The descendants of those who helped Dr Sun Yat Sen in the Xinhai Revolution were very encouraged with their meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao here.
According to Lim Gaik Siang who convened the meeting, Wen told the group during the hour-long meeting that he hoped both China and Malaysia would become stronger nations.
“He also hoped that all the descendants of those who were involved in the Xinhai Revolution will continue Dr Sun’s spirit of love for all,” Lim said after the meeting at the Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur.
The revolution, also known as the 1911 Revolution, was the first attempt to establish a republic in China that successfully ousted the previous government.
Penang played a vital role in Dr Sun’s political career as he set up a base there to plan the great uprising.
Datuk Dr Yee Thiam Sun, one of the descendants, said the meeting with Wen was a recognition from the government of the contributions their ancestors made to the movement.
“I am very thankful and moved by Wen’s kind gesture and he encouraged us with his words,” said Yee, whose maternal grandfather Lim Pok Ai was one of the members of the Xinhai Revolution.
Another descendant Dr Lawrence T.C. Khoo, whose grandfather Khoo Beng Cheang was a member of the movement, described the meeting as very meaningful.
The Chinese premier also received former prime ministers Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in separate meetings.
Dr Mahathir said his discussions with Wen touched on bilateral relations and the importance of future cooperation between both nations.
Abdullah said Wen had always been positive about relations between the countries, adding that their discussions also touched on the growing interest in traditional medicine and the halal industry.
