President Carter Visits Hubei to Promote Closer Ties with Central China

January 14-15, 2009: To pay tribute to the 30^th Anniversary of the normalization of US-China relations, former President Jimmy Carter, Mrs. Carter and several members of the Carter Center made their first visit to Hubei January 14-15, 2009 at the invitation of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.  Consul General Lyle escorted the delegation throughout the visit.   

President Carter and the delegation visited Hong’An to pay tribute to former Chinese President Li Xiannian, tour a rural clinic and engage local farmers.   They were warmly greeted by senior Hubei leaders and citizens in Wuhan, and enjoyed visiting Hubei Provincial Museum, a local market and a riverside park.   President Carter took the opportunity to promote closer U.S. ties with central China with a public health initiative from the Carter Center and a warm message from President-elect Obama to Hubei.  President Carter said that the U.S.-China relationship is the most important relationship for both countries and the world, and that normalization of bilateral relations was one of his proudest achievements.

Press coverage of the visit was very extensive, with nearly 60 Chinese articles online, reaching tens of millions of readers across China.  A special report and interview was aired by Wuhan TV on January 15-16, reaching nine million viewers in Wuhan.  Click President Carter in Hubei for the list of Chinese reports.

 

President Carter gave a speech at Li Xiannian Museum in Hong’An, Hubei

President Carter Reaches Out to Rural Villagers in Hong’An, Hubei

January 14-15, 2009: President and Mrs. Carter began their first visit to Hubei January 14-15, 2009 with a series of outreach activities in the city of Hong’An, the birthplace of Li Xiannian, who was the first governor of Hubei during 1949-1954, the third President of the People’s Republic of China during 1983-1988, and an influential military and political figure in the PRC.  

Escorted by the Vice Governor of Hubei Tian Chengzhong, Madame Li Xiaolin, the daughter of President Li Xiannian and the Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, which sponsored the visit, President Carter and five other members of the Carter Center toured the Li Xiannian Memorial Library, which was the Chinese leader’s residence, to witness the early days of President Li’s life and an important part of contemporary Chinese history.  

President Carter and the Carter Center delegation visited Li Xiannian Memorial Library in Hong’An

President Carter gave a speech to over 80 farmers at Li Xiannian Memorial Museum.   He recounted the historic moment when he and Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping agreed to normalize bilateral relations in December 1978, and how the normalization of bilateral relations contributed to the tremendous growth of the relationship.  Citing their common background as military officers and political leaders in their respective countries, President Carter paid tribute to President Li Xiannian, who is revered by local villagers.   Noting his background as a peanut farmer and a carpenter, President Carter established an instant rapport with his audience.

President Carter took the opportunity to visit a nearby rural clinic and chat with local public health providers and farmers to better understand health benefits and living standards in rural China.   A joint public health project between the Carter Center and the city of Hong’An was launched as a result of the visit.  

President Carter, Mrs. Carter and Hubei Vice Governor Tian Chengzhong met healthcare providers in Hong’An

Click the links below for examples of the Chinese reports:

http://www.chinanews.com.cn/tp/shfq/news/2009/01-14/1528424.shtml

http://www.chinanews.com.cn/tp/shfq/news/2009/01-14/1528424.shtml

http://news.sina.com.cn/c/p/2009-01-15/075017048791.shtml 

http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/8676650.html  

President Carter Engages Hubei Leaders and Citizens in Wuhan, Hubei

January 14-15, 2009: Hubei marked with fanfare the historic visit by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter January 14 - 15.  Hubei Party Secretary Luo Qingquan, Hubei Governor Li Hongzhong and Hubei Vice Governor Tian Chengzhong greeted President Carter and the Carter Center delegation in separate ceremonies.   President Carter and the Hubei leaders took the opportunity to cite examples of the results of the constructive partnership, promote the growing ties between the U.S. and central China, and endorse the importance of the new U.S. Consulate General in Wuhan.   President Carter recounted the historic moment when he and Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping agreed to normalize bilateral relations in December 1978, and how the normalization of bilateral relations contributed to the tremendous growth of the relationship and helped launch China’s reform and open process.   President Carter said that the U.S.-China relationship is the most important relationship for both countries and the world, and that normalization of bilateral relations was one of his proudest achievements, and brought a warm message from President-elect Obama to Hubei.  He said, with mutual respect and partnership, bilateral relations will benefit both countries and the rest of the world in the next 30 or even 300 years.  

 

President Carter met Hubei Governor Li Hongzhong and Hubei Party Secretary Luo Qingquan

A special report and interview was aired by Wuhan TV on January 15-16, reaching nine million viewers in Wuhan.  Click the links below to read some examples of the Chinese reports:

http://www.hubei.gov.cn/zwgk/tupian/200901/t20090117_89741.shtml

http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-01/14/content_10658982.htm

http://www.jiaodong.net/news/system/2009/01/14/010438185.shtml

http://www.hb.xinhuanet.com/photo/2009-01/16/content_15471694.htm

http://www.hbtv.com.cn/web/content/2009-01/16/content_1588253.htm

http://stockcity.cn/CaiJing/ywdd/200901/1221572.html

President Carter and the delegation also visited Hubei Provincial Museum, a 2008 grantee of the Ambassador’s Funds for Cultural Preservation, to appreciate the museum’s ancient bronze collection, and attended a special musical performance with reproduction ancient bronze bells, stone chimes and string instruments. President Carter and Mrs. Carter were impressed with the tour and enjoyed the opportunity to play the instruments. Click the link below for a Chinese report:

http://nnnews.net/News/09/01/15/NNNEWSQ58199T20090115NLMQMY9UD.html

President Carter and Mrs. Carter tried their hands at Hubei bronze and string instruments

During the visit, President Carter and Mrs. Carter demonstrated their enthusiasm and energy by adding last-minute requests to tour a crowded local market to buy carpentry tools, and take a stroll in a park to see Chinese citizens engage in early morning exercises.