Sunday Times 2
CPAFFC: China’s instrument of people-to-people friendship
China has maintained good friendly relations with neighbouring countries since bygone days due to two reasons. One was trade and the other was Buddhism. China’s links with Sri Lanka goes back to 2500 years. China did not occupy or annex any country as some European nations did.
By the 15th century, China had become a big naval power with navigator Admiral Sheng. His crisscrossing the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea seven times during 1405-1433 for trade purposes. But these visits also helped China to cultivate friendly relations with the countries he visited. He took some of the representatives of these countries to China and introduced them to the then emperor.
After the people’s revolution of 1949, China continued its policy of pursuing good foreign relations and took steps to establish diplomatic ties with many countries. Post-revolution Chinese governments also realised that in addition to inter-state connections, there should be people-to-people connection for relations to be meaningful. Former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping once said if there was only cooperation between the two governments without people-to-people contacts there would not be a solid basis for relations between two countries.
Therefore, for the cultivation of state-to-state and people-to-people relation CPAFFC (Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries) was set up in 1954. Enhancing people’s friendship, further international cooperation, safeguarding world peace and promoting common development are some of its key objectives.
This organisation receives the fullest cooperation of the Chinese government and other organisations to achieve these objectives. Today there are more than 500 NGOs connected to CPAFFC in 157 countries. Since 1981, the Sri Lanka China Society has been maintaining social and cultural relationship with CPAFFC.
It invites representatives of other countries to visit China to promote people-to-people contacts. In addition to visits, seminars, forums and workshops, the CPAFFC also helps states in activities that promote economy, science and technology to achieve win-win results. It also promotes the exchange of cultural troupes and performers.
The group sees that the twin city concept is another way of promoting people-to-people contacts. In this manner Sri Lankan cities like Colombo, Hambantota, Galle and Polonnaruwa are connected to Chinese cities.
Senior officials of these societies are offered honorary title of friendship ambassadors or an award for their contribution towards people’s friendship. When Sri Lanka celebrated the 50 years of diplomatic relations with China in 2007, a CPAFFC delegation visited Sri lanka and awarded honorary titles to 15 Sri Lankans who had worked tirelessly to develop Sino- Lanka relations.
In its mission to safeguard world peace and common security, the CPAFFC believes it can play a positive role in preventing world wars. It publishes an international magazine titled Voice of Friendship to focus on the principles it believes in.
Under the leadership of the present CPAFFC president, Li Xiaolin, the groups has received wider recognition and risen to greater heights.
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the setting up of the CPAFFC, the Sri Lanka China Society together with the CPAFFC’s cultural and exchange department will be holding an exhibition on the evolution of Chinese characters on December 4 and 5 at the National Art Gallery of Colombo. The CPAFFC is marking the anniversary on a grand scale in Beijing this month.
(The writer is the Vice President of the Sri Lanka-China Society)