Exhibition to commemorate friendship between Soong Ching-ling and Rewi Alley
A file picture taken on December 2,1980, when Soong celebrated Rewi Alley's birthday for the last time.
An exhibition will be held on Monday at the former residence of Soong Ching-ling on Huaihai Road M. to commemorate her friendship with Rewi Alley and mark the 120th anniversary of the New Zealand writer and educator.
The exhibition will display more than 100 items of cultural relics and historical materials, including private pictures, letters and books sent by Alley, many of which will be publicly displayed for the first time.
The collections include a picture taken on December 2, 1980, when Soong celebrated Alley's birthday for the last time. The photo showed Soong clapping cheerfully when Alley cut the birthday cake.
There is also a set of blue and white porcelain given to Soong by Alley.
Organizers prepared a special map to show the places in Shanghai, where Soong and Alley carried out revolutionary activities.
Alley came to China in 1927 and worked in the municipal council in the international settlement in Shanghai. He was introduced to Soong in 1933 by American journalist Agnes Smedley and began their friendship that lasted about half a century.
They provided shelters for communists and participated in revolutionary activities.
They also launched the Chinese Industrial Cooperative Movement to keep production to save the country and to raise funds and materials to support the War against Japanese Invasion.
After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, they were dedicated to promoting world peace and friendly relations between China and New Zealand.
Soong said Alley was “a loyal and trusting friend of the New China.”
The exhibition will end on December 31.
A set of porcelain given to Soong by Alley.
Alley's badge of the Chinese Industrial Cooperative Movement preserved by Soong.
