National Council 
Second Friendship Forum Report
In 2004 the First Friendship Forum was held in China with the purpose of
building closer relationships between friends of China namely Australia,
Canada, New Zealand & USA. This was accomplished by exchange of ideas and
experiences both inside and outside China.
Two years have passed since that occasion and the implied purpose of the
Second Friendship Forum was to review, report and discuss further
developments arising from the first forum.
The forum was formally opened by the Lieutenant Governor of Hubei Provincial
Government and Mme Li Xiaolin CPAFFC Vice President.
Briefing papers were delivered by:
Mr. Xie Yuan Deputy Director General of Dept of American &
Oceania Affairs CPAFFC
Subject Review of CPAFFC work with organisations
that attended the first forum and their programme
for cooperation with other friendship
organisations.
Mr. Huang Le Hubei Provincial Department of Education
Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.
Subject How to teach in China and how to find
Chinese teachers to teach abroad.
Mr. Zhang Junsai Deputy General of Department North American &
Oceania Affairs. Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
Subject delivered an address during lunch on China's
foreign relationship with the home
countries of the visiting delegates
Mr. Pang Liping President of Hunan Provincial Friendship
Association
Mr. Tu Anbo Vice Secretary General of Jiangxi Provincial
Association
Mr. Tang Zhenxiong President Hubei Provincial Friendship Association
Mr. He Wei Vice President of Wuhan Municipal People's
Friendship Association
Opportunity was given to the delegation leaders from Australia, Canada, New
Zealand, Suriname & USA, to deliver discussion papers of equal time to the
briefing papers and interspersed between the deliveries of the briefing
papers with 15 minutes question and answers allowed to all papers.
Topics of discussion included the perennial problem of short notice from
CPAFFC of proposed visit and the consequential dilemmas experienced with
completing the arrangements within the calendar time and budgetary
constraints. Suggestions offered to alleviate short notice of proposed
visits by delegations from China included the following:
1. To formally invite the delegation in advance of the visit with a
suitable advance calendar time nominated in the invitation.
2. If any unusual delay is experienced in communication consider
writing correspondence in Chinese
3. At all times consider initiating the visit rather than being a
facilitator to meet short notice requests.
4. Determine the budgetary constraints for the visit. In Australia
the budget is US$120 - US$130 per person per day.
Teaching by Chinese nationals abroad on exchange was discussed without any
final resolution.
Ambassador for Friendship awards were presented to a long time member of
Canada (Tsin Vann) and a long time member of New Zealand for their history
of personal involvement in encouraging friendship between their country and
China.
Plaque awards were awarded to Mike Williss, Jeffery Emmel, Les Greive for
their promotion in the community and personal contributions to the
understanding and friendship between Australia and China.
I believe that there is a result from the Friendship Forum not necessarily
achieved within the forum itself but rather in the unscheduled personal
meetings between the delegates outside the forum. There is a common
denominator of friendship with China which appears to transcend all national
boundaries and promotes personal discussion and exchange of ideas with
common experienced problems.
This forum does not have any scheduled or formal agreement as conclusion but
rather leaves it to the delegates to obtain maximum benefit from the
learning experience of interaction with other English speaking countries.
After the completion of the forum a two day tour of Hubei Province was
undertaken, visiting such sights as:
1. The East lake
2. The Hubei Provincial Museum to experience the chiming of the
bells
3. Mt. Wudan and the Taoist Temple.
4. Longzhong - the home of Zhu Geliang a revered statesman 2000
years ago.
5. Cummins diesel motor production line in Xiangfan
The group then flew to Hangzhou for a relaxed three day visit hosted by
Zhejiang Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign
Countries
|
