China, New Zealand celebrate Kathleen Hall's birthday

On July 29, the "China-New Zealand Friendship Envoy-In Commemoration of Kathleen Hall's 125th Birthday" was held, co-organized by the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the New Zealand-China Friendship Society and the Chinese Bethune Spiritual Research Association. Chinese and foreign guests from Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Hawkes Bay (Hall's hometown) and other cities and regions in New Zealand, as well as from Beijing, Hebei, Shaanxi, Shanxi and other provinces in China, attended the meeting online. This event is the 13th session of the "2021 Online Dialogue on People-to-people Cooperation".

Zhang Qian, executive vice-president of BPAFFC, said Hall came to China in the early 1920s and trained a large number of medical personnel for China in the following years, and risked her life and overcame many difficulties to collect and deliver medicines and medical supplies for the Eighth Route Army during the war. Zhang said Hall's love for the Chinese people and high spirit of internationalism are admirable, and the Chinese people will never forget this foreign friend who helped them in a time of crisis. The significance of commemorating Hall is not only to remember her deeds and contributions, but also to maintain the foundation of Sino-Zelanian relations and the friendship between the Chinese and Zelanian people, so this friendship can be passed from generation to generation.

Dave Bromwich, president of NZCFS, talked about his visit to the place where Kathleen Hall lived and fought in Hebei, where he felt the reverence and gratitude the local people still have for this New Zealand friend after so many years, and how her spirit still serves as an inspiration.

Michael Crook, chair of Gung Ho-ICCIC, introduced the Kathleen Hall Memorial Room in Baoding, Hebei.

Ma Guoqing, honorary president of the Chinese Bethune Spiritual Research Association, focused on the touching history of Kathleen Hall and Norman Bethune, from their meeting to their support of the Chinese military and civilians in the war together and the deep friendship they formed during the war.

In her speech, Wu Shemei, chair of the liaison department of the Shaanxi Women's Federation, discussed the cooperative knowledge training for women's cadres, rural women's health and family civilization, women's cooperative development and Kathleen Hall Memorial Scholarship projects that the provincial women's federation and the New Zealand-China Friendship Association have cooperated on over the years.

Fan Miao, vice chairman of NZCFS, talked about the process of Kathleen Hall's ideological transformation from not knowing much about the CPC at first to supporting the Party's righteous cause.

Alex Fraser, a youth representative of NZCFS, spoke about how the exchange with China changed the course of his life and his perception of China, as well as his vision and responsibility as a young person for Sino-Zelanian friendship. In addition, guests watched a documentary on Kathleen Hall and learned more about her life, her historical contributions and the Kathleen Hall Memorial Scholarship.

After the ceremony, the BPAFFC and the New Zealand-China Friendship Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding for friendship and cooperation between the two associations for the period from 2021 to 2025, in the presence of friends from both countries, in order to continue to work together for a stable and prosperous Sino-Zelanian friendship.

A total of more than 100 people attended the event, including Sir Carter, the former Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives and advisor to the New Zealand-China Friendship Association, Christine Ross, the niece of Kathleen Hall, as well as directors of the BPAFFC, members of the Chinese Bethune Spiritual Research Association, members of the New Zealand-China Friendship Association and representatives of the Shaanxi Women's Federation.