Reception in Celebration of CPAFFC 50th Anniversary Held

The CPAFFC gave a grand reception on the evening of May 20 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding. State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan attended and spoke at the reception.

Tang Jiaxuan, first of all, extended cordial greetings and best wishes, on behalf of the Chinese Government, to those international friends who had been working over the years to promote friendship with China and those who had contributed to the cause of China’s people-to-people diplomacy.

Tang Jiaxuan fully affirmed the great achievements scored in China’s people-to-people diplomacy in the past five decades. He said, China’s people-to-people diplomacy has traversed a glorious course of 50 years. In the past half a century, earth-shaking changes have taken place in the world. In face of the changeable international situation, China has unswervingly pursued the independent foreign policy of peace, advocated and adhered to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and actively developed the relations of friendship and cooperation with all countries and peoples in the world. China has more and more friends in the world and enjoys unprecedentedly high international standing. China is increasingly active in the diplomatic field and has achieved great results. As an important component part of China’s total diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy has played an irreplaceable important role in promoting friendship and cooperation between the people of China and the world.

Tang Jiaxuan pointed out, as a major people-to-people diplomatic organization, the CPAFFC has, over the past 50 years, done a great deal of useful work to enhance friendship between the Chinese and other peoples of the world, promote mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and establish and expand the social basis for China to build friendly relations with all countries of the world, and received high appraisal both at home and abroad. Tang expressed the belief that with concerted efforts by all, China’s people-to-people diplomacy will achieve greater success and the CPAFFC will play an even greater role.

CPAFFC President Chen Haosu said in his speech, a period of fifty years is but a short moment in the long history. Heavier tasks are awaiting us ahead and more remarkable achievements are calling for creation. The comrades working at the nongovernmental diplomatic posts will shoulder the glorious tasks, do a better job and achieve greater successes.

Gian Franco Terenzi, former captain regent of San Marino and president of San Marino-China Friendship Association, spoke at the reception and together with CPAFFC President Chen Haosu unveiled the set of commemorative stamps entitled “Dedicated to China”. These stamps are issued specially by San Marino Postal Authority for the occasions of the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the CPAFFC as an expression of their friendly sentiments towards the Chinese people.

Dr. Helmut Sohmen, honorary president of the Austrian Association for Promotion of Friendship and Cultural Relations with China, presented to CPAFFC President Chen Haosu a sheet of stamps specially issued by the Postal Authority of Austria to mark the 50th anniversary of the CPAFFC.

Vice Chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Ismail Amat and Cheng Siwei, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Xu Kuangdi, CPAFFC Advisers Wang Guangying, Buhe, Tomur Dawamat, Peng Peiyun and Song Jian, leading members of the relevant departments of the Central Committee of the CPC and State Council, and leading members of China’s provincial, municipal and autonomous regional friendship associations, totaling over 600 attended the reception. Also present at the reception were more than 400 foreign friends from all over the world including former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, former Australian Prime Minister Robert James Lee Hawke, former Captain Regent of San Marino Gian Franco Terenzi and world’s first woman astronaut, President of the Russia International Cooperation Association V. V. Tereshkova, diplomatic envoys to China and representatives of the offices of foreign organizations in China. Ali Mlahaili, head of the delegation of the Association for Comoros-China Friendship, Moises Sio Wong, chairman of the Cuba-China Friendship Association, Tefera Waluwa, minister of capacity building of Ethiopia, Takashi Tsujii, president of the Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association, and Barbara Harrison, president of the US-China Peoples Friendship Association, made warm speeches at the reception.

The Children and Young Women’s Chorus of the China National Symphony Orchestra sang well-known foreign songs at the reception.