we were encouraged by Governor Snyder’s celebration of the Spring Festival with Michigan Chinese communities. We highly appreciate the efforts that Governor Snyder has made over the years in promoting the development of friendly relations between China and Michigan. Guangdong Province, with its strong economy and diversified culture, attaches great importance to its sister province/state relationship with Michigan. We believe exchanges and cooperation in various fields between Guangdong and Michigan will achieve new results in the new year.

Director General Chen Qiuyan conveyed cordial greetings from Party Secretary Hu Chunhua and Governor Ma Xingrui to Governor Snyder. He said that Guangdong cherished its sister province/state relationship with Michigan. The purpose of this visit is to send Chinese New Year greetings from the people of Guangdong to the people of Michigan, promote mutual understanding, deepen friendship, advance cooperation, and further strengthen the sister province/state relationship.

Governor Snyder warmly welcomed the working group and troupe, saying that Michigan is proud of its friendly relations with Guangdong Province. In recent years, the two sides have enjoyed increasingly close exchanges in various fields, which has continuously pushed this relationship forward. Michigan’s economy is now back on track. Cooperation projects at Michigan-Shenzhen Innovation Center are gradually implemented. It is very important for the two sides to have more cultural exchanges and the visit of the Guangdong Provincial Art Troupe shows Guangdong's deep friendship with Michigan. The Michigan state government has been planning this year's visit to China, and he looks forward to having the opportunity to visit Guangdong again for more cooperation.