Premier Wen Meets with ROK and Chinese Children

At the invitation of the CPAFFC， a group consisting of 20 orphans from the Republic of Korea organized by the Korea-China Friendship Association of Culture and Economy (KCFACE) paid a visit to Beijing and had friendly exchanges with Chinese children from the Wenchuan and Yushu earthquake-hit areas of Southwest China from June 9 to 13. This activity was the sequel of last year’s visit to the ROK by a 20-member delegation of teenagers from the Wenchuan area led by CPAFFC Vice President LiXiaolin on the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake. On the afternoon of May 17， 2009， ROK President Lee Myung-bak and his wife cordially met with the Chinese delegation and children from ROK orphanages at the Cheongwadae Presidential Palace. The deep friendship forged in Seoul between the children of the two countries led to this year’s get-together in Beijing.

In order to let the ROK orphans and Chinese children from the earthquake-hit areas have a good know- ledge about China’s long history and culture and the brilliant culture of China’s ethnic groups， the CPAFFC arranged rich and colorful activities such as a sightseeing tour of the Palace Museum， the Great Wall， the Temple of Heaven， and Tiananmen Square as well as watching a Chinese acrobatic performance. When Premier Wen Jiabao learned of the activity， he kindly invited the children to Zhongnanhai on the afternoon of June 11. Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun， CPAFFC Vice President Li Xiaolin， CPAFFC Secretary General Luo Qin， ROK Ambassador to China Yu Woo-ik and Minister-Counselor of the ROK Embassy in China Shin Bong- sup were also present.

A total of 20 Korean children from three orphanages and 19 Chinese youngsters， including orphans， from the Sichuan and Qinghai earthquake-affected areas were welcomed.

At about 3 o’clock， as Premier Wen appeared， the Chinese and Korean children in colorful national costumes cheerfully flocked to his side. Premier Wen amiably inquired about their life and study. When he learned that a Tibetan boy had lost three of his family members in the earthquake， his eyes were filled with tears.

“What’s your name?” Premier Wen bent forward and asked a Korean boy standing next to him. “My name is Kim Jee-eun. I am a boy. I am a pupil.” The boy answered in virtually the only Chinese he knew without stopping. It set everybody laughing. Premier Wen’s kindness quickly dispelled any suggestion of formality. The youngsters eagerly extended their greetings to him.

Surrounded by the young visitors， Premier Wen walked towards the hall for receiving foreign guests. He had not gone many steps before he suddenly stopped， and then looked around， asking， “Zhixiu， where is Zhixiu?” An aide took Duan Zhixiu， a student of Beichuan Middle School， up to Premier Wen. The Premier took her hand and asked her how she was， and then gently held her arm as they walked slowly into the reception hall.

Duan Zhixiu lost her left leg in the Wenchuan earthquake. Premier Wen visited her when she was in hospital and wrote the following words to encourage her， “Hold high your unyielding head and straighten up your unbending back.”

The reception hall， decorated with colorful balloons and ribbons， did not look as solemn and formal as usual and was permeated with a rich festive atmosphere.

Premier Wen looked at the painting entitled Bright Future presented to him by Hwang Da-hye， a 12-year-old Korean girl， saying， “It’s a nice painting. Green represents vitality and children represent the future and hope.”

After taking their seats， some children began to whisper to each other， and some held hands. These Chinese and Korean children did not feel at all strange.

Li Xiaolin told those present about the background to the activity. In May last year， at the invitation of the KCFACE， she led a group of 20 orphans from Sichuan earthquake-affected area to visit the ROK， though at that time she was in wheelchair and suffered pain due to an ankle injury.

KCFACE Chairwoman Kim Young-aeh briefed about the friendly exchanges with China carried out by her association in recent years and particularly highlighted the fruits of its cooperation with the CPAFFC. She said that her association would make great efforts in future to promote all-round exchanges and cooperation between the ROK and China. She told Premier Wen proudly that， through these two successful activities， “The Chinese children call me ‘Momma Kim’， and the Korean children call CPAFFC Vice President Li ‘Momma Li’.”

Kwon Cho-hwi， a 14-year-old Korean girl twinned with a girl from Sichuan in the last year’s activity， recalled: “In May last year， I spent a happy time with the children from the Sichuan earthquake-hit area during their stay in my country. Though we didn’t understand each other’s language， we knew each other’s feelings， for we had suffered the same misfortune. In the future， I must study hard and strive to become a good person that can help others.” She told Premier Wen sincerely: “It is the most unforgettable and happiest time in my life to get together with you in Beijing.”

Duan Zhixiu recalled with emotion the scene when Premier Wen visited her and encouraged her. She said with sobs，” Dear Grandpa Wen， I have never dreamed that I would have a chance to come to Zhongnanhai to see you again. Your words have given me warmth and strength. Your teaching has taught me to be strong to live on. In September， we will move into a new school. We will study hard. We welcome you to visit us again.”

Amid cheerful music， the Korean children performed a Taekwondo dance and sang a Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower. Premier Wen watched the performance， smiling and clapping his hands. When the Taekwondo dance was about to start， Ko Min-seok， a Korean boy， who sat next to Premier Wen tried to take off his Korean coat in a great hurry so as to join the dance in performance costume. Premier Wen could not refrain from smiling and helped the boy. Amid melodious music and beautiful songs， the hall was permeated with deep friendship between China and the ROK. Premier Wen was deeply touched， and then walked and stood in the midst of them. He affectionately held an eight-year-old Korean girl in his arms to show his affection for the Korean children. Premier Wen’s smile together with the girl’s face showing small missing teeth and big dimples is a lasting photographic memory.

At this happy moment， the children in Qiang ethnic costume from the Sichuan earthquake-hit area presented Premier Wen with a Qiang ethnic vest， and performed a dance Qiang Children. Tibetan girl Yangchin Drolghar from Yushu， Qinghai Province recited a short poem Mother written by herself. The poem with simple sentences and true feeling moved everyone present. Premier Wen went to her side and praised the poem as “well written”， while bending down and pressing his cheek against the girl’s. After the Tibetan children performed the dance Snowland Step Dance， Premier Wen invited Chinese magicians to perform.

Their wonderful performance brought an outburst of laughter and applause. The Chinese and Korean children enjoyed this happy get-together. At this moment， the seeds of friendship crossing the national boundary and transcending language barriers were sown again in the young hearts of the Chinese and Korean children.

Premier Wen said: “I feel very happy at seeing you have a good time and enjoy this wonderful performance. Your innocent hearts are just like gold threads， linking the children and people of the two countries. The difference in language and culture does not constitute an obstacle. You are on very intimate terms through your hearts. This is to say ‘you understand each other tacitly’.”

Looking around at the children， Premier Wen continued， “In fact， there is one thing which needs no translation， i.e. hearty laughter， smiling friendship. Friendship is the common language of our two countries and the whole world. I know that all the children present here have unusual experience. All the Korean children here are orphans and the Chinese children come from the Wenchuan and Yushu earthquake-affected areas. Some of them have lost their parents or other loved ones. All of you have suffered fear and pain， and experienced difficulties and hardships after losing your homes. But you have also experienced warmth and sunshine of love. After the disasters， you have known better that life is most precious and that you should have a grateful heart and always remember those who have helped you. I am sure you will study harder and grow healthily and repay society with your own ability.”

“My dear children， your lives have just begun. But I hope that you are strong， happy and fear no difficulty. Everyday the bright sunshine belongs to you， and China-ROK friendship also counts on you. I hope you will keep fraternal unity and help each other. Finally， I wish everyone a happy life and healthy growth.” The Premier expressed his thanks to the friendship associations of the two countries for hosting this activity and to Momma Kim and Momma Li. From Premier Wen’s kind words and smile， the children felt the love and care that he gave them on behalf of the entire Chinese people.

After that， to the strains of Auld Lang Syne， Premier Wen presented the Chinese and Korean children with copies of The Contemporary Chinese Dictionary and The Contemporary Korean-Chinese and Chinese-Korean Dictionary with his autograph to encourage the children to study hard and grow into successors to the cause of friendship between China and the ROK in future.

The Zhongnanhai meeting lasted an hour and a half， much longer than expected.