At the recent Central United Front Work Conference, Xi Jinping emphasized that the United Work aims to make more friends, especially some close friends who are able to speak their minds. However, in order to make this kind of friend, you can’t hurry it as if you are cooking fast food, but rather you should put in the kind of effort as if you are slowly cooking the famous Chinese dish made of lots of seafood and poultry.

The relationship between late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and the 10th Panchen Lama was an example of this. On April 27, 1950, the Panchen Lama arrived in Beijing for the first time, and that night he was received by Premier Zhou and invited to dinner. They discussed everything from customs, traditions, and daily life to the victory of the Chinese revolution and the future of Tibet; from the accommodations and itinerary to the importance of national unity. Premier Zhou’s openness and sincerity deeply influenced the Panchen Lama.

In 1952, the Panchen Lama returned to Lhasa to meet with the Dalai Lama. He remembered the instructions of Premier Zhou, to unite with the Dalai Lama and submit to the current situation.

In 1956, the Indian government invited the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama to India to participate in celebrations for the 2,500th anniversary of Sakyamuni Buddha achieving nirvana. The Panchen Lama fought against separatist forces and returned home on schedule, in a sharp contrast to the Dalai Lama who delayed his return.

During the “Cultural Revolution”, the Panchen Lama was severely denounced, and his situation was critical. After Premier Zhou learned of this, he quickly arranged for him to be protected by the military.

Premier Zhou and the 10th Panchen Lama formed a great friendship over a long period of time and numerous trials, despite their difference in age.

Today the structure of the United Front has undergone great changes, and the concept of social thought is becoming more diverse. Two issues have manifested for the CPC United Front Work. One is not paying attention to ideological guidance and not being concerned with ideological activities of people outside the Party. The other is a phenomenon of being arrogant, purely bureaucratic, and rigid.

According to Xi Jinping’s speech at the Central United Front Work Conference, non-Party people should be treated with the same effort required to make the dish with more contacts, more close talks, more assistance emphasizing respect, equality and sincerity.

Note: The dish of seafood and poultry stew is literally called "Buddha jumping over the wall", meaning it is so delicious that even monks would jump over the wall to taste it. It is originated from southeast China’s Fujian Province. It is a nutritious stew made by simmering slowly over a low flame for an excellent result. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Queen Elizabeth of Britain, Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia, and other heads of state have all sampled this famous Chinese dish.