On Jan.22, 2012, the China Society of Trinidad and Tobago held Sring Festival Luncheon in Port of Spain. The Hon. Dr.Tim Gopeesingh, Minister of Education, the Hon. Chandresh Sharma, Minister of Local Government, the Hon. Devant Maharaj, Minister of Transport, the Hon. Dr. Fuad Khan, Minister of Health, along with other guests from the local Chinese community, members of the China Society and their friends and families were present. H.E. Mr. Yang Youming, Chinese Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, and his wife Mrs. Geng Hailing, other diplomats from the Chinese Embassy, together with the artistes of the visiting Chongqing Arts Troupe attended the function.

Ambassador Yang and Mr. Yung Gen Siu, President of the China Society, made their remarks respectively. They conveyed their greetings to the guests for a happy and prosperous Year of the Dragon. Mr. Siu said that people of Chinese community in Trinidad and Tobago were very proud of the achievements China had made in industry, agriculture, hi-tech, culture and all other fields. He expressed his sincere wish for a strong and prosperous China and early reunification of the counrtry. Heextended his warm welcome to the artistes of Chongqing Arts Troupe and thanked them for traveling the long distance to perform in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ambassador Yang told the guests that the year 2011 marked the start of the 12th "Five-Year Plan" of China. The year had witnessed in China a steady economic growth, great achievements of social development, raising living standards of the people, and a more important role of China on the world stage. The year 2011 was also special for the bilateral relations between China and Trinidad and Tobago, highlighted by the success of the 3rd China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Port of Spain and the first visit by the Chinese Navy hospital ship "Peace Ark" to Trinidad and Tobago.

Ambassador Yang expressed his sincere hope that China would continue to make new achievements in its social and economic development, and that new progress would be achieved in the existing relations between China and Trinidad and Tobago in the Year of the Dragon. He also thanked the artistes of Chongqing Arts Troupe for their visit toTrinidad and Tobago during this special time of the year and contribution to the cultural exchanges between the two countries and wished them a great success.