On 25 November 2019, Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), paid a visit to the Former Residence of Soong Ching Ling in Beijing, and exchanged views with the management centre of the Former Residence as well as the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF) on how to carry forward the Soong Ching Ling spirit and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Secretary-General Chen Dehai said that the core of the Soong Ching Ling spirit is to achieve the integration of national interests and common interests of mankind. Under the guidance of “Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind”, we will, as always, follow the principles of mutual respect, equal-footed consultation and solidarity to build a better world that is more open, inclusive, universal-beneficial, balanced and win-win, and advance exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. ACC would work closely with CSCLF and the management centre to make new contributions to deepening practical cooperation and friendly exchanges between ASEAN and China.

Ms. Ai Duo, Director of the management centre , shared several touching stories of the friendly exchanges between Ms. Soong Ching Ling and leaders of Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Viet Nam. She said that in the new era, Soong Ching Ling spirit is even more relevant in deepening friendly exchanges with ASEAN countries for the great cause of human progress.

Ms. Yang Hua, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of CSCLF, said that ASEAN is high on the agenda of CSCLF’s external exchanges. CSCLF is ready to work closely with ACC for a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.