In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) held a ceremony celebrating the first publication for the book Gelebte Geschichte-40 Erfahrung (means "go through the history, experience of 40 German people") , in Peace Palace of CPAFFC on Sept., 18th.

Lu Yongxiang, the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Li Jianping, the Vice President of the CPAFFC, Ma Bohui, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China Radio International (CRI), Wang Shu, the former Chinese ambassador in Germany and the President of China-German Friendship Association, Dr. Hardy Boeckle, the Cultural Counsellor of the German Embassy in China, Frank Hartmann, the Press Counsellor of the German Embassy in China were present at the ceremony.

In form of interview, the book Gelebte Geschichte-40 Erfahrung introduces 40 Chinese and German personages who are active in the circles of politics, diplomacy, culture & art, and their experience of life reflected in China-German relation. This book was completed by CRI with 7 months’ interview and editing in more than 10 cities. The oldest interviewee is Wangshu, the 88 years old former Chinese Ambassador in Germany, while the youngest is 20 years old Charlotte Landwehr from Germany.

       Vice President Li Jianping Addressing the Ceremony

In his speech, Vice President Li Jianping of the CPAFFC highly praised the achievements had been made since China and Germany established diplomatic relations 40 years ago. He said, through this book, when we were reviewing the history of the elder generation initiating the Chinese and German mutual relation, we would not only admire their vision and courage, but also believe the future of China-German relation will reach a new high level in new era by summing up the historical experience. 

Ma Bohui, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief said, 40 years’ practice had proved, the development of China-German relation served the fundamental interest of both peoples. As the contact of the two countries became closer and closer, the two peoples’s wish for mutual understanding was continuously deepening. History was written by the people. The combined 40 interviews not only sketched the progress of establishment of China-Germany diplomatic relations, but also refracted the personal destinies in the historical trend.