HONOLULU, Oct. 26, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Zhou Enlai Peace Institute – a non-profit organization based in Honolulu, Hawaii seeking to improve peaceful ties between the United States and China by building trust and respect through the life of peacemaker Zhou Enlai – was recently honored by the Chinese government during a formal dinner and ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. Over 100 guests, many of them senior government officials, were in attendance to applaud the formation of the Institute and learn about the organization's six-part strategy to bring the people of both nations together. The event was co-sponsored by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) – China's chief public diplomacy organization.
The Zhou Enlai Peace Institute was established in Honolulu one year ago by Hawaii couple Xiao Fang Zhou, originally from Beijing and grand-niece of Zhou Enlai, and Michael North, co-founder of America-China Bridge and president of Greenstar Corporation. Their goal is to educate the world about Zhou Enlai, who served as Premier of China for 26 years and initiated the cultivation of positive, peaceful ties between China and the world. Zhou's most dramatic success was opening China to the United States, through a series of negotiations with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Many credit Zhou Enlai's foresight for the political opening and economic advancement of China, more than 40 years ago.
"There is much to learn about Zhou Enlai that is not well understood by the world," said Xiao Fang Zhou, co-founder of the Institute. "Through challenging decades in China, he always sought the middle way – of non-violence, compromise, understanding and respect. He saved many lives, and is still loved all over China as a peacemaker. There are many inspiring stories, and we want to tell them to the world."
At the October 14thceremony in Beijing, the Director-General of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Xie Yuan, spoke in introduction. "We are proud to host the Institute in this important event, honoring the great peacemaker Zhou Enlai. Our citizen diplomacy organization, now with 150 branches and over 3,000 alliances around the world, was founded by Zhou Enlai in 1954. So, when Xiao Fang came to us with this idea, naturally we responded with an immediate 'yes.' We will do everything possible to encourage and support this important work and the Zhou Enlai Peace Institute. Together, there is nothing we cannot achieve."
On Friday, November 11th, the Zhou Enlai Peace Institute will host an international luncheon and gallery to coincide with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Conference at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki from 12 noon to 2 P.M. At this event, the first exhibition about Zhou Enlai's life will be unveiled in both Chinese and English.
The luncheon will be hosted by former Governor John Waihee; the Speaker of the Hawaii State House of Representatives, Calvin Say; along with a distinguished group of senior Chinese officials, including the niece of Zhou Enlai, the head of the Zhou Enlai Study Group in the Central Committee, and officials from the Foreign Ministry and Commerce Ministry. This event is one of the few events open to the public during the APEC Conference where individuals will have the opportunity to meet APEC delegates from China in a relaxed, informal setting.
Specific photos with captions for this story available at:
http://www.box.net/shared/3kcndcr2xcd31msox1s6
Full details about the November 11th event and registration are available at: http://www.zhouenlaipeaceinstitute.org.
A detailed event description may be downloaded from http://j.mp/Zhou-Enlai, and videos may be viewed online at http://vimeo.com/album/1726517.
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The Zhou Enlai Peace Institute – a non-profit organization based in Honolulu, Hawaii seeking to improve peaceful ties between the United States and China by building trust and respect through the life of peacemaker Zhou Enlai. (www.zhouenlaipeaceinstitute.org/en/)
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The following files are available for download:
| wkr0005.pdf | U.S. Peace Organization Honored in Beijing |
| [Image] | Co-Founders Honored at Dinner in Beijing, China |