************************************************************** IFCSS Headquarters News Release No. 5076 November 13, 19939 ************************************************************** Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (IFCSS) 733 15th Street, N.W., Suite 440, Washington, D.C.20005 Tel. (202)347-0017 Fax: (202)347-0018 Email: ifcss@wam.umd.edu IFCSS to Ambassador Li Over Jiang Zemin's Visit The Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit is an important event to the Sino-US relations and to our CSS community. On November 1, the HQ issued a request (NR 5071) for inputs and opinions. Over the last week or so, we received many phone calls, FAX and Email messages concerning Jiang's visit. The HQ has evaluated these inputs, and worked out our stand and plans for further actions. As a first step, IFCSS President Lin Changsheng sent a letter to Ambassador Li Daoyu on November 11. The HQ has contacted with Li's office and spoken to his First Secretary. We will let you know the official response as soon as it is available. Meanwhile we continue to encourage you to give us your input and opinions. The following is a translation of the original letter that Lin Changsheng sent to Ambassador Li Daoyu. Dear Ambassador Li Daoyu, Let me extend our best regards to you and your colleagues. Next week Chinese President Jiang Zemin will come to America to attend the APEC Summit and to meet with Mr. Clinton. The Chinese student and scholar community here would like to express our warm welcome to President Jiang and wish his visit a success. The Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (IFCSS) will work for China's development and progress, and for friendly relations between China and America. To achieve this end, we look forward to an opportunity that President Jiang or his officials meet with the IFCSS representatives. With constructive spirit, we would like to communicate our concern and enter into a dialogue over the following issues. First, we hope to discuss with officials questions about helping the overseas Chinese students and scholars to participate in China's scientific, technological, cultural, educational, and economic development. One of the historical missions that the IFCSS takes on itself is to assist in China's modernization. We are encouraging and assisting our members to participate in this process. Therefore, we hope to work with various government functions in order to create a better environment for the home- coming students and scholars. Secondly, we would like to recommend that overseas Chinese student and scholar community be represented in the People's Congress. There are hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens now studying abroad, and as a distinct community, they need to have their representatives in the People's Congress. A step like this would show that this community is not ignored by the government, and furthermore would increase their sense of responsibility for their motherland. Thirdly, we are concerned about the question of balanced approach between economic and political reforms. We think highly of China's economic reform and opening to the outside world, but we also noted that political reform has yet to be planned and implemented. To maintain China's long term stability and development, political reforms are a necessity. we hope to express to President Jiang our concern and suggestions over this issue. Fourthly, the IFCSS may send a delegation to visit their own country for the purpose of observation and learning. The IFCSS is a non-profit organization registered in America, which aims to represent the interest of Chinese students and scholars. Over the past few years, the organization has established its solid base in Chinese student and scholar community, and is beginning to exert its own influence in American society. We have a great interest in China's development and progress, and hope to have more direct contact in and knowledge of China. We hope that the government will provide assistance in this matter. These are some of the thought that came to us at President Jiang Zemin's impending visit. I hope you would pass our message to President Jiang, and if possible arrange for our meeting with him or his officials. Thank you very much, and I look forward to your response. Sincerely, Lin Changsheng (Signed) ********************************************************************* * IFCSS Headquarters Office * *-------------------------------------------------------------------* * President: Lin Changsheng Vice President: Shi Heping * * Exec. Director: Liu Xiaozhu Chief of Staff: Huang Songyun * *-------------------------------------------------------------------* * PBS-L is IFCSS's news distribution list for individuals. To sign * * on or off from IFCSS E-mail mailing list, please send email to : * * listserv@ifcss.org * * leave the subject line open and put in the mail body: * * (For signing on) sub PBS-L last name first name * * (For signing off) unsub PBS-L last name first name * * For more information about IFCSS, write to ifcss-info@ifcss.org * *********************************************************************