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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Southern California officials and representatives of local organizations have extended their greetings and congratulations upon China's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival during an online celebration.

In celebration of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, which both fall on Oct. 1 this year, the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles organized an event featuring performances by local musicians and opera singers.

Kathryn Barger, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, expressed her best wishes to China for a happy national day.

"It's an honor to represent one of the largest populations of Chinese Americans in Los Angeles County, many of whom call beautiful San Gabriel Valley home. The members of our Chinese community bring rich cultural diversity, thriving business and a valuable contribution to arts and culture," she said.

"In this next year, I hope you can all forge ahead together with further prosperity and deeper friendships," she added in her video message.

Curt Hagman, chairman of the Board of Supervisors of San Bernardino County, started with "Ni Hao," meaning "hello" in Mandarin, in his video message.

"Thank you for your partnership, your friendship and most recently your donations of PPE (personal protective equipment) to the county of San Bernardino. We look forward to many more years our partnership and friendship work across the globe for each other," Hagman noted.

John Valdivia, mayor of San Bernardino, also said the city "recognizes the vast contributions made by the People's Republic of China, especially on this momentous day, Oct. 1, 2020."

Nina L. Hachigian, deputy mayor of international affairs for the City of Los Angeles, said it was an honor to participate in the virtual celebration.

"I know the important role that the Chinese American community has played in our city. From the very beginning when L.A. served as a gateway for many Chinese American families to today as we are the proud home of the greatest populations of ethnic Chinese in the United States," she said, noting that Chinese communities' contributions have helped make Los Angeles a great global city.

Simon Shao, president of the Chinese American Federation in Southern California, noted that 2020 is an extraordinary year.

"Everyone has been working together to defeat the COVID-19 outbreak this year. May the friendship between the Chinese and American people last forever," he said, adding his wishes for the two countries to fight the pandemic together and achieve win-win cooperation.

Peter H. Antoniou, co-president of Los Angeles-Guangzhou Sister City Association, said that the organization is preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2021.

"Over the 40-year history, we have promoted people-to-people exchange in culture, education, business and medicine. We are committed to continuing our belief in the power of personal connections between China and the United States," he added.

David Grant, general manager of South Coast Plaza, said that the largest shopping mall on the West Coast of the United States has enjoyed a warm and important partnership with the Chinese community for more than a decade.

"During this time and with the Consul General's support, South Coast Plaza has presented numerous outstanding cultural events, including the exciting Chinese New Year, Autumn Harvest Festival, a special celebration highlighting 40 years of formal diplomatic relations between our two countries and many other important cultural exhibitions and artistic presentations," Grant said in his video message.

He added that the shopping mall is committed to the advancement of cooperation, mutual respect, understanding and warm friendships between the two great countries and peoples.

Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Zhang Ping expressed appreciation for the support from friends of all walks of life in the consular district during China's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in his video speech.

"When the pandemic hit the U.S., the Chinese people, adhering to the philosophy of 'One world, One family,' and with kindness and empathy, provided timely support to the U.S. efforts in pandemic prevention and control," he said.

"We facilitated the U.S. purchase of PPEs (Personal Protective Equipments) from China. Among many supplies shipped to the U.S., face masks alone are as many as 34 billion. Chinese provinces, cities together with the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles donated about 1.7 million masks and other supplies to local governments, medical institutions and schools in our consular district," he continued.

"We will maintain close communication with our friends, and look forward to working together to further expand China-U.S. sub-national cooperation and bring our bilateral relations back to the right track of sound and steady development," Zhang said. Enditem