Recently, a reception marking the China International Friendship Conference and the 70th Anniversary Celebration of CPAFFC was held at the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing. Yin Li, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee, delivered a speech, while the event was hosted by Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing. Li Xiuling, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, Wei Xiaodong, Chairman of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC, attended the event.
In his address, Yin Li expressed profound respect for the international friends who have long been committed to the cause of people-to-people friendship, thanking them for their continuous support and care for Beijing’s development. He noted that, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China has embarked on a development path that suits its national conditions, achieving the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, maintaining rapid economic growth, and long-term social stability, while making significant contributions to global development. At present, the Chinese government is fully committed to advancing Chinese modernization, aiming for a path of peaceful development, deepening reform, promoting high-level opening-up, and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation and shared prosperity. As the capital of China, Beijing boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage, abundant educational, technological, and human resources, and a livable ecological environment. It plays a significant role in driving regional economic development, advancing the high-standard construction of the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center, supporting the development of the Xiong’an New Area in Hebei, and promoting coordinated development across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. After five years of development, the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center has emerged as a thriving new city of the future. Currently, Beijing is striving to be at the forefront of achieving basic socialist modernization, accelerating the construction of an international hub for technological innovation, and establishing itself as a global leader in the digital economy. It aims to build a highland of top talent and create a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment. Yin warmly welcomed friends and organizations from around the world to share in Beijing’s development opportunities, foster practical cooperation across various fields, and work together to achieve high-quality development and a better life.
In his remarks, President Yang Wanming emphasized that for the past 70 years, the CPAFFC has adhered to the principles of “Friendship, Cooperation, Peace, and Development”. The CPAFFC has worked tirelessly to deepen people-to-people friendship, build bridges for state-to-state relations, and promote international cooperation, facilitating connections between people to strengthen ties between nations. The theme of this anniversary event, “Deepening People-to-People Friendship and Promoting the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind”, reflects the unique role of people-to-people diplomacy. It aims to build consensus, gather strength, and contribute wisdom to foster a community with a shared future and create a better world.
Danilo Türk, former President of Slovenia, former President of the World Leadership Alliance - Club de Madrid (WLA-CdM), and member of the InterAction Council, also delivered a speech. He praised the CPAFFC as an important platform for people-to-people diplomacy, playing a crucial role in promoting cross-cultural exchanges, enhancing mutual understanding, and building trust. He noted that, amid the complex challenges facing the world today, Beijing’s successful experiences in urbanization, technological innovation, and sustainable development offer valuable lessons for other countries. Türk expressed confidence that Beijing will continue to lead the global trend in urbanization and contribute further wisdom to global cooperation and green development.
Prior to the reception, international guests visited the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center to learn about urban planning, construction progress, and the achievements of the “Two Zones” opening-up initiative. They also experienced the historical, cultural, and ecological landscape of the Grand Canal by taking a boat ride and visited the Beijing Performing Arts Centre, the Beijing Library, and the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing. The reception featured a series of captivating cultural performances enjoyed by guests from China and abroad.
The event was attended by Zhao Lei, Member of the Standing Committee and Secretary-General of the Beijing Municipal Committee, Wang Jianzhong, Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, Zeng Jin, Secretary-General of the Beijing Municipal Government, Han Yu, Secretary-General of the Beijing Municipal CPPCC, as well as former political leaders from many countries, heads of international friendship organizations, representatives from foreign institutions, multinational enterprises, and friends of China.
