ＡＤＬ ＵＳＡ Ｌｅａｄｅｒｓ Ｄｅｌｅｇａｔｉｏｎ Ｖｉｓｉｔｓ Ｃｈｉｎａ

A 21-member delegation of the leaders of Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of the United States visited Beijing， Harbin， Xi’an and Shanghai from March 17 to 27 at the invitation of the CPAFFC. During its stay in Beijing， the delegation called on Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing， Cultural Minister Sun Jiazheng and Minister Cai Wu of the Information Office of the State Council. CPAFFC Vice President Li Xiaolin hosted a banquet in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham H. Foxman， head of the rest delegation and national director of ADL who arrived in Beijing ahead of the rest of the delegation. In Shanghai， the delegation and the Centre of Jewish Studies Shanghai held a seminar on the relationship and friendship between the Chinese and Jewish people， visited Ohel Rachel Synagogue on the former Seymour Road and the former Jewish site in Hongkou District. In Harbin， it visited the photo exhibition Jews in Harbin and the Huangshan Jewish cemetery.

ADL is an influential Jewish organization of the United States and is well-known in the world. Founded in 1913， it has its headquarters in New York and 30 regional offices in the United States with more than 250，000 members and supporters. The aims of the ADL are to stop defamation， prejudice and hatred of the Jewish people and to secure just and fair treatment for all citizens. It advocates that different nations in the world should communicate with， understand and respect each other.

When meeting with the delegation， Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing pointed out， the friendship between the Chinese and the Jewish peoples dates back to ancient times. As early as in the Song Dynasty， there were Jewish inhabitants and communities in Kaifeng， capital of China. Both before and after the Second World War， China provided refuge for the persecuted Jews in Harbin and Shanghai. China is proud of having done something for the Jewish people. China also received help from the American Jews in its cause of seeking national liberation and independence， which the Chinese people will never forget. On Sino-US relations， Li said， Sino-US relations have developed quite smoothly on the whole， which has brought real benefits to both peoples. The heads of the two countries met three times last year， during which President Bush expressed the U. S.’ adherence to the one-China principle and the three Sino-US Joint Communiqués and its opposition to Taiwan independence. The two sides communicated with each other and exchanged views on international and regional issues and reached consensus in broad areas.

Foxman said， the Jewish and the Chinese are two ancient peoples. They respect tradition and pay great attention to family and education. As friends of the Chinese people， the delegation has come to China mainly to study， to learn about China’s current problems and concerns. When talking about his impressions on visiting the photo exhibition Jews in Harbin and the Huangshan Jewish Cemetery in Harbin， he said， in the past Jews suffered discrimination， prejudice and persecution in many countries， but there has never been anti-Semitism in China. On the contrary， China provided refuge for the Jews who were prosecuted in Europe， which the Jews will always remember and be grateful.

The members of the delegation who had visited China 11 years ago marveled at the changes in China. They said， as friends they felt heartened to see that China has developed into a powerful country through its own efforts. Despite the great changes， China as always is friendly to the Jewish people. Friends should understand each other， including their pains and give each other influence and friendship. When they go back home， they will share their experiences in China with their families， friends and colleagues and ask them to come to China to see for themselves.