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Promoting People-to-people Exchanges and Building a Favorable Atmosphere


——Sidelights on CAFIU Delegation’s Visit to Japan and the Philippines Wang Bo At the invitation of Japan NPO “the World” and Philippine Center of Young Leaders in Governance (PCYL), a 6-member CAFIU delegation headed by Secretary-General Ni Jian paid a friendly visit to Japan and the Philippines from November 1 to November 8. During the visit, the delegation had extensive contacts and exchanges with politicians, NGOs and ordinary people of the two countries. This visit was a complete success as it has helped deepen the mutual understanding and friendship. As a member of the delegation, I had the chance of setting foot on the two countries for the first time. This visit not only enabled me to catch a glimpse of the customs, people and landscape of both countries, but also deepened my insight into people-to-people diplomacy. Two Neighbors Seeking Common Development Japan was the first leg of the visit. Due to Japan’s handling of its war history, “purchase” of Diaoyu Islands and Japanese Prime Ministers’ visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, recent years have seen the serious deterioration of China-Japan relations and deadlock in official exchanges. Under such circumstances, the delegation was shouldering an important task of seeking to help end the impasse by promoting people-to-people exchanges. Aiming at exploring ways to improve bilateral ties, the delegation arrived in Japan. During the five days, the delegation had exchanges with Akihiro Ohta, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Goshi Hosono, Congressman from the Democratic Party of Japan, and more than ten Congressmen from Komeito. The delegation had discussions with Agehara Yasumaro, Chairman of JCI (Junior Chamber International Japan) Japan-China Friendship Association, Hironori Yano, Chairman of International IC Association of Japan, and Hinonishi Mitsutada, Chairman of the Kazankai Foundation. The delegation also called on Soka Gakkai, visited Soka University, and attended the dinner hosted by NPO “the World”. 1. Holding extensive exchanges to enhance trust and clarify doubts. When communicating with Japanese politicians and NGOs, Secretary-General Ni Jian said that as two neighboring countries separated only by a strip of water, China and Japan should deal with problems and disputes in a calm and cautious manner in the face of current difficult situation in bilateral ties. He said that both countries need to beef up people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding in an effort to promote the improvement and development of bilateral ties. The Japanese side responded positively. They said faced with current situation, they are ready to continue pushing forward the Japan-China friendship by strengthening exchanges with China in different areas and deepening communication between the two peoples, especially young people, so as to facilitate mutual understanding and create a favorable atmosphere for the improvement of bilateral ties. 2. Reviewing the past and cherishing the hope. The delegation visited Soka University in Hachioji and had a discussion with its leaders. Founded by the famous Japanese thinker, educator and social activist Daisaku Ikeda, Soka University accepted the first group of Chinese students in 1975. The six students, together with their Japanese counterparts, took the suggestion of Mr. Daisaku Ikeda to plant sakura saplings on the campus to express their admiration and respect for Premier Zhou Enlai’s contribution to China-Japan friendship. These sakura were named after the students. The delegate Li Dongping, Council Member of CAFIU, was one of the six students. She reflected on her student life in Japan and the scenes of planting the sakura. How time flies! These saplings are now standing straight and are in full blossom every spring, attracting both passers-by and those who are devoted to promoting China-Japan friendship there to commemorate the great pioneer. The six young students and those who later followed in their steps to study in the university have played key role in China’s diplomacy. It was in the late autumn when the delegation visited the university. The fallen leaves in the chilly wind presented a somewhat bleak picture. But the flowering of sakura next year would surely be amazing. As a poem goes, a time will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves to cross the sea. We wish that China-Japan relations could turn around as soon as possible. Shared Kinship Drew us Closer After concluding the successful visit to Japan, the delegation immediately left for the next destination and arrived in the Philippines at night. The Philippines is an important country in Southeast Asia. The exchanges between China and the Philippines date back to several hundred years ago, as the frequent trading between Chinese and Pilipino businessmen long before the Spanish colonization had borne witness to the friendly exchanges between the two nations. Since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1975, the bilateral relations have been enjoying sound development until recent years, when the bilateral ties and official exchanges hit a low point as a result of the worsening disputes over South China Sea. The delegation embarked on the trip to the Philippines aiming at strengthening people-to-people exchanges, seeking understanding and enhancing mutual trust. Within two days, the delegation called on Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Congresswoman Imelda Marcos and Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino, had exchanges with Renan B. Dalisay, representative of Secretary Francis N. Pangilinan, the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, and had a discussion with several PCYL members who had visited China. The delegation also visited an international school in Manila and had a dialogue with its teachers and students. 1. Recalling good old days. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his mother, Congresswoman and former First Lady Imelda Marcos hosted a family dinner for the delegation on the second day after we arrived. Elegant as always, the 85-year-old congresswoman was still hale and hearty. She was quite excited when looking back upon her meeting with Chairman Mao Zedong in Changsha during her trip to China in 1974 as the First Lady of the Philippines to prepare for President Marcos’ visit. Senator Marcos Jr. told us that he was a 16-year-old teenager when he was visiting China with his mother back then and it was so exciting for a young man to witness the milestone moment in the journey towards normalization of diplomatic ties between China and the Philippines. However, Marcos Jr.’s father forbade him to go to China when the two countries signed the formal document the next year to establish diplomatic ties because he was going to take an important examination. Senator Marcos Jr. said it was such a pity that he missed the historic moment. The two sides had a very nice conversation over the dinner in the agreeable atmosphere. 2. Talking about shared blood and expecting the future. China and the Philippines had very frequent exchanges in history. The trading between businessmen of the two countries can date back to several hundred years ago, and a lot of residents in costal areas of China migrated to the Philippines and settled down there many years ago. As a result, 80% of the Philippine people today have Chinese blood. Many Pilipino politicians and NGO staff talked with the delegation about the kinship between Chinese and many Pilipino people told us that many Chinese are very successful and well-respected in the society of the Philippines. Secretary-General Ni Jian said that it is all the more important to carry out more people-to-people exchanges to facilitate mutual understanding under the current difficult situation. He also said that the Chinese people would like to see the recovery of bilateral ties and called on the Pilipino side to take cautious actions over certain issues. The Pilipino side was responding positively. Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino said that he hopes exchanges between youths, politicians and businesspersons could be further promoted to build a favorable atmosphere through practical cooperation. The exchanges between the delegation and PCYL members were very friendly. Several PCYL members are young local politicians. They came all the way to Manila by plane and brought the delegation specialties of their respective districts. Some of them said that they had long been looking forward to visiting China because they are Filipinos of Chinese descent, and the invitation extended by CAFIU enabled them to realize their dreams. After the visit, they changed a lot of perceptions of China and also deepened their understanding of the country. The delegation and the PCLY members were in high spirits. The PCYL members were talking with the delegation about what they had seen and felt during the visit and invited us to their districts to have a taste of tropical fruits next time we visit the Philippines. Youths represent the future of the two countries. Enhancing exchanges and mutual understanding between youths is key to people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. The delegation visited an international school in Manila and had a dialogue with young students there. Many students in the school had started to learn Mandarin and greeted us with standard “Ni Hao”. Young as they are, they have already known something about China’s economic rise and rich culture. Secretary-General Ni Jian encouraged these young students to study hard and broaden their mind so as to stand out in the fierce international competition and make more contribution to the exchanges between China and the Philippines. After the 8-day visit came to a successful conclusion, the delegation returned home. But our exploration and efforts for people-to-people diplomacy and exchanges will never end.