CPAFFC President Lin Songtian visits families of well-known international friends

Jin Hanghang

O n the eve of Spring Festival， Jan 29， to implement the spirit conveyed in General Secretary Xi Jinping’s reply to families of international friends， Lin Songtian， president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries， visited families of wellknown international friends， including Isabel Crook， widow of David Crook and a PRC Friendship Medal laureate； Nakamura Kyoko， widow of Hans Mueller； and Zhou Youma， son of Dr. Shafick George Hatem.

On behalf of the CPAFFC， Lin extended a New Year’s greeting， wishing the families good luck， health and happiness in the Year of the Tiger. Lin noted that in the most difficult time of the Communist Party of China， these international friends chose to stand on the right side of history with the CPC through thick and thin. They shared weal and woe， made valuable contributions to the pursuit of truth and forged sincere friendship with the CPC and the Chinese people. The association will keep in mind Xi’s important instruction to always cherish and remember the good deeds of international friends.

Lin introduced the glorious achievements made by the CPC in the past century， the historic changes taking place in China today and the bright vision of uniting and leading the Chinese people of all ethnic groups on a new journey of socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics. He expressed appreciation and thanks to China’s international friends for their correct choice， political foresight and valuable contributions.

Lin recalled the activities the association held last year， focusing on the theme of the CPC’s centennial with families of international friends. Activities were associated with TombSweeping Day， a visit to Yan’an， CPAFFC Friendship Day， a symposium on President Xi Jinping’s reply to families of international friends and other events.

Lin said the association plans to build a group of sculptures of well-known international friends in its compound. “As a home for international friends，” he said， “the association will carry forward and inherit the red gene and vigorously promote the spirit of internationalism in the new era. We hope to work with families of international friends to enhance friendship and cooperation between the Chinese people and the people of the world， realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind， so that people around the world can enjoy peace， stability， development and prosperity.”

Family members of the three international friends commended the glorious achievements of the CPC， saying that they were very proud of their families for their deep participation in China’s revolution and construction. They expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the association cherishing， remembering and promoting the deeds of their loved ones and the spirit of internationalism.

The 107-year-old Isabel Crook gave a thumbs-up to the association for its attention to families of international friends. She insisted on sharing her favorite ice cream with Lin Songtian to show her thanks. Michael Crook， son of Isabel and chair of the International Committee for the Promotion of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives （Gung Ho-ICCIC）， said： “The work carried out by the association is embedded in people’s hearts. My mother and I will continue to support the association in calling on more families of international friends to work together and make positive contributions to people-to-people friendship between China and other countries.”

Nakamura Kyoko said that Hans Mueller often told the family not to leave China. “We followed his advice and it proved to be the right choice，”she said. Her son said， “Every time I come back to China from abroad， as long as I set foot on the land of China and see the national flag of China， I feel a sense of security and affinity. When I started to work， my father laid down three requirements for me to follow in my international trade business. The first is not to harm the Chinese people； the second is to sell the right goods， not expensive ones； the third is to serve China’s development. His advice is an inexhaustible source of motivation for me to actively participate in China’s construction.”

Zhou Youma， son of Dr. Shafick George Hatem， said， “The CPC is really great！ My father was the first foreigner to join the Red Army. The Party’s historical achievements and his personal experience fully demonstrate that without the leadership of the CPC there would be no happy life for the Chinese people today. In 2021， the CPAFFC held a series of activities to commemorate international friends. They were of great significance and let families of the international friends find a home. Thanks for President Lin’s visit. It makes me feel very warm.”

On behalf of the association， Lin also sent greeting cards and gifts to families of other international friends， including Huang Wanbi， widow of Israel Epstein； Nie Guangtao， adopted son of Rewi Alley； Jiang Guozhen， widow of Richard Frey； Eric Foster， nephew of Helen Snow； Zheng Xiaoti， daughter of Jeong Yul-Seong； and Li Yingnan， daughter of Elizaveta Pavlovna Kishikina. He wished them a joyous New Year.