At the invitation of Wesleyan College and Dr. Sun Yat-sen Hawaii Foundation in the United States, Zhang Jiming, Secretary-General of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), headed a delegation to visit Georgia, Los Angeles and Hawaii from May 12 to 18.
During their stay in the US, Zhang and the delegation held talks with representatives of relevant institutions, paid visits to overseas council members of the foundation, including honorary ones, descendants of both Dr. Sun and of the friends of Madame Soong in the US, engaged in discussions and reached consensuses over the protection and utilization of historical materials and cultural relics, historical inheritance, friendship continuity and future cooperation.
Madame Soong went to the US to study at Wesleyan College when she was young. Megan Bright, President of Wesleyan College, led all managerial personnel of the college to welcome the visit of CSCLF delegation. The Chinese delegation toured around former sites of Wesleyan College where Madame Soong used to study, visited archives, letters and souvenirs associated with Madame Soong in the college's library, and attended an exhibition on cultural relics and photos about Dr. Sun's and Madame Soong's stay in the US.
Additionally, Zhang held in-depth discussions with Bright and Melody Blake, Vice-President and Provost of Wesleyan College, over bilateral exchanges and cooperation.
The two sides jointly organized a symposium titled "Soong Ching Ling and the US: Inspirations for Today," with the participation of Bright, Blake, and the representatives of staff workers, descendants of the friends of Madame Soong in the US, and alumni of the college. Zhang delivered a keynote speech under the theme of carrying forward traditional friendship and promoting exchanges as well as cooperation, and engaged in interactions with attendees.
When visiting Los Angeles, Zhang and the delegation visited Zhang Sujiu and Sun Guoxiong, two CSCLF honorary council members, held talks with responsible personnel of Dr. Sun Yat-sen Hawaii Foundation, and paid a visit to Susan Cole, great granddaughter of former US Army General Joseph Warren Stilwell, who helped China and the Chinese people to fight against Japanese aggression in World War II.
During their stay in Hawaii, Zhang and the delegation met with overseas CSCLF council members Chen Yan and Zhuo Yiping, descendants of the friends of Dr. Sun, Lu Guanqi, President of Dr. Sun Yat-sen Hawaii Foundation, and vice-president of the foundation Zhong Guangming.
They also visited Iolani School and Punahou School, where Dr. Sun used to study in his childhood, paid tribute to his statues there, traced historical footprints and held talks with school authorities about bilateral exchanges and cooperation.
(Source: Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, CSCLF)
