On June 20, 2019, CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin met with Yanibel Abrego, president of the National Assembly of Panama and a delegation. CPAFFC Vice-President Song Jingwu stood with Chinese and Russian youths who attended the opening ceremony of the activity — retracing the 70 years of friendship between China and Russia. Contents Voice of Friendship stems from Interview Shi Jing (Book of Songs). 04 Interview with Bulgarian Ambassador to China H.E. Grigor Porozhanov / Staff Reporter China and Central and Eastern European Countries 07 Former Bulgarian student reminisces about her days in China / Iskra Doumkova, PhD 09 Former Czech President Klaus, promoter and practitioner of China-Czech relations / Huo Yuzhen 05 11 An outstanding envoy of friendship between China and Romania / Luo Dongquan 14 Stories behind establishment of Czech-China diplomatic relations / Ivan Bakesova View 16 “Wandering national treasures” witnessing blend of Eastern and Western civilizations / Lian Jianlei 14 20 Xi Jinping in my eyes and those of my Peruvian friends / Meng Kexin 22 Our “Belt and Road” / Wang Qi 25 China’s Miracles / Jinith de Silva 27 Veteran diplomat shares stories with Chinese and Japanese youths / Shen Haiting Cultural Exchanges 39 29 A Journal of Canaan / Li Zhe 31 When “the most Chinese” meets “the most Italian” / Yang Le 34 Picking floating wine cups from winding creek / Liu Wenwen 36 Musical Dream of Youth takes stage in the Great Hall of the People / Liu Wenwen and Hua Jiaguang 55 2 NO.197 September 2019 37 Cartoon exhibition promotes exchanges between Chinese, Japanese youths / Liu Wenwen and Wang Hao Warm Reminiscences 38 Once upon a time in Bussiere’s Garden / He Yan 43 Lao Dong and his story of a small city / Lan Yan 46 Joseph Needham and Rewi Alley’s China complexes / Liu Guozhong Between Friendship Cities Published in Chinese and English 52 Links Between Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu debuts in British Museum / Jiangxi Friendship Association Front Cover: On Aug 12, 2019, 53 Jiangxi attends Fifth China-US Governors Forum / Jiangxi Friendship Association CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin met with Ahad Mohammadi, 55 2019 Hungarian Youth Guangdong Culture Tour a success president of the Iran-China / Guangdong Friendship Association Friendship Association. 56 Dialogue deepens friendship between China, France / Wang Xi Express News 57 Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan marks 70th anniversary of Mongolian ties / Wu Jiong Sponsored and published by the Chinese People’s Association for 58 Vice-President Xie Yuan meets UPS president of global public affairs / Jin Hanghang Friendship with Foreign Countries 58 Vice-President Hu Sishe meets with Swiss federal parliamentarian / Liu Jiayun Editor-in-Chief: Gao Weimin 59 Vice-President Lin Yi meets with the new president of Swiss-China Association / Sun Jiao Address: 1 Taijichang St., Beijing, 100740, China 59 Vice-President Song Jingwu meets with Bologna vice-mayor / Wang Zeyu 60 Secretary-General Li Xikui attends Zhejiang forum and ceremony / Shao Shuai Fax: (010) 65122782 E-mail: [email protected] 60 Japanese delegation comes to Shenyang for exchange / Shenyang Friendship Association http://www.cpaffc.org.cn http://www.qikan.com ISSN 1000-9582 CN11-1234/D 3 Interview Interview with Bulgarian Ambassador to China H.E. Grigor Porozhanov Staff Reporter Bulgaria followed the Soviet ister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Pop- One very good example of our Union in recognizing the People’s tomov sent a positive response to friendly bilateral relations, which also Republic of China in 1949 and Chinese Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai. shows the mutual trust between our establishing diplomatic relations. Now, 70 years later, China has devel- nations, was the search and rescue This year marks the 70th anniversary. oped into a prosperous country and has mission for a missing Bulgarian citizen Over the past decades, despite some made remarkable economic and social around Xixabangma Mountain in ups and downs, the China-Bulgaria progress, becoming the world’s second May 2018. I would like once again to relationship has become increasingly largest economy. Over the past seven express our heartfelt gratitude to the prosperous, with extensive exchanges decades, through joint efforts, Bulgaria Chinese government for the assistance and cooperation seen in various fields. and China have made significant ac- it rendered to the Bulgarian government In July this year, President Xi Jinping complishments in bilateral cooperation in organizing the unprecedented search held talks with Bulgarian President in the political, economic, cultural and and rescue mission in the PRC. Rumen Radev at the Great Hall of the educational spheres. People in Beijing during Radev’s state I take this opportunity to express Bulgaria, as a bridge linking visit to China. They lifted state-to-state my sincere gratitude to all former Europe and Asia, is in a prime relations to a strategic partnership. generations of politicians, diplomats, geographical position. Under the Would you share with us your views entrepreneurs, educators and artists who Belt and Road framework and the on the development of friendly ties have contributed to the development 17+1 mechanism between China between China and Bulgaria? of Bulgaria-China relations and to and Central and Eastern European Answer: In 2019 we commemo- the increasing mutual understanding countries, China and Bulgaria have rate the 70th anniversary of the es- between both nations. I also express my conducted increasingly multifaceted tablishment of diplomatic relations sincere hope that our common efforts exchanges. What are your expectations between Bulgaria and China. Bulgaria will further deepen and strengthen aboutpragmatic cooperation between was the second country to establish cooperation for the sake of future the two countries? diplomatic relations with the People’s generations. Let us all look forward to Answer: During the last year, Republic of China. On Oct 3, 1949, strengthening our partnership in the we advanced our high-level political only a day after the Chinese govern- years to come, bearing in mind the dialogue and pooled efforts for raising ment proposed the establishment of ancient saying of Confucius: “Looking relations to a new and higher level. The diplomatic relations, Bulgarian Min- into the future, learning from the past”. official visit of Premier Li Keqiang 4 Voice of Friendship No. 197 Semtember 2019 to Bulgaria and the Seventh Summit cooperation so far: the region of its partner, Sofia. This is of China and Central and Eastern The establishment in Sofia of just one example of how the strategic European Countries in Sofia in July the Global Partnership Center will partnership can be implemented at the 2018 have provided substantial impetus ensure the transparency of China-CEE local level to improve people’s lives for the aforementioned development cooperation and will raise awareness of and contribute to a better understanding and have further cemented our friendly the relevant EU rules and regulations. of their partners. and cooperative ties, raising them to a The center plans to organize training new height and adding a wider regional and consulting activities to promote Chinese culture is very popular dimension to them. The fourth 16+1 cooperation in trade, investment among Bulgarians. In Bulgaria, Local Leaders Meeting in October and infrastructure to help Chinese more and more local people tend to 2018 provided an important follow- businesses better understand the celebrate the traditional Chinese New up, and today we are witnessing active legislation of the EU, as well as that Year, watch documentaries on China exchanges between Bulgarian and of Central and Eastern European and learn the Chinese language. How Chinese provinces. countries. Our nation is the host of the should China and Bulgaria further The cooperation between center for promotion of cooperation promote cultural exchanges? companies on both sides has further in agriculture, as well as the first Answer: Cultural and educational strengthened and resulted in a demonstration center for e-commerce relations are experiencing unprecedent- considerable impact on other important under the 17+1 initiative. ed intensity. Significant steps have been aspects of our relationship. We are happy that on the local taken toward further strengthening our In July 2019, during his state visit government level the cooperation is in- cooperation in the areas of science and to China, the president of Bulgaria, creasing, and I commend Jiangxi prov- technology. The partnership between H.E. Rumen Radev, held talks with ince for organizing its first agricultural Bulgarian and Chinese universities is President Xi Jinping, and the two sides seminar for officials and experts from expanding, and people-to-people ties agreed to raise the bilateral relations to a level of a strategic partnership, with the aim of expanding cooperation in the areas of tourism, agriculture, trade, investment, innovation and technology infrastructure. My expectations on the pragmatic cooperation are for an increase in Bulgarian exports to China and successfully attracting more Chinese investments, tourists and students to Bulgaria, strengthening academic, cultural, local government-level and people-to-people exchanges. Bulgaria hopes to bring more Bulgarian products to the Chinese market. Here I will mention some of the pragmatic results of our bilateral Bulgarian Ambassador to China H.E. Grigor Porozhanov 5 Interview are already shaping a better future for their shopping in online Chinese stores. about 40,000 historical monuments the next generation. registered there, 36 cultural reserves, That idea is what leads Bulgar- Bulgaria, on the coast of the 160 monasteries, and more than 300 ian university students to broaden Black Sea, boasts rich tourism re- museums and galleries. their horizons by coming to China to sources. It enjoys a time-honored his- I would like to mention a few study Chinese and what leads Chinese tory. There are a lot of historic sites in highlights for this year’s tourism in to study in Bulgaria, a proud member the country, some of which are world of the European Union.