International Volunteer Day: Fuqing Volunteers and Public Welfare Organizations Partner with the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce to Donate to Education

Fujian Fuqing, December 5 (Reported by Zheng Xunhan and Zheng Xunheng) "Contributing to the educational public welfare of our hometown is a small expression of our patriotic and hometown-loving spirit as overseas Chinese," conveyed Watanabe Ryuji, President of the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce, and Soma Keiko, Executive President, along with other overseas compatriots, through the chamber’s Fuqing liaison representative, Zheng Songbo, during the scholarship distribution ceremony held in Fuqing on December 5。

On December 5, International Volunteer Day, the Fuqing City Association for Volunteer Assistance to Education and the Disabled held a scholarship distribution ceremony in Fuqing. Donations from the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce and other overseas compatriots were distributed in batches during the event。

On August 3 of this year, the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce's Fuqing Liaison Office was established, and a donation ceremony for educational assistance took place at the Fuqing Huangbo Cultural Promotion Association’s hall. On that day, Noguchi Masao, Honorary President of the chamber, handed over ¥1,805,000 (approximately 120,000 RMB) in donations from members in Japan to Chen Guanchun, President of the Fuqing City Association for Volunteer Assistance to Education and the Disabled, to support educational initiatives in their hometown。

Prior to this, upon learning from the Fuqing City Association for Volunteer Assistance to Education and the Disabled that some children in their hometown were at risk of dropping out due to financial difficulties, the chamber initiated a donation appeal in its member WeChat group. This call received enthusiastic responses. Led by Honorary President Chen Xi, Director of the Japan Huangbo Cultural Promotion Association, and advisor Guo Lianhui, nearly 120,000 RMB was raised in just half a month. The initiative also received strong support from other Fuzhou compatriots, including Liu Guoli from Changle and Lin Wei from Lianjiang. The funds are allocated to help students in their hometown complete their education。

At the ceremony, Zheng Songbo, representative of the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce’s Fuqing Liaison Office, delivered a speech, expressing hope that the assisted students would build confidence, study diligently, and contribute to society in the future。Zheng Songbo noted that the COVID-19 pandemic, which erupted globally earlier this year, has severely affected travel and exchanges between China and Japan. Although the pandemic has hindered overseas compatriots from visiting their hometowns, it has not severed their emotional ties to home. In the future, the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce will collaborate with the Fuqing Volunteer Association for Education and Disability Assistance and other local organizations to unite the power of overseas Chinese in Japan, support public welfare initiatives in Fuqing, and contribute to the shared development of Japanese expatriates and their hometown。

The Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce was officially registered in Tokyo, Japan, on February 5, 2020。

Speech by the Representative of the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce

Dear leaders and fellow compatriots：

Good morning! I am Zheng Songbo, the representative of the Fuqing Liaison Office of the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many members of the chamber are unable to return to their hometown to participate in today’s event in person. I have been entrusted to attend this event and deliver this speech on behalf of the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce. First, I would like to extend my respect to the Fuqing Volunteer Association for Education and Disability Assistance for organizing this event。

On August 3 this year, the establishment ceremony of the Fuqing Liaison Office of the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce and the donation support event was held at the Fuqing Huangbo Cultural Promotion Association. At the event, Noguchi Masao, Honorary President of the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce, handed over ¥1,805,000 (approximately RMB 120,000) in donations from compatriots in Japan to Chen Guanchun, President of the Fuqing Volunteer Association for Education and Disability Assistance, to support the education sector in their hometown。

Before this, upon learning from the Fuqing Volunteer Association for Education and Disability Assistance that there were children in their hometown at risk of dropping out of school due to difficulties, the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce issued a call for donations in their WeChat group to help these children.This initiative received enthusiastic responses from the members. Under the leadership of the chamber's honorary president and director of the Japan Huangbo Cultural Promotion Association, Chen Xi, and advisor Guo Lianhui, nearly RMB 120,000 was raised in just half a month. This effort also garnered strong support from fellow compatriots, including Liu Guoli from Fuzhou Changle and Lin Wei from Fuzhou Lianjiang. The funds will be used to assist students in their hometown to complete their education successfully. Here, we also hope that the students receiving assistance will build confidence, study hard, achieve success in the future, and give back to society。

Since the beginning of this year, the global outbreak of COVID-19 has severely affected travel and exchanges between China and Japan. However, the pandemic has not severed the emotional ties between overseas compatriots and their hometowns.As everyone knows, Fuqing is a nationally recognized key hometown for overseas Chinese, with many Fuqing natives living in Japan. The Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce was officially registered in Tokyo, Japan, on February 5, 2020. The first task after the chamber’s establishment was to donate anti-epidemic materials to Fuqing. During the early stages of the pandemic, the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce repeatedly donated protective clothing, masks, medical gloves, and other anti-epidemic materials to organizations such as the Fuqing Red Cross Society. After the pandemic was brought under control in China, the Fuqing Volunteer Association for Education and Disability Assistance and other local groups reciprocated by donating anti-epidemic supplies to overseas compatriot organizations, creating a touching story of "solidarity and mutual support" between overseas compatriots and their hometown。

"To contribute to the educational and public welfare endeavors in our hometown is a token of our love and patriotism as overseas Chinese," expressed Watanabe Ryuuji, president of the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce, and its executive president, Soma Keiko, during the event。

This sentiment also represents the heartfelt feelings of the vast overseas compatriot community. Furthermore, the Fuqing Liaison Office will serve as a new window and bridge connecting Japan with the hometown. In the future, the Japan-China Fuqing Chamber of Commerce will collaborate with the Fuqing Volunteer Association for Education and Disability Assistance to unite the power of overseas Chinese in Japan, support various public welfare initiatives in Fuqing, and contribute to the joint development of Japanese expatriates and their hometown. Thank you, everyone!