SFCCA President Chua Thian Poh (right) in a discussion with Ambassador Wei Wei.
China’s Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Wei Wei, visited the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) on August 31 st at 11am. He was welcomed upon his arrival at the SFCCA premises in Toa Payoh by SFCCA President Mr Chua Thian Poh, Vice-President Mr Ho Kiau Seng, Secretary-General Mr Lim Fanghua, and 14 other council members.
Ambassador Wei first visited the SFCCA’s Chinese Culture and History Information Centre, before proceeding to the board room for a discussion. In his address, President Chua warmly welcomed the ambassador and congratulated Mr Wei on his appointment as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Singapore.
President Chua highlighted the SFCCA’s longstanding and close partnership with the Chinese Embassy. He noted that many of the SFCCA’s activities have received strong support from the Embassy, and its council members have often been invited to participate in Embassy events, including large-scale events held in China such as the Beijing Olympics and the Shanghai World Expo. The SFCCA has also regularly received books and souvenirs from the Embassy, which
have significantly enriched the Chinese Culture and History Information Centre’s collection, benefitting its members greatly. As a non-governmental organisation in a small nation, the president expressed his deep honour and gratitude for the Embassy’s attention and support.
President Chua said that Ambassador Wei’s appointment would further strengthen the existing foundation of cooperation between Singapore and China, and foster even closer friendly relations between the two countries.
In his speech, Ambassador Wei emphasised the importance that the Chinese Embassy places on the SFCCA, which he described as a representative body for the Chinese community in Singapore, encompassing various surnames and dialect groups. He noted that although he had only been in office for three and a half months, he had been keen to visit the SFCCA. He acknowledged the SFCCA and its member organisations’ continuous support for the Embassy’s
work, which has helped to promote the development of friendly relations between China and Singapore.
Furthermore, he noted that during the National Day Rally on August 28th , Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had praised the SFCCA for its vital role in helping new immigrants integrate. Ambassador Wei concurred, and thanked the SFCCA for its efforts in this regard. He also congratulated Mr Chua on his appointment as the second president of the SFCCA, and pledged that the Embassy would do its utmost to assist the SFCCA if needed.
Following the speeches, Ambassador Wei and the participants watched a video titled “SFCCA: 20 Years of Heritage and Progress” (《总会20年》). After the viewing, Ambassador Wei remarked that the SFCCA had made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Chinese culture, which he found deeply moving. He expressed his hope for closer collaboration between the two sides in the area of culture in the future. President Chua stated
that the SFCCA’s future direction would evolve with the times. In addition to assisting new immigrants in their integration, the SFCCA will also facilitate communication and exchange among clan associations. He expressed his hope that the Embassy would support the SFCCA’s activities.
Following the souvenir exchange, President Chua hosted a lunch for Ambassador Wei and the participants, to further strengthen their ties. The event concluded at 1pm.
