Visit by Vice President Song Jingwu of CPAFFC

On September 2, 2019, a delegation of four led by Vice President Song Jingwu of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) visited the Singapore-China Friendship Association (SCFA) for in-depth exchanges with friendly personnel from various sectors in Singapore and to discuss future cooperation. Other delegation members included Zhu Dan, Deputy Director of the East Asian Department of CPAFFC, Wu Jiong, Director of the East Asian Department, and Zeng Guangming, a cadre of the East Asian Department. Consul General Qiu Yuanxing of the Chinese Embassy in Singapore, SCFA Vice Presidents Huang Jinxi, Wang Yongcheng, and Huang Xuanmin, Secretary-General Ng Yan Huay, along with directors and members, attended the exchange discussion. The meeting was chaired by SCFA President Prof Phua Kok Khoo. Heads of non-governmental organizations such as the Wu Lu Club, Nanyang Confucian Association, and Singapore Teochew Doctorate Society, as well as nearly 40 representatives from various sectors of society, attended the event. President Phua Kok Khoo first welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Association and briefly introduced the background and development of SCFA. He stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China nearly 30 years ago, government and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have continuously deepened. SCFA, through exchanges in education, culture, art, and technology, has become a distinctive platform for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. He noted that Singapore is a country with a Chinese majority and a multi-racial, multi-cultural society. The Association insists on promoting Chinese culture and advocating Chinese language to gather friendly groups and individuals committed to people-to-people exchanges, laying a civil foundation for friendship between the two countries. He expressed that SCFA is willing to carry out extensive and in-depth cooperation with CPAFFC around the "Belt and Road" initiative and the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, pushing people-to-people exchanges to a deeper and broader level. Vice President Song Jingwu thanked SCFA for the warm reception. He pointed out that China-Singapore relations have entered a new era. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of China. Looking back at history, the older generation of Nanyang pioneers and overseas Chinese, including Mr. Tan Kah Kee, have made outstanding contributions to China's reform and opening up and the independence of the Chinese nation. Vice President Song Jingwu, on behalf of CPAFFC, thanked President Phua Kok Khoo, the directors, and all members for their long-term efforts in promoting friendship between the two peoples. He stated that one of the purposes of this trip is to objectively and comprehensively listen to valuable opinions and suggestions from overseas Chinese and friendly personnel. Regarding relevant cooperation projects, CPAFFC and SCFA will strengthen communication and maintain contact to further enhance China-Singapore friendship and consolidate people-to-people friendship. Consul General Qiu Yuanxing stated that SCFA, as a "golden signboard," plays an important role in promoting people-to-people friendly exchanges, culture, education, and scientific and technological cooperation between Singapore and China. In future work, embassy colleagues will continue to support the Association's various activities and actively build bridges to help the Association's work reach a new level. At the symposium, heads of non-governmental organizations such as the Wu Lu Club, Nanyang Confucian Association, and Singapore Teochew Doctorate Society, as well as member representatives from Singapore's business, cultural, and educational sectors, spoke enthusiastically. They held heated discussions on practical issues such as how to strengthen people-to-people exchanges, strengthen cooperation between women's organizations in the two countries, jointly organize large-scale cultural activities, carry out film cooperation, broaden communication channels, and enrich exchange forms. After the discussion, President Phua Kok Khoo and Vice President Song Jingwu exchanged souvenirs on behalf of both sides and took a group photo. After the meeting, SCFA also hosted a banquet for the delegation, using local food culture to deepen the delegation's understanding of Singapore.