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Qin Gang uses NBA game to send first public message to US since becoming China’s foreign minister
- Video message at halftime of Washington Wizards contest helps usher in Lunar New Year and continues tradition of using sports to advance diplomacy
- Qin has previously spoken of his ‘special relationship’ with the Wizards, the first NBA team to visit China in 1979
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Orange Wangin Washington
China’s newly appointed foreign minister sent a video message to a National Basketball Association game in Washington to mark the Lunar New Year.
Qin Gang, who was Beijing’s ambassador to the US for 17 months, addressed tens of thousands of basketball fans on Saturday via a pre-recorded video midway during a contest between the Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic.
His appearance formed part of the game’s intermission celebration to usher in the Lunar New Year, where toy rabbits were also thrown into the crowd.
“I wish the Chinese and American peoples a prosperous Year of the Rabbit and a bright future,” said Qin in the brief message.
“Good luck to everyone and enjoy the game,” he added in the video played at a timeout during the second quarter of the match, where the Wizards emerged as the victors.
The foreign minister’s remarks came as senior American and Chinese officials have renewed efforts to improve their fraught bilateral relationship of recent years following a summit between President Xi Jinping and his counterpart Joe Biden in Indonesia in November.
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