'Lei Feng Spirit' Cherished by Growing Number of Chinese

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 06, 2003

'Lei Feng Spirit' Cherished by Growing Number of Chinese

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On March 5 of every year, millions of young people throughout China participate in volunteer activities to honor the memory of Lei Feng, a Chinese solider and cultural icon who symbolizes humility and service to others.

Late Chinese leader Mao Zedong called on the Chinese people to "Learn from Comrade Lei Feng" on March 5, 1963, and the "Lei Feng Spirit" has since embodied devotion and self-sacrifice for those in need.

Several days ago, before leaving the motherland, China's first United Nations (UN) peace-keeping medical contingent paid a special visit to Lei Feng Memorial Hall in Fushun city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, declaring that they will embody the "Lei Feng Spirit" in the fulfillment of their mission.

As for Doctor Wang Bin, a member of the medical contingent, the "Lei Feng Spirit" means rendering service with joy, self-sacrifice and whole-hearted service to the people.

In this country with 5,000 years of civilization, the "Lei FengSpirit" is analogous to "good deeds done by good people,", and its meaning has been expanded in the past 40 years.

Shen Jie, a scholar with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the "Lei Feng Spirit" has already transcended its original boundaries. It is no longer just the representation of Lei Feng's spirit, but the embodiment of that of the Chinese nation.

"Serving mankind and society, while still pursuing happiness and perfection, is the common goal of all human beings, which was also the goal of Lei Feng," said the general manager of the Japanese-financed Dalian Haradar Industry Co., Ltd. The company launched "learning from Lei Feng" activities in the company 13 years ago.

Shen Jie noted that a professional attitude, a sense of discipline and honesty are all part of the "Lei Feng Spirit", a spirit which is significant in economic development. "The Lei Feng Spirit has eternal values," said Shen.

Zhang Xuecheng, an official of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC), told Xinhua that, since volunteer activities were introduced in China, Chinese volunteers have successfully combined them with "learning from Lei Feng" activities.

"In China, learning from Lei Feng got a new name -- voluntary action," said Zhang.

March 5 is also China's Youth Volunteer Day. Statistics show that about 100 million Chinese youth have provided 4.5 billion hours of volunteer service over the past decade.

Against the backdrop of globalization, the humanity and morality expressed by the "Lei Feng Spirit" has been accepted by the entire world.

An American youth, who signed his name as "Sam" in the guestbook at Lei Feng Memorial Hall, wrote: "The Lei Feng Spirit can transcend the ocean."

Most Chinese regard Lei Feng as a great hero, and his spirit should be passed on to every generation of the Chinese people.

Wu Xinsheng, a resident of Zhengzhou City in central China's Henan Province, provides free services to the elderly, the disabled and children, with the description of his services clearly indicated on his business cards.

He suggested that the city's youth league set up a "moral bank",to help attract volunteers and create a favorable social atmosphere for helping the needy.

"In fact, the Lei Feng Spirit has had a profound influence on the building of Chinese morality," said Zhai Yuanbin, an employee at Lei Feng Memorial Hall. Zhai added that the Lei Feng Spirit has adapted to the modern era, but will maintain its core principles, which include love for the motherland, service to the people, hard work and continuous learning.

Since its inauguration in November 1968, Lei Feng Memorial Hallhas received over 8.5 million visitors, including over 300,000 foreigners from over 50 countries.

"We were moved by Lei Feng and wanted to learn from him," said 82-year-old Xu Jingying, showing great excitement when recalling the old days when he and his colleagues were inspired by and learned about Lei Feng.

Xu, who returned to the Chinese mainland from Singapore in the 1950s with her husband, heard overseas Chinese praise Lei Feng, aswell.

She said that the Lei Feng Spirit has become her spiritual pillar and that helping other people has become an integral part of her life.

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