Li Songwu, secretary-general of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, led a delegation to visit Malaysia and Singapore on May 4 to 11. During this visit, the association carried out its mission of "peace, unity and future", successfully held a series of activities "continuing the spirit of Sun Yat-sen and Soong Ching Ling as well as telling stories of friendship", and promoted communication and friendship. Others in attendance during the visit included Ai Duo, director of the management center for the former residence of Soong Ching Ling, which now serves as a research center for the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation; representatives from the Young Gentleman of Time Tangshan Huatian Fund Management Committee; as well as Yan Yuhao and Huang Lixin, deputy managers for Tangshan Huatian Group.

Promoting collaboration with Young Gentleman of Time

During the visit, Director Ai signed the project cooperation agreement with Liao Jingyi, headmaster for the Penang Chinese Girls' Private High School in Malaysia, while witnessed by Secretary-General Li and Luo Nanhui, director of four schools in Penang

Zhang Jingrou and 11 other students interpreted the photo exhibition Sun Yat-sen, Soong Ching Ling and the Young Gentleman, allowing the students to understand Sun Yat-sen and Soong Ching Ling's great importance in education as well as efforts to support women and children. She also told the story of Soong launching the "young gentleman" movement to cultivate future leaders, winning praise from leaders and guests. Yan Yuhao presented some relevant books about Soong to the school.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage of Singapore (SACH), represented by the Wanqingyuan, or Sun Yat-sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, signed a memorandum of understanding with the former residence of Soong Ching Ling on project and exhibition cooperation. Secretary-General Li said that Wanqingyuan is a bridge to deepen the friendship between China and Singapore, and that the signing of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation will help tell the story of Sun and Soong. Also, the program will promote in-depth exchanges among teenagers and provide a new impetus for the development of bilateral relations in the new era.

Chen Ziyu, deputy director for SACH, said cooperation is not limited to the Wanqingyuan, as related cultural and museum institutions could collaborate on the exhibition in many other respects, such as cultural protection and exhibition planning. Others attending the event included Luo Bingling, director of the department of cultural heritage institutions for SACH; Huang Renan, director of the department of international relations for SACH; and Ke Mulin, academic adviser for Wanqingyuan.

Promoting communication through the work of teens

Lively international exchange activities for teens held over the years have helped sow the seeds of peace and friendship in the hearts of young children.

An event in the Penang Base Memorial Hall for Sun Yat-sen in Malaysia honored such youth, bestowing first prize in the Soong Ching Ling Children's Invention Prize on Gan Xinjie and Wu Jiajun, and second prize on Xu Yikang. The winners shared their experiences with great interest, while audience members watched a short video of students participating in the program in Penang. Students at the school performed dances, sword fighting and other artistic works, reflecting the charm of traditional Chinese culture.

The delegation also visited the Science Museum of Penang University, accompanied by director Zokumian Hassan and Professor Kim Soo-ha, and visited the Penang Butterfly Park to see the exhibits and students' classes.

More than 10 students from Singapore Lihua Middle School introduced the Brush and Line special exhibition to the delegation. Speaking fluent Mandarin, they told stories of caricatures published in newspapers more than 100 years ago, inspiring heroic feelings over the rise and fall of the world as well as the responsibility of every citizen.

The Young Gentleman of the Time project and the educational activities of Singapore's Wanqingyuan share much in common. The two sides have been discussing exchange programs for teens since 2018. Additionally, the delegation talked with teachers from Lihua Middle School, including Zhang Ruichun, to learn more about their ideas.

Chen Chen, charge for the Chinese embassy in Malaysia, and Zhang Xumin, charge for the Chinese embassy in Singapore,[Not sure if this is correct – the original seemed to be incorrect, but if I am wrong, let me know and I’ll edit it again, thanks!] met with the delegation and expressed their admiration for Soong, who once served as the country's honorary chairman. They also said that the program will promote exchanges between teens and expressed their best wishes for its success.