Chen Qingyan, president of Singapore, and his wife attended a celebration for the 75th anniversary of the Singapore Amoy Association, in the city-state on Nov 29, and organizers had also invited a choir from Xiamen,officials representing Fujian, and Singaporeans whose families are originally from Xiamen.

Lin Xiaoyun (left), a Xiamen Daily reporter, shows photos of Xiamen to Chen Qingyan, president of Singapore, on Nov 29.

Amoy is another name for Xiamen, and the first lady said the president is a descendent of residents of Malong county in Xiamen and her family hails from Yongchun county. She also said that they are both “familiar with the Hokkien(southern Fujian language),” and she added that Fujian has undergone remarkable changes over the past 30 years and has become ”more beautiful and prosperous”.

During the celebration, Yan Cangzhou, member of the standing committee of the CPC Xiamen Municipal Committee, showed photos of Malong to President Chen and said he hoped that Chen would visit the county when he has time. President Chen seemed impressed with the changes and achievements of his hometown, and he said the Singapore Amoy Association has played an indispensable role in enhancing cross-cultural and social dialogue between China and Singapore - and it has also made a great contribution in enhancing exchanges between the people of Singapore and Xiamen.

Edited by Wang Yifei and Niva Whyman