2023 China Travel Notes: Liaoning Theme [John Wei]
2023年中国行记：辽宁篇【卫高荣】
Author: John Wei, The Founding Chairman of Chinese American Economic & Cultural Association (CAECA)
作者：卫高荣 美中经济文化协会创办主席
My 35 days 2023 China trip are Xiangyang, Hunan, Liaoning, Beijing 4 themes.
Here is the Liaoning theme.
我的中国行有四大主题：襄阳篇、湖南篇、辽宁篇、北京篇。本文记录的是辽宁篇。
About thirty years ago, around the early 1990s, due in large part to the efforts of NC State University and Liaoning University, Former Governor Mr. James Martin led a delegation to visit China and signed an agreement to establish the sister relationship between North Carolina and Liaoning. Then, the rapidly developing US-China tie makes us in North Carolina almost forgetful of this bygone episode. However, Ms. Jia , Guifen led a delegation of three members from Liaoning Province in June 2023 and visited North Carolina. With the arrangement of the founding Chairman of the CAECA (Chinese American Economic & Cultural Association), the three Chinese delegates met NC Governor Roy Cooper and Wiley Nickel who is the Fed Representative from the 13th District of NC. In October, Mr. John Wei visited China for thirty-five days, which was the first such trip after the pandemic. He in particular visited Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province, and Dandong which is the sister city of Wilmington between October 29 and November 1, 2023. Indeed, after so many years’ interruption in part due to the pandemic, both sides have shown their willingness to retain their friendly relations.
During the three years of the epidemic, I have been like a caged bird, rarely able to travel, let alone leave the country. Looking back on time, I visited Mainland of China on behalf of the Chinese American Economic and Culture Association in 2019, the year of China’s 70th National Day military parade. In 2023, when the epidemic was basically over and life gradually returned to normal, I was invited by relevant parties in China to start my overseas visits.
疫情三年，犹如囚笼之鸟，难得出行，更不说出境了。回望时间，我代表美中经济文化协会去中国大陆访问，已是2019年中国国庆70周年大阅兵那年的事情了。2023年，疫情基本结束，生活逐渐恢复正常，受中国有关方面邀请，我便开启了我的出访问工作。
Liaoning, the third stop of my trip to China.
辽宁，我中国行的第三站
Liaoning Province in China and North Carolina in the United States began friendly exchanges 37 years ago. In 1986, North Carolina State University and Liaoning University established a cooperative relationship. The Governor of North Carolina visited Liaoning Province in March 1988 and signed an agreement with the Liaoning provincial government to establish a sister province and state. Since then, the exchanges between the two places have been further strengthened.
On June 15th, this year, Jia Guifen, head of delegation of Liaoning Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(LPPAFFC), visited North Carolina, USA. The CAECA gave a warm reception and the relationship between sister provinces and states became closer.
On October 29th, 2023, I arrived in Shenyang, Liaoning Province in the afternoon and was warmly received by Mr. Lu Peng, full-time vice president of Liaoning People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Mr. Lu Peng extended a warm welcome to my visit and expressed his appreciation for my efforts to promote non-governmental exchanges between China and the United States. He hoped that our two sides would continue to promote exchanges in the fields of education, economy and culture and strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two places.
中国辽宁省和美国北卡州在37年前就开始了友好往来。1986年，北卡州立大学和辽宁大学建立了合作关系。北卡州州长于1988年3月出访辽宁省，并与辽宁省政府共同签订了建立友好省州的协议，从此，两地交往得到进一步加强。
今年6月15日，辽宁省人民对外友好协会贾桂芬团长一行访问了美国北卡州，美中经济协会设宴热情接待，姊妹省州的关系变得更加紧密。
2023年10月29日，我抵达辽宁省沈阳市已是下午时分，受到了辽宁省人民对外友好协会专职副会长陆鹏先生的热情接待。陆鹏先生对我的来访表示热烈欢迎，对我为推动中美民间交流做出的努力表示赞赏，希望我们双方继续推动教育、经济、文化等领域的交流，加强两地的合作关系。
Left: Lu Peng, full-time vice president of Liaoning Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
左：辽宁省人民对外友好协会专职副会长 陆鹏
Group photo with leaders of Liaoning Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
Left one: Jiao Dongming，left two: John Wei，Middle: Lu Peng，right two: Jia Guifen，right one: Guo Qing.
与辽宁省人民对外友好协会领导的合影
左一：焦东明，左二：卫高荣，中：陆鹏，右二：贾桂芬，右一：郭擎
On October 30th, I gave a speech at Liaoning Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries with the theme of "Integrating into American Society and Promoting Non-governmental Exchanges". In the interactive session of the speech, some listeners asked: "You have so many highlights and wonderful stories, how did you really integrate into American society?" I replied: "Do not forget your original aspiration, actively do a good job in the US-China non-governmental exchanges; Make friends and actively participate in public welfare activities in American society; Be an enthusiastic person and try your best to help everyone around you; Study hard, work hard, and let yourself stand firm in American society; Persevere and do everything well every day. "My answer won warm applause and my speech was a complete success.
10月30日，我在辽宁省人民对外友好协会进行了主题为“融入美国社会，促进民间交流”的演讲。在演讲的互动环节中，有听众问：“您有这么多高光时刻和精彩的故事，您是如何真正融入美国社会的？”我回答：“不忘初心，积极做好美中民间交流使者；广交朋友，积极参加美国社会的公益活动；做热心人，尽最大能力帮助身边的每一个人；努力学习，努力工作，让自己有更多的资本立足社会；锲而不舍，做好每一天的每一件事情。”我的回答赢得了热烈的掌声，演讲取得了圆满成功。
Taking a photo in front of the lecture hall
在演讲厅前的留影纪念
Lu Peng, full-time vice president of Liaoning Foreign Affairs Association, gave a welcome speech.
辽宁外协专职副会长陆鹏致欢迎词
A speech on "Integrating into American Society and Promoting Non-governmental Exchanges" is being given.
正在进行“融入美国社会，促进民间交流”的演讲
In the afternoon, I visited the Foreign Affairs Office of Liaoning Province, and Luo Li, Party Secretary and President of the Liaoning Provincial Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, met with me. Secretary Luo Li reviewed the experience of Liaoning People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries in June this year. She thanked the Chinese friendly people represented by me for their great support. With the help of the US-China Economic and Cultural Association, Jia Guifen led a delegation to visit North Carolina successfully, and had exchanges with officials such as the state government and parliament, and achieved fruitful results. She said that Liaoning Province and North Carolina have established friendly provincial-state relations for more than 30 years, and the exchanges between the two sides cannot be separated from the efforts made by friendly people represented by me. President Luo Li sincerely invites me to visit Liaoning often to jointly promote friendly exchanges between China and the United States. I said that although I am too old, I hope to make more contributions to the non-governmental exchanges between Liaoning and North Carolina in my lifetime.
下午，我到辽宁省外事办公室访问，辽宁省对外友协党组书记、会长罗丽会见了我。罗丽书记回顾了今年6月，辽宁省人民对外友协出访美国的经历。她感谢以我为代表的华人友好人士的鼎力支持。在美中经济文化协会的帮助下，贾桂芬团长率团成功出访了北卡州，并与州政府、议会等官员进行了交流，取得了丰硕的成果。她说，辽宁省与北卡州建立友好省州关系30余年来，双方的交流离不开以我为代表的友好人士做出的努力。罗丽会长诚挚邀请我常来辽宁做客，共同推动中美友好交流。我表示，虽年过古稀，希望在有生之年，为辽宁与北卡州的民间交流做出更多的贡献。
Presenting the publications of the US-China Economic and Cultural Association to President Luo Li of Liaoning Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
赠送美中经济文化协会的刊物给辽宁省对外友协罗丽会长
Have a cordial exchange with President Luo Li of Liaoning Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
与 辽宁省对外友协罗丽会长亲切交流
Left: John Wei，Right: Luo Li
左：卫高荣，右：罗丽
After leaving the Foreign Affairs Office of Liaoning Province, accompanied by the head of Jia Guifen, I rushed to Liaoning University for a visit. Liaoning University has golden ginkgo and picturesque autumn colors, and President Huo Chunhui warmly received me. President Huo Chunhui said that Liaoning University and North Carolina State University signed a friendly agreement in the 1980s. I hope that under my promotion, teachers and students of the two universities will have more exchanges, and the academic exchanges between the two universities will be more, so that the exchanges between the two sister universities will reach a new level.
离开辽宁省外事办，我在贾桂芬团长的陪同下，赶往辽宁大学进行访问。辽宁大学银杏金黄，秋色如画，霍春辉校长热情接待了我。霍春辉校长表示，80年代辽宁大学和北卡州立大学就签订了友好协议，希望在我的推动下，两所大学的师生更多地交往起来，两所大学的学术也更多地交流起来，让两所姊妹大学的交流上一个新台阶。
President Huo Chunhui welcomed the US-China Economic Association and its party.
霍春辉校长欢迎美中经济协会一行
President Huo Chunhui is introducing Liaoning University.
霍春辉校长正在介绍辽宁大学
President Huo Chunhui presented a gift to John Wei.
霍春辉校长赠送卫高荣礼物
Take a group photo in front of the building of the Institute of International Education
Left: Jia Guifen，Middle: John Wei，Right: Huo Chunhui
在国际教育学院大楼前合影
左：贾桂芬，中：卫高荣，右：霍春辉
Left: international exchange office of Liaoning University Li Xiaoxi，Right: Guo Qing, Vice Minister of Liaoning Friendship Association
左：辽宁大学国际交流处 李晓曦，右：辽宁省友协副部长 郭擎
On the morning of October 31st, I visited Shenyang Forbidden City under the leadership of Minister Jia Guifen of Liaoning Foreign Affairs Association. Shenyang Imperial Palace is the earliest complete feudal royal complex in China, which has a long history, neat layout, exquisite architecture and magnificent momentum, and left a deep impression on me.
10月31日上午，我在辽宁外协贾贵芬部长带领下参观沈阳故宫。沈阳故宫是中国最早的完整的封建皇家建筑群，历史悠久，布局整齐，建筑精美，气势恢宏，给我留下了深刻印象。
Taking a photo in front of the gate of Shenyang Forbidden City (1)
在沈阳故宫大门前的留影（一）
Taking pictures in front of the gate of Shenyang Forbidden City (2)
在沈阳故宫大门前的留影（二）
Taking pictures in front of the gate of Shenyang Forbidden City (3)
Left: John Wei，Right: Jia Guifen
在沈阳故宫大门前的留影（三）
左：卫高荣，右：贾桂芬
In the afternoon, I went to Dandong City, Liaoning Province, and visited Dandong Yalu River Bridge under the leadership of Director Fu Jian of Dandong Foreign Affairs Office.
下午，前往辽宁省丹东市，在丹东外办付健主任的带领下参观了丹东鸭绿江大桥。
Left one: Jia Guifen, Minister of Liaoning Foreign Affairs Association，Middle: John Wei，Right: Fu Jian, Foreign Affairs Office of Dandong
左一：辽宁外协部长贾桂芬，中：卫高荣，右：丹东外办付健
Left one: Guo Qingzhong of Liaoning Foreign Affairs Association，Middle: John Wei，Right: Jia Guifen of Liaoning Foreign Affairs Association
左一：辽宁外协 郭擎，中：卫高荣，右：辽宁外协 贾桂芬
On the evening of the same day, Director Du Hui and Deputy Director Fu Jian of the Foreign Affairs Office of Dandong City, Liaoning Province cordially hosted a banquet for our party, and had in-depth exchanges on further deepening the relationship between Dandong City and Wilmington City, North Carolina.
当天晚上，辽宁省丹东市外事办杜慧主任和付健副主任亲切宴请了我们一行，就继续深化丹东市与北卡州威尔明顿市友城关系事宜进行了深入交流。
Director Du Hui of Dandong Foreign Affairs Office cordially received.
丹东市外事办杜慧主任亲切接见
Fu Jian, Deputy Director of Dandong Foreign Affairs Office, cordially received.
丹东市外事办付健副主任亲切接见
China's three-day trip to Liaoning ended successfully. Wave goodbye to Liaoning Foreign Affairs Association, Liaoning University, Shenyang Forbidden City and beautiful Dandong, get on Harmony and head for the next stop.
We boarded the Harmony High-speed train and headed to the next stop of our visit. May U.S.-China relations be like a harmonious train, running forward.
三天的中国辽宁行圆满结束。挥手告别了辽宁外协、辽宁大学、沈阳故宫、美丽丹东，坐上和谐号，开往访问的下一站。愿美中关系像一列和谐列车，向前行驶。
Let the world stay in peace forever.
国泰民安，世界和平！
感谢所有參与的同事：
张伟用，任平，Justin Yan,Amy Yu，刘洋，李宏鹏及辽宁友协，Amber Li, 汪柯及襄阳外办，郑志发，李勐。
