In the early 1950s, Adnan Kassar, then 19 years old, informed his father, Wafic Kassar, a prominent judge turned into Ambassador, that he would not continue in his footsteps but that he, after completing his Law Degree, will seek to enter the business world.Subsequent to constant persistence, Wafic Kassar agreed and gave his blessing coupled with a small capital as start funds to help him pursue his entrepreneurial aims.

 

 

Adnan Kassar would travel to Karachi, when his father, Wafic Kassar was Ambassador of Lebanon to Pakistan and start a line of business there.The trips to Pakistan persisted, even after his father moved to Istanbul to become Ambassador of Lebanon to Turkey.It was fate that would take Adnan Kassar in a 1954 trip to Karachi, where the young and aspiring Adnan Kassar meets with a visiting Chinese business delegation, buying cotton at the time, and there started the long legacy and the new era for Adnan Kassar and China.

 

The first Lebanese to establish business with China, he would work not only to promote China to Lebanon, but to the entire Arab world.

 

The Chinese delegation visiting Pakistan may have felt Adnan Kassars enthusiasm to have invited him to Hong Kong.Adnan Kassar quickly takes them up on their invitation and effects this first of many trips to China.

 

 

The invitation to Hong Kong led him to meet with the representatives of China Resources (HK), which was handling, from Hong Kong, the business of the mainland Peoples Republic of China.His meeting with Mr. Chan HuaTseng was productive and led to fruitful results.Mr. HuaTseng then asked Adnan Kassar to obtain, from the President of the Republic of Lebanon, an invitation to visit Lebanon for the Chinese delegation attending the Damascus fair in Syria, for the first time, in 1956.

 

 

Although Lebanon had diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Adnan Kassar was nevertheless able to obtain this invitation from the President of the Republic of Lebanon, Mr. Camille Chamoun.As the Government of Lebanon then recognized Taiwan as the representative of China in Lebanon, it presents political incongruity to issue an invitation to Chinese delegates and so obtaining this invitation was quite challenging.

 

 

 

 

Adnan Kassar, then 24 years old, ensured the official invitation is issued and the Chinese delegation comes to Lebanon in October 1956, headed by Mr. Chieng Ming, then Deputy Minister of Trade of China.With the efforts of Adnan Kassar, the Chinese delegation, during this first Chinese visit to Lebanon, signed with the late Mr. Rachid Karame, then Minister of Trade of Lebanon, the first trade agreement between China and Lebanon, although Lebanon and China did not have diplomatic relations.This helped to effectively establish trade relations between China and Lebanon, and between China and the Arab world through Lebanon.

 

 

That same year, Adnan Kassar works to establish the first economic representative office of the Peoples Republic of China in Lebanon.The non-existence of diplomatic relations between China and Lebanon, and the presence of an Ambassador of Taiwan in Lebanon, proved this endeavour to be quite exigent.Serious efforts were exerted with the Government of Lebanon, and Adnan Kassar would not stop until Lebanon had Mr. Wang Lee Wang, the first trade representative of the People Republic of China, raise the Peoples Republic of China flag high in Lebanon.

 

 

This attracted high opposition from the Taiwan and the US embassies. Adnan Kassar would counter all resistance and ensure that the Chinese Representation in Lebanon would be the key start for the further development and strengthening of Lebanese and Arab relations with China.

 

 

Following his lengthy dealings with China Resources in Hong Kong, Adnan Kassar gets invited to visit Peking in December 1956.The road from Hong Kong to Peking would prove challenging, but Adnan Kassar becomes accustomed to challenges.Trips to Peking meant traveling by train from Hong Kong to Canton, then taking the only air connection from Canton to Peking on board old American planes with Russian engines that could only fly 1.5 to 2 hours.The planes made refueling stops in grass fields where Adnan Kassar would watch the captain personally go down for the refueling.Barrels of oil would be brought to the plane, first shook to mix the fuel and the captains hand going under the engines to ensure no fuel leaks.

 

 

Going to Peking becomes easier than returning to Hong Kong, after attending the Canton Fair which becomes an annual tradition for Adnan Kassar since 1956.On the return trip to Hong Kong, the voyage becomes more hectic and weighty having to drag suitcases filled with samples of products, ranging from foodstuffs, Chinese handicrafts, stationary, glassware and porcelain.While then many of these products were unknown outside of China, the dealerships and trade agreements Adnan Kassar established for the Arab countries ensures they became common goods available in the markets of the entire Arab world.

 

 

 

 

Adnan Kassar takes China to heart, for it taught him patience, resilience, efficiency and attention to the most minute of details. Adnan Kassar became a first-rate student of the great Chinese school of business. And Adnan Kassar, in all his activities, in all the positions he would assume, would keep China deep in his heart.

 

 

In 1972, Adnan Kassar is elected the President of the Lebanese Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.His first official visit in this capacity would be to China, when he heads the first Lebanese business delegation to visit China.The delegation comprised prominent leaders whose companies would grow and prosper from the ties they establish in China.It was at this time that Lebanon established diplomatic relations with China.

 

 

Several Lebanese delegations are later organized and the latest included His Excellency the late Prime Minister of Lebanon, Mr. Rafic Harriri in 2002, who insisted that Adnan Kassar be present by his side.

 

 

Adnan Kassars real love and sincere care for China and the Chinese people and his continued care to see the Chinese Lebanese and Arab relations further develop and grow, prove mutually beneficial for him, and for the Chinese-Arab relations.

 

 

The Chinese would prove to be excellent business partners for Adnan Kassar, who reciprocates their trust and respect.Cooperation would establish businesses that met the common good for China and the Arab communities.

 

 

Later in 1981, Adnan Kassar would organize the first Arab delegation visit to China and makes it his personal mission to strengthen and bring closer the Chinese and Arab private sectors.

 

 

It was in this context that in April 1988, at the Damascus meeting of the General Union of Arab Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, that Adnan Kassar proposed, and has approved, the establishment ofChinese-Arab chamber of Commerce.Its mission, to develop and strengthen trade, commercial and other relations between China and the Arab world would prove successful.The Chinese Arab Chamber would hold meetings Peking in 1995, in Beirut in 1996, in Amman in 1998, in Dalian in 2001, in Dubai in 2003, in Shanghai in 2005 and in Amman in 2007.

 

 

 

Adnan Kassar doesnt limit his endeavour to develop the Chinese relations to the Arab world.He also works towards developing relations between China and the international business community through the International Chamber of Commerce.He traveled to China with an international delegation in January 1985 to set the ground for the first official ICC visit, which was effected to China, in June 1985.These visits helped in developing relations between the Chinese business community and the ICC, the world business organization.

 

 

Adnan Kassar would later become the first Arab to lead the International Chamber of Commerce, which has over 140 national committees and represents the world private sector, becoming its Chairman in 1999.His main concern was t have China become a member of the ICC and worked diligently towards the successful launch of the first National Committee of the ICC in China.China is now an active member in the International Chamber of Commerce.

 

 

Whether in his Lebanese, Arab, or international leading positions, the Chinese would always find Adnan Kassars doors open wide for them.To report on the Chinese delegations Adnan Kassar received, as President of the Lebanese Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, or as Chairman of the General Union of Arab Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, would be quite enduring.

 

 

Receiving Chinese delegations and officials always bring back to Adnan Kassar fond and dear memories of China.

 

 

China, on all levels, appreciated Adnan Kassar, and to show its gratitude, China is presenting Adnan Kassar, with an award, declaring him a true and lifetime friend of China and the Chinese people for over 50 years. The award marks the half a century of Adnan Kassars giving to China, the five decades of Adnan Kassars friendship to China and the 50 years of Adnan Kassars commitment to China.

 

This award would be the most treasured of decorations and awards Adnan Kassar has already received from the highest levels, from all parts of the world.