Flying Tiger in WWII, secret ambassador today
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Bilateral civilian messenger
As Anna became increasingly prominent in mainstream political activities and gradually built up her status in social circles, she came to be known in the U.S. capital as "the hostess of Washington."
In the early 1980s, as the Chinese mainland began to implement its opening-up and reform policy, she naturally served as an envoy between the three points of the triangle – the mainland, Taiwan and the U.S. In 1980, shortly after Ronald Reagan's presidential election victory, she was sent to Beijing as a special ambassador to meet with Deng Xiaoping.
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Deng Xiaoping meets with Anna Chan Chennault in China in 1980. [Photo by nywcfped.com] |
Today Anna visits the mainland frequently and is an active player in promoting cultural exchanges between China and the U.S., as well as across the Strait.
In 1981, she established the Chen Hsiang-mei Education Prize in more than a dozen cities in the mainland in order to encourage outstanding teachers. The "Chen Hsiang-mei Scholarship," which includes a stipend of $2000, is awarded each spring to persons majoring in Chinese. Each year she travels to various cities to present the award.
Besides creating these awards, she has also founded several "Hsiang-mei schools," covering all costs out of her own pocket.
"I'm interested in education; I think it's the foundation of a strong nation," Anna explained. "I just want to do more for my motherland."
She said she was greatly encouraged and helped by her teachers, and that she would never forget them. She was one of initiators of "Teachers' Day" in China.
From northern China to the south, from Taiwan to the U.S., Anna has experienced both bitterness and sweetness. She sees herself as a wonderful combination of identities.
"During the past three decades, the mainland has changed dramatically. Now it's undertaking the development of the northwestern region (including Tibet, Xinjiang, Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan and so forth)," she said. "It has made me determined to go to the northwest, which is backward and in need of help."
Trip with hope
Although this was her first trip to Erdos City, Anna invited more than a dozen businessmen and entrepreneurs from Hong Kong and the U.S. to accompany her.
"My staff told me that Erdos is full of coal, gas and other natural resources. So I brought some of my friends along to see whether there are opportunities," she said.
Two businessmen in her group had already been to the city and planned to invest in local tourism and the hotel industry. "I've already written two recommendation letters and I will personally introduce these two men to city mayors. I hope they can make some agreements," she told China.org.cn.
Kwok Yi-chung, chairman of Chinvest Funds in Hong Kong, plans to open a hotel in Erdos and asked Anna to introduce him to local authorities. He said: "I hope she can set up a bridge between social resources and my company. She is so nice and kind, and also has many friends."
As the plane descended and the airport appeared, Anna looked both nervous and excited. Sitting next to her holding her hands was her best friend Irving Kaufman, who has accompanied her for 20 years and is vice chairman of the Council for International Cooperation. "Everything is great! Your friends want to come and local officials will welcome them," he said.
Irving met Anna in 1970. At the time, he knew nothing about Chinese culture. "She is not only a wonderful person but a wonderful teacher. She is like an encyclopedia. She has a fantastic knowledge in depth since she was a reporter," he told China.org.cn. "She is strong and determined. She does what she believes is correct even if the rest of society didn't agree with her. And she has a deep love of her mother country even though she migrated to United States, became a citizen. And she has transferred that love to me. I'm an American, right? But I have also a deep love for Chinese people."
The plane landed; the door opened; Anna stepped out. Not very far away, a welcoming group including the deputy mayor of Erdos, Wang Fengshan, was waiting with smiles and flowers.
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