The Deep Feelings Between the Chinese People and Myself

n the morning of November 12， 2009， Beijing saw its first snowfall of the winter， bringing a sudden drop of the temperature. However， the brightly lit golden hall of Beijing Hotel was permeated with a warm atmosphere. Over 300 Chinese and African people from various circles gathered happily to attend the Second China-Africa Friendship Awards Ceremony jointly held by the CPAFFC and the Chinese-African People’s Friendship Association （CAFA）.

After the 10 Chinese winners received the award， a hale and hearty elderly African man walked slowly but firmly onto the stage. When the host called out his name， former Zambian President Kenneth David Kaunda， all those present gave him a standing ovation. When this friend of Chinese leaders of three generations received a cup and certificate from Abdul’ahat Abdulrixit， Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference （CPPCC） and President of the CAFA， he bowed to all the people present.

Kenneth Kaunda， as the founding father of Zambia， is one of the outstanding leaders of the African national liberation movement. He has been personally involved in many important events in the development of China-Zambia and China-Africa relations. On October 25， 1964， the second day of Zambia’s independence， he announced establishment of diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China， and four days later the two countries signed a formal agreement on exchange of ambassadors. At UN meetings he declared emphatically that it was wrong for there to be no representative present from New China， and he made a great contribution to the restoration of the PRC’s legitimate seat in the UN. He has defined the China-Africa relationship as one of “all-weather friendship”， a vivid-term he created. He is an African statesman who has left rich legacy in the history of China-Africa relationship.

At noon， Kaunda came to Yangyuanzhai of the Diaoyutai State Guest House to attend the banquet held by Jia Qinglin， member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC. The two old friends were happy to meet again. Jia extended his congratulation to Kaunda on receiving the China-Africa Friendship Award and said that he thoroughly deserved it.

Jia happily recalled his meeting with Kaunda during his visit to Zambia two years before. In the past 45 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations， bilateral relations had seen all-round development with frequent exchanges of high-level visits and fruitful cooperation in various fields. China appreciated the Zambian Government’s resolute support for its stand on the Taiwan and human rights issues， and was willing to work together with Zambia to push the bilateral relations to a new stage.

China always values its traditional friendship with African countries including Zambia， and the development of friendly and cooperative relations with them was an important content of China’s diplomacy， Jia stressed. In this regard， China would continue to follow the basic principles of “sincerity， friendship， equality， solidarity and cooperation， common development and looking to the future”. On behalf of the Chinese Government and people， he expressed admiration and gratitude for his guest’s assiduous efforts to develop Zambia-China and Africa-China friendship.

Kaunda said it was his seventh visit to China. Every time he set foot on the Chinese soil， he noticed great changes and achievements. He expressed his appreciation to the Chinese Government for its long-term selfless support for Zambia and other African countries. China was indeed an all-weather friend of the African people. He believed that in the new period， the friendly and cooperative relations would develop further.

Visit to Shaoshan

Before coming to China this time， Kaunda， through the Chinese Embassy in Zambia， had expressed his hope to visit the former Hunan home of the late Chairman Mao Zedong for the first time. He expressed his affectionate remembrance of Chairman Mao， the great proletarian revolutionary and his caring elder brother.

On the evening of November 14， Zhou Qiang， Governor of Hunan Province， cordially met the African visitor at the Hunan Provincial Guest House at the foot of Yuelu Hill. Kaunda recalled with emotion his meeting with Chairman Mao in 1974， saying that he still retained the memory of the scene that Chairman Mao returned Mrs. Kaunda’s courtesy after she performed an African courtesy act of bending her knees to him.

Chairman Mao， 31 years his senior， was like a caring elder brother， recalled Kaunda， talking to him about the “three worlds” theory. Mao generously granted Zambia’s request that China help build the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and gave active support to the African people’s just cause for national independence and liberation.

It was because of his great respect for Chairman Mao， the great leader of the Chinese people， that he had stressed at many international meetings that the Government of the PRC was the sole legitimate government representing China， and Taiwan was an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. It was also on this basis that he decided to establish diplomatic relations with China so soon after Zambia won independence. He would forever be proud of this decision.

On the morning of November 15， there was a light drizzle in Shaoshan， but this did not deter crowds of visitors. Kaunda accompanied by leaders of Hunan Province placed a basket of flowers in front of Chairman Mao’s bronze statue. At this moment many people in the crowds recognized this old African man and gathered around him spontaneously. Standing in front of Chairman Mao’s statue， Kaunda felt an upsurge of emotion and made an impromptu speech， praising Chairman Mao as the great leader of the Chinese people and the people of the world. His great achievements and significant contributions would go down in history.

The Chairman and his comrades gave the African people selfless help and assistance in their common struggle against colonialism， contributing to them gaining independence. Now， Africa-China relations had entered a historical period of all-round development. The Chinese leaders of the new generation were still promoting China-Africa friendship to a higher level. Chairman Mao’s internationalist spirit was being carried forward and he deserved the respect and admiration from the people around the world.

In the Memorial Hall， among the pictures on exhibition， he saw the picture of Chairman Mao meeting him in his study on February 22， 1974. Lingering in front of it， Kaunda seemed to have returned to that moment 35 years before. An accompanying reporter of Hunan TV Station asked him to say something about his impressions at that moment.

Kaunda said with deep feelings that no words could express his admiration for Chairman Mao. He hoped that China would forever go along the path pioneered by this founder and his comrades-in-arms.

In front of Chairman Mao’s former residence， Kaunda said to the crowds of visitors： “Thank you for coming to visit the place where this great man was born and grew up. We shall forever cherish the memory of him.” Kaunda asked the visitors to chant aloud together with him in English： “One China， one Chairman Mao”. All the visitors on the site were affected by his emotion and were visibly moved.

Although short， the visit to Shao-

shan realized his long-cherished wish and fully reflected his boundless love for Chairman Mao and the Chinese people. This， one felt， would never cease just like the ever-flowing Xiangjiang River and forever remain like the sun and the moon.