On January 22, 2016, Chinese Deputy Consul General to San Francisco Ren Faqiang attended the Artists Exhibit held by Chinese Railroad Worker Memorial Project at Hilton Hotel Financial District of San Francisco. Mr. Steven Lee, director of Chinese Railroad Memorial Project, Ms. Ashley Cheng, representative of San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee, San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Mr. Jon Kessler, representative of California State Controller Betty T. Yee, Ms. Sue Lee, Director of Chinese Historical Society of America, as well as nearly 200 guests attended the event.

Deputy Consul General Ren Faqiang delivering remarks

Deputy Consul General Ren Faqiang remarked that one and half century ago, more than 12 thousand Chinese were recruited into America's first transcontinental railroad construction. About 1,2000 Chinese workers lost their lives because of extremely harsh weather and hazardous working conditions. Their contributions to America's national unification and economic development is beyond measure. Chinese railroad workers are the pioneers for the people-to-people exchanges and friendship between China and the U.S. They and their descendents in America have played an active role in China-US friendly exchanges and cooperation.