By Shen Fang, CPAPD Staff

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People-to-People Friendship:Everlasting and Renewal

By Shen Fang, CPAPD Staff

--Highlights of a good-will visit to India, Sri Lanka, Thailand by Han Qide,Vice Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the CPPCC and President of the CPAPD

At the beginning of the new year 2018 on the occasion of early Spring and late Winter, at the invitation of the All India Peace and Solidarity Organization, Pathfinder Foundation of Sri Lanka and National Legislative Assembly of Thailand. Han Qide, Vice Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and President of the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament (CPAPD) headed the CPAPD delegation on a good-will visit to India, Sri Lanka and Thailand from Jan 31 to February 9, 2018, who was accompanied by He Jun, CPAPD Vice President, and Yin Hong, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society, and CPAPD Executive Council Member. Han Qide is both a national leader and a leader of the CPAPD, the largest people’s peace group in China, with both official and non-official identity, has rich and diverse communications with the hosts. During the visit, there were high-level meetings, and extensive contacts with friendly groups, research institutions and dignitaries, and good results were achieved. CPAPD President Han Qide systematically briefed President Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in a New Era and the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, and told Chinese stories, the CPC stories and Chinese people's stories with simple language and vivid examples, drawing enthusiastic response and widespread sympathy in those countries.

India, Sri Lanka and Thailand are all important neighbors around China. The friendly contacts between the Chinese people and the peoples of the three countries are extended from the ancient time to the present. The friendly exchanges between China and India began in the Qin and Han Dynasties, monk FA Xian in the Jin Dynasty went to Sri Lanka to study Buddhism, the Sino-Thai friendship between the two peoples can be traced back to two thousand years ago during the Three Kingdoms period. Although China's friendly relations with the three countries have also experienced twists and turns, peace and friendship are always the mainstream. As the delegation was visiting the three countries, it is the Spring time with seasonal flowers in South and Southeast Asian countries, while the delegation was enjoying the natural beauty, it deeply felt the sincere friendship of the peoples of the three countries toward China.

Hindi Chini Bhaibhai

Tagore once said, "China and India are very old and very intimate brothers." Meeting with Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Dr. M. Thambi Durai and other governmental officials and dignitaries, Han Qide stressed that China always adheres to keeping the development of friendly relations and cooperation with India in an important position in the external exchanges. China and India are both close neighbors and the largest developing countries in the world. The friendly exchanges between the two countries are deep and the Chinese and Indian peoples are going to be friendly for generations to come. Dr. M. Thambi Durai made a positive response, and pointed out that strengthening the India-China friendly cooperation is consensus of various political parties in India, the peoples of the two countries should strengthen exchanges, and promote the historical heritage of friendship. Mr. Biman Banerjee, Speaker of West Bengal Legislative Assembly said, West Bengal has always been committed to development of friendly relations and cooperation with China. At the same time, more Chinese enterprises are welcome to the state of West Bengal to invest for business. Shaking hands with Vice Chairman Han Qide, he warmly shouted "long live India-China friendship!".

During the stay in India, the delegation also had discussions and exchange of views on issues of common concern with parliamentarians and former MPs, representatives from India-China Friendship Association, Vivekananda International Foundation, Jawaharlal Nehru University and other friendly organizations and institutes, totaling 20 persons. The two sides had frank and heated exchanges, communicating directly in English for efficiency and time-saving, yet, it was still over the scheduled time. In the exchanges, Indian friends pointed out that although Indian officials have some differences on the Belt and Road Initiative, while Indian people generally believe that this initiative is conducive to development of India, and the cooperation between the two sides can be kicked off gradually at the non-governmental level. Leaders of All India Peace and Solidarity Organization – a cooperative partner who has maintained long-term friendly relations with the CPAPD, came to meet the delegation at the hotel where the delegation stayed. The head of the organization said that(Indian and Chinese are brothers). India and China together with the two peoples should work together to achieve common prosperity and create the Asian century. The delegation learned from what it saw and heard that as Deng Xiaoping pointed out that only as China and India get developed, will there be a real Asian century. China and India are close neighbors as brothers, should work hand in hand, and make concerted efforts for the well-being of the two peoples as well as regional and world peace and stability.

Sri Lanka: lasting and consolidated traditional friendship

The friendship between China and Sri Lanka has a long history and been handed down from generation to generation. Sri Lanka in China’s classics is called a lion country or Sinhalese country historically. In the year 410 in the Jin Dynasty of China, monk Fa Xian traveled to Sri Lanka to have retrieved Buddhist scriptures and compiled a book entitled "Records of Buddhist Kingdoms". Zheng He, the navigator of the Chinese Ming Dynasty, came to Sri Lanka on several occasions during his voyages to the West Ocean. In the 15th Century, a prince of Sri Lanka visited China, and settled down in Quanzhou in Fujian on the way home, and was surnamed Shi by the then emperor, the descendents of whom are still living in Quanzhou and Taiwan. In the last century, as both countries had a difficult time, and signed the famous "Rice and Rubber Agreement", which is still commended by the peoples of the two countries. Today, the two countries have broad consensus on many major international and regional issues and maintain good cooperation. At the meeting with Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Mr. Karu Jayasuriya, both Han Qide and the host reviewed bilateral traditional friendship, and mentioned the historical stories in the course of friendly exchanges between the two peoples. The two leaders had exchange of views not only on bilateral relations, and foreign policies, but also talked about their family members and the people's livelihood. From a medical perspective, Han Qide mentioned to Karu to strengthen the medical assistance, to help the Sri Lankan people to prevent and treat diseases like dengue fever, diabetic nephropathy, kidney troubles, etc.. Speaker Karu in his residence set a dinner in honor of CPAPD President Han and his party, Han Qide presented his calligraphy with Chinese character "Fu" (meaning happiness) to the Speaker. The Speaker is so happy that he had a group photo with Han’s calligraphy holding in his hands. At the working luncheon with leaders from Sri Lankan Pathfinder Foundation, Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association, Sri Lanka-China Society, Sri Lanka-China Journalists Association, Sri Lanka-China Buddhist Friendship Association, and Sri Lanka-China Association of Social and Cultural Cooperation, Sri Lankan representatives delivered ebullience speeches saying that General Secretary Xi Jinping in the Report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC points out that China always adheres to the road of peaceful development, and will never seek hegemony even as it gets stronger, and that the Sri Lankan people really feel happy as they have a true friend committed to firmly safeguarding peace and maintaining peace, the two peoples should keep the friendship from generation to generation, and are always a strong force for safeguarding peace. At the working discussions, experts from the Sri Lankan Defense Research Institute, Bandaranaike Center for International Studies stressed that the academic circles of the two countries should carry out joint research on Sri Lanka-China big cooperation projects, and the joint construction of the Belt and Road, present suggestions and ideas, and better promote healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.

Thailand: China and Thailand are close as family members

China and Thailand are close neighbors, and the peoples of the two countries have close kinship as family members. Several hundreds years ago, many Chinese began traveling to Thailand to settle down, and gradually become an important part of Thai society, and make a great contribution to the development and prosperity of Thailand. During this visit, the deep and sincere feelings of the two peoples are not only reflected in the high-level meetings and talks, but also in the extensive contacts with the Thai people of all walks of life. Meeting with CPAPD President Han Qide, President of Thailand's National Legislative Assembly Mr. Pornpetch Wichitcholchai pointed out that Thailand and China are always friends, share mutual help, and the two peoples are brotherly linked by flesh and blood. First Vice-President of Thailand's National Legislative Assembly Mr. Surachai Liengboonlertchai gave a dinner in honor of Han Qide’s visit to Thailand. Although not very fluent in Mandarin, he was still repeatedly speaking Chinese to Han Qide, friendship shown between the lines. At the end of the dinner, his affectionate blessing "long live peace, long live Thailand-China friendship!" In Thailand, during discussions with Thailand-China Parliamentarians’ Friendship Group, Thai-China Cultural and Economic Association, Strategic Studies Center of Thailand, Thai friends spoke highly of the great achievements made by China, and hopes to learn from China’s development experience so as to promote development of Thailand. Thai friends generally pin high hopes on China’s development and Sino-Thai cooperation, especially look forward to strengthen the Belt and Road cooperation, and take a ride on express train-like development. Thai scholars also proposed to carry out research on major topics of common concern to each other; two is to strengthen exchanges of Buddhism; and three is to carry out the cultural exchange for "finding roots tour", because Thailand has a lot of people with Chinese ancestry. During the exchange and visit, the delegation felt that the Chinese and Thai cultures are so identical that they wish each other well as "close relatives and close neighbors."

As an important diplomatic activity in bilateral relations, from the policy briefing to the discussion of problems, from extensive consultations on advice to amity building, CPAPD President Han has made a successful visit. Historically, the Chinese people and the peoples of the three countries always share friendship and harmony. In recent years, China and the three countries have deepened their political mutual trust, have closer economic and trade cooperation, and closer cultural exchanges. The all-round, multi-field and in-depth friendly cooperative relations maintain steady development momentum. We have every reason to believe that in the new era, the friendship between China and India, Sri Lanka and Thailand will further develop, and the people-to-people friendship will become stronger and consolidated.