Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, led an 11-member delegation to Fuzhou, Fujian province, last week to participate in the Flying Tigers Friendship Schools and Youth Leadership Program, which is dedicated to promoting Sino-American friendship.

The Flying Tigers were a group of volunteer pilots from United States who were recruited by retired U.S. army captain Claire Chennault to assist China in its War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in the early 1940s.

After arriving in Fujian on September 4, Greene said the foundation was dedicated to fostering youth exchanges between China and the United States and expressed excitement for future collaborations with Fuzhou schools.

Guo Ningning, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, met with the delegation on September 5. Guo said that the legacy of the Flying Tigers is a shared one that continues to unite the Chinese and American people. Guo added that Fuzhou was committed to enhancing grassroots exchanges and actively participating in the program to create new stories of friendship.

During their stay, the delegation visited Fuzhou No. 2 High School, engaged in school club activities, and held discussions with students and teachers. The foundation is committed to finding a compatible partner school in the U.S. for Fuzhou No. 2 High School, which would pave the way for student sports exchanges and online meetings, according to the delegation.

The Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, founded in 1998, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Flying Tigers and enhancing mutual understanding between young people in China and the U.S. through history lessons and cultural exchanges.

In 2022, the foundation launched the Flying Tigers Friendship Schools and Youth Leadership Program to pass on and promote the spirit of the Flying Tigers among Chinese and American students.

The Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation delegation takes a group photo with the Fuzhou No. 2 High School girls' basketball team. [Photo provided to bondwithkuliang.org.cn]