Group photo in the seminar. [Photo by Wang Chengmeng/chinadaily.com.cn]

On May 30th, 2016, China Daily hosted a seminar with the theme "My China Story". The seminar was attended by many outlets of the Chinese media along with foreigners who wrote for or associated with China Daily.

The seminar began with a welcome speech and a statement elaborating on the scheduled activities that would be held during the seminar.

Foreign as well as Chinese guest speakers were introduced before being allowed the opportunity to share their beautiful memories and how they came to be associated with China Daily.

The majority of the speeches showered the newspaper with praise. The speakers expressed gratitude toward their favorite publication for its positive impact upon their lives during their stay in China.

A lottery draw was conducted to select the fortunate winners with symbolic gifts to express the newspaper's appreciation of their efforts and contribution to help turn "China Daily" into an international forum of ideas and thoughts. I was lucky enough to win one of the prizes.

I was fortunate enough to be selected to give a speech emphasizing my history and beautiful memories with my favorite newspaper, China Daily. I emphasized in my speech the positive impact that the newspaper had on my life. I expressed my gratitude toward it for helping me to combat the horrible feeling of loneliness that I felt upon my arrival to China in 2003.

My speech also focused on the influence that reading China Daily had on rectifying any misconception about China and the Chinese people that I had acquired through being exposed to the propaganda of the Western media in painting China and its citizens in unflattering manner.

By reading my newspaper on a daily basis, I began to sympathize and emphasize with the Chinese and their pursuit of harmonious, happy and peaceful lifestyles.

China Daily enlightened me about China and its distinguished citizens. To return the favor, I wish for nothing but to use my gift as a writer to spread the positive and actual essence of being Chinese among my fellow foreigners.

By reading my articles and reflecting upon their content, they may come to the same conclusion about their host country and its people.

Fortunately for me, my favorite newspaper provided me with the platform to accomplish my objective. I emphasized that fact in my speech.

The second part of my speech focused on the means to spread its readership among expats in China and foreigners everywhere. I suggested that the newspaper ought to include or expand their entertainment sections and provide foreigners more space to express their views and experiences in China.

Foreigners are known to be objective-oriented people. To capture their attention, China Daily has to focus on issues that are important to them while they are living in China.

I felt honored to have the prestige of sharing my fond memories of my beloved newspaper with my colleagues foreign and Chinese alike aspiring that my message will motivate them to invite their friends and families to enjoy the experience of reading China Daily. It may help them to rectify any misconceptions that they may have about China and its people.

Finally, Happy 35th Anniversary China Daily! May you keep us informed and enlightened for decades to come and may you progress to become the number one newspaper worldwide.