
A CPAFFC delegation led by its president Chen Haosu visited Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka from December 17 to 30, 2004 at the invitation of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association (CCFA), the mayor of Yangon and the Association for Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation.
Cambodia’s former King Norodom Sihanouk, Prime Minister Hun Sen, President of the National Assembly Prince Norodom Ranariddh and President of the Senate Chea Sim met with the delegation on separate occasions. Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, president of the CCFA, came to the airport to welcome the delegation and hosted a banquet in its honour.
Gen. Soe Win, prime minister of Myanmar, met with the delegation. Mayor of Yangon Brig. Gen. Aung Thein Lin as the host met with the delegation and gave a banquet in its honour.
During the delegation’s visit in Sri Lanka, tsunami hit the regions along the coast of the Indian Ocean. At the meeting with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, President Chen Haosu donated one million Sri Lankan rupees (about 80,000 RMB yuan) to the Sri Lankan Government on behalf of the CPAFFC. Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Athauda Seneviratne and the governor of the Central Province met with the delegation respectively. President Chen Haosu conferred upon Indrananda Abeysekera, executive secretary of the Association for Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation, the title of Friendship Ambassador.

At the meetings with the leaders of Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, President Chen Haosu talked about the friendly relations that date back to ancient times between China and the three countries. In the 1950s, the Chinese leaders of the older generation including Premier Zhou Enlai attached great importance to developing relations with the third world countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America and sowed the seeds of friendship in the three countries. Friendly bilateral ties have witnessed steady growth ever since then. China persists in building good-neighbourly relationships and partnership with the neighbouring countries, pursues a foreign policy of bringing harmony, security and prosperity to its neighbours, and hopes to further enhance friendly relations with the new generation of leaders of all these countries in the new century so that the friendship between them will grow in keeping with the times.
Former Cambodian King Sihanouk recalled happily his fraternal friendship with Premier Zhou Enlai, Marshal Chen Yi and other Chinese leaders of the older generation when meeting with the delegation. He attributed what he is today to the encouragement and support given to him by the older generation of Chinese leaders. He said, the Cambodian people will never forget the profound friendship of the Chinese people and will continue to cherish this friendship between our two peoples. Though he has abdicated, he still has a lot to do. He will continue to make contribution to Cambodia-China friendship. Sihanouk spoke highly of China’s rapid development, saying that many third world countries have adopted Chinese experience to guide their own development. China is the most peace-loving and stable country in the world. A prosperous China will play an important role in maintaining world peace.

Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen said, as a member of the new generation of Cambodian leadership, he has been working to further friendly ties between Cambodia and China. He visited China three times in 2004 alone and met with Chinese leaders and exchanged views on friendly cooperation. The Cambodian Government will as always stick to the one-China policy and will not change this policy whatever happens in the Taiwan Straits.
During his meeting with the delegation, Gen. Soe Win, prime minister of Myanmar said, Myanmar and China share the same river and have a history of traditional paukphow (fraternal) friendship. Marshal Chen Yi visited Myanmar 9 times and became a household name here. The present visit to Myanmar by President Chen Haosu, a new generation of friendly personages of China is the continuation of the cause of friendship pioneered by the older generation and embodies the friendly sentiments our two countries have for each other. And he himself has gained a new friend. Cooperation between ASEAN and China has been strengthened continuously in the new century and the traditional friendship between Myanmar and China has witnessed further growth. Prime Minister Soe Win asked President Chen to convey his greetings to President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. He thanked China and the Chinese people for the understanding and support they have given to Myanmar in its democratization process. He said, Myanmar’s policy is consistent. It will as always support China’s position and policy.
Athauda Seneviratne, minister of labour relations and foreign employment, recalled the scene when China’s seat in the United Nations was restored more than 30 years ago. He said, Sri Lanka had given firm support to China then and was overjoyed for it. He expressed thanks to China for giving Sri Lanka assistance and support in the political, economic, cultural and other fields over the years. He said, Sri Lanka is proud for China’s achievements in recent years and will stand by China and continue to enhance mutual political trust and economic cooperation.