Chan Laiwa, Chairwoman of the Board, Fu Wah International Group, Curator of China Red Sandalwood Museum, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony
date：2023-12-19 10:54:39 hits：
The 5th Belt and Road Women’s Forum successfully convened in Sanya, Hainan from December 6-8. Co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and the UN Resident Coordinator Office in China, and jointly organized by the People’s Government of Sanya City, the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development, and the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Women’s Forum. Chan Laiwa, Chairwoman of the Board, Fu Wah International Group; Curator of China Red Sandalwood Museum, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.
Distinguished guests and dear sisters, greetings to you all!
It fills me with immense joy to gather here today with so many women exemplary. In my address today, I wish to share three personal anecdotes, illustrating how we, as women, can play a significant role in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and how, through our endeavors, we can enable a broader share in the joys of a better life.
For my first story, I recount the journey of the ‘Red Sandalwood World Tour’ of the China Red Sandalwood Museum. My passion for red sandalwood, which not only transformed my life but also served as a conduit for sharing Chinese culture and art with the world, has facilitated China’s interaction with the global community. Initiated in 1998 in South Korea, the World Tour has since participated in numerous international cultural exchanges. Our hundreds of exquisite red sandalwood art pieces have traveled to the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and regions like Taipei and Macau in China. The China Red Sandalwood Museum has also donated models of Red Sandalwood sculpture of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, the Pavilion of Myriad Springtimes, the Feiyun Tower, and the Pavilion Endowed with Pines and Cypresses to renowned institutions worldwide, such as Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Kyushu National Museum, château de Chambord, National Smithsonian Institute of Museum of Washington, and Vatican Museums. These masterpieces have offered people across the globe a glimpse into the beauty of Eastern art, deepening their understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture and fostering friendships. I vividly recall how, at the grand ‘Following Wen Sheng Wu-Qing Dynasty Emperors' Family, Country and World’ exhibition in Monaco in July 2017, Prince Albert II was utterly captivated by two of our pieces – the models of the red sandalwood the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Pavilion Endowed with Pines and Cypresses. Since then, red sandalwood culture has sparked a trend in Mediterranean countries, drawing many towards understanding and embracing China through this art form.
Reflecting on the ‘Red Sandalwood World Tour’, I feel a profound sense of pride, as our endeavors resonate deeply with the spirit of the Belt and Road Initiative. We’ve facilitated communication and fostered friendships among people of different nations through red sandalwood art. My journey has enabled me to forge lasting friendships with international figures such as former French President Jacques Chirac and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, through the bond of red sandalwood. Thus, the journey of red sandalwood as a global ambassador of culture continues, with many more nations awaiting our outreach.
In my second story, as a member of the Yellow Banner of the Manchu ethnic group, I grew up surrounded by red sandalwood furniture. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that red sandalwood is not only a precious wood but also a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Prolonged exposure to red sandalwood has seemingly contributed to the health and youthfulness of my family, our museum staff, and our craftsmen. In the summer of 2007, after visiting the China Red Sandalwood Museum, I visited Dr. Ferid Murad, a Nobel laureate in the U.S., to explore the intrinsic value of red sandalwood. This collaboration led to the creation of high-tech products that combine Nobel Prize-winning biotechnology with natural red sandalwood extracts, benefiting human health and beauty. After over a decade of joint research, in 2017, we launched our first skincare product line that delays aging. In 2019, in collaboration with the Forbidden City, we introduced a premium skincare range under the ‘LICIWAH’ brand. This product allowed many women to experience the miraculous effects of red sandalwood, becoming a tangible embodiment of China’s cultural wave. I believe that this fusion of cutting-edge biotechnology and traditional Chinese herbal medicine in skincare will set future trends and is yet another way red sandalwood culture contributes to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
For my third tale, I’d like to mention that our Fu Wah International Group was among the earliest to embark on the Belt and Road journey. Our international investment strategy began in the southern line of the ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road’, focusing on Australia and New Zealand. In 2014, we successfully acquired the top-tier Park Hyatt Melbourne in Australia. That same year, after a global bidding process, we partnered with the Auckland waterfront development authority and the world-renowned Hyatt Hotels Corporation to create the prestigious Park Hyatt Auckland. This project marked the largest foreign investment in New Zealand’s public infrastructure to date, not only elevating the local hotel and tourism industry standards but also creating substantial employment opportunities. It was widely welcomed by the local community and strongly supported by the government.
In conclusion, women’s innate love for beauty, delicate emotions, gentle nature, communicative skills, and acute perceptiveness enables us to excel in many fields, contributing significantly to the Belt and Road Initiative and fostering mutual understanding. I aspire to continue promoting red sandalwood carving art and skincare products infused with traditional Chinese medical wisdom along the Belt and Road and globally, bringing joy to people worldwide.
Dear sisters, we women are more careful than men, to do a good job, and to have credit, credit is our own, and credit is life, congratulations on the Belt and Road Women’s Forum being a complete success. Thank you all!
Distinguished guests and dear sisters, greetings to you all!
It fills me with immense joy to gather here today with so many women exemplary. In my address today, I wish to share three personal anecdotes, illustrating how we, as women, can play a significant role in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and how, through our endeavors, we can enable a broader share in the joys of a better life.
For my first story, I recount the journey of the ‘Red Sandalwood World Tour’ of the China Red Sandalwood Museum. My passion for red sandalwood, which not only transformed my life but also served as a conduit for sharing Chinese culture and art with the world, has facilitated China’s interaction with the global community. Initiated in 1998 in South Korea, the World Tour has since participated in numerous international cultural exchanges. Our hundreds of exquisite red sandalwood art pieces have traveled to the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and regions like Taipei and Macau in China. The China Red Sandalwood Museum has also donated models of Red Sandalwood sculpture of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, the Pavilion of Myriad Springtimes, the Feiyun Tower, and the Pavilion Endowed with Pines and Cypresses to renowned institutions worldwide, such as Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Kyushu National Museum, château de Chambord, National Smithsonian Institute of Museum of Washington, and Vatican Museums. These masterpieces have offered people across the globe a glimpse into the beauty of Eastern art, deepening their understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture and fostering friendships. I vividly recall how, at the grand ‘Following Wen Sheng Wu-Qing Dynasty Emperors' Family, Country and World’ exhibition in Monaco in July 2017, Prince Albert II was utterly captivated by two of our pieces – the models of the red sandalwood the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Pavilion Endowed with Pines and Cypresses. Since then, red sandalwood culture has sparked a trend in Mediterranean countries, drawing many towards understanding and embracing China through this art form.
Reflecting on the ‘Red Sandalwood World Tour’, I feel a profound sense of pride, as our endeavors resonate deeply with the spirit of the Belt and Road Initiative. We’ve facilitated communication and fostered friendships among people of different nations through red sandalwood art. My journey has enabled me to forge lasting friendships with international figures such as former French President Jacques Chirac and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, through the bond of red sandalwood. Thus, the journey of red sandalwood as a global ambassador of culture continues, with many more nations awaiting our outreach.
In my second story, as a member of the Yellow Banner of the Manchu ethnic group, I grew up surrounded by red sandalwood furniture. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that red sandalwood is not only a precious wood but also a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Prolonged exposure to red sandalwood has seemingly contributed to the health and youthfulness of my family, our museum staff, and our craftsmen. In the summer of 2007, after visiting the China Red Sandalwood Museum, I visited Dr. Ferid Murad, a Nobel laureate in the U.S., to explore the intrinsic value of red sandalwood. This collaboration led to the creation of high-tech products that combine Nobel Prize-winning biotechnology with natural red sandalwood extracts, benefiting human health and beauty. After over a decade of joint research, in 2017, we launched our first skincare product line that delays aging. In 2019, in collaboration with the Forbidden City, we introduced a premium skincare range under the ‘LICIWAH’ brand. This product allowed many women to experience the miraculous effects of red sandalwood, becoming a tangible embodiment of China’s cultural wave. I believe that this fusion of cutting-edge biotechnology and traditional Chinese herbal medicine in skincare will set future trends and is yet another way red sandalwood culture contributes to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
For my third tale, I’d like to mention that our Fu Wah International Group was among the earliest to embark on the Belt and Road journey. Our international investment strategy began in the southern line of the ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road’, focusing on Australia and New Zealand. In 2014, we successfully acquired the top-tier Park Hyatt Melbourne in Australia. That same year, after a global bidding process, we partnered with the Auckland waterfront development authority and the world-renowned Hyatt Hotels Corporation to create the prestigious Park Hyatt Auckland. This project marked the largest foreign investment in New Zealand’s public infrastructure to date, not only elevating the local hotel and tourism industry standards but also creating substantial employment opportunities. It was widely welcomed by the local community and strongly supported by the government.
In conclusion, women’s innate love for beauty, delicate emotions, gentle nature, communicative skills, and acute perceptiveness enables us to excel in many fields, contributing significantly to the Belt and Road Initiative and fostering mutual understanding. I aspire to continue promoting red sandalwood carving art and skincare products infused with traditional Chinese medical wisdom along the Belt and Road and globally, bringing joy to people worldwide.
Dear sisters, we women are more careful than men, to do a good job, and to have credit, credit is our own, and credit is life, congratulations on the Belt and Road Women’s Forum being a complete success. Thank you all!
The theme of the forum, ‘She Power: Jointly Building and Sharing a Beautiful Life,’ reflects a focus on women’s unique contributions and empowerment within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. Organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and the All-China Youth Federation, along with the People’s Government of Sanya City leadership, the forum brought together over 400 participants. These included the First Lady of Guyana, representatives from the United Nations, Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine, and ambassadors from Kyrgyzstan, Zambia, Maldives, Switzerland, Nepal, Guyana, Uganda, Mozambique, and various other countries, along with national and international business representatives.
During the forum, in-depth discussions and exchanges took place around the theme. Guests shared insights on the distinctive role played by women in the ten years since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched. They highlighted the substantial achievements of women and looked forward to the future of the initiative, advocating for women’s empowerment to foster common development and prosperity in human society.
2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Women’s Forum has been instrumental in showcasing the unique role of women in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting comprehensive and sustainable development for women, and enhancing people-to-people connections among the participating countries. The forum has successfully established a platform for communication and collaboration among women across the Belt and Road countries, building bridges for mutual understanding and cooperation.
During the forum, in-depth discussions and exchanges took place around the theme. Guests shared insights on the distinctive role played by women in the ten years since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched. They highlighted the substantial achievements of women and looked forward to the future of the initiative, advocating for women’s empowerment to foster common development and prosperity in human society.
2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Women’s Forum has been instrumental in showcasing the unique role of women in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting comprehensive and sustainable development for women, and enhancing people-to-people connections among the participating countries. The forum has successfully established a platform for communication and collaboration among women across the Belt and Road countries, building bridges for mutual understanding and cooperation.