Hastings Blossom Parade kicks off in Hastings, New Zealand, Oct 3, 2020. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

Watkins has taken part in the Blossom Parade every year since 1957. It was 63 years ago that he marched in his first Blossom Parade as a 8-year-old boy, whose family has lived in this city for five generations.

Both Watkins and the host of the event specially emphasized and thanked sponsorship and assistance of the the China Culture Centre in Wellington.

Guo Zongguang, director of the China Culture Center in Wellington, saw the cooperation as an opportunity to strengthen ties between both countries and promote the people-to-people and cultural exchanges.