On the evening of September 27, Chinese Consul General in Houston Gao Yanping attended the Celebration Banquet for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, which was organized by the Chinese Civic Center of Houston. Over 700 guests from the Houston Chinese community and mainstream society attended the banquet.

Consul General Gao said that through 60 years of exploration, the Chinese people have found the road to development that is suitable to China's national conditions and conforms to the trend of the times. She extended her heartfelt gratitude to the overseas Chinese in the southern part of the United States for their consistent and valuable support for China’s development, peaceful reunification and mutual exchanges between China and the U.S. in all areas.

Gao and the Chair of the Banquet presented the award of “2009 Distinguished Friends of China” to former US President George Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush, and the award of “US-China Friendship Luminary” to the famous Chinese basketball star Yao Ming beloved by both the Chinese and American people.

Mr. Bill White, Mayor of Houston and Mr. Ed Emmett, Harris County Judge, issued proclamations respectively, declaring that September 27, 2009 was the day of China National Day Celebration.