Diplomacy with foreign dignitaries, personalities builds up China's new image

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, January 01, 2004

Diplomacy with foreign dignitaries, personalities builds up China's new image

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High-level exchanges with dignitaries, noted figures and people's organizations gave scope to a crucial role in promoting China's communications and serving the country's overall diplomatic work in 2003.

Despite the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), such exchanges yielded remarkable results, said Liu Baolai,vice-president of the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA).

As the first non-governmental diplomatic body formed after the founding of new China in 1949, the IFA has mainly been responsible for high-level unofficial exchanges, including close contacts with former leaders of state or government, eminent scholars and various people's organizations, as well as leaders of countries yet to forge diplomatic ties with China.

Liu said the IFA has beefed up exchanges with developed nations, such as the United States, the European Union (EU), Russia and Japan, increased contacts with developing nations and promoted their economic cooperation with China's provinces and municipalities.

IFA in 2003 received 948 people of 94 foreign delegations, including 16 former state leaders, Liu acknowledged. It also held 10 seminars, including the fourth China-UK Forum, and the China-Japan-Republic of Korea business forum.

The IFA organized delegations to the U.S., Germany, India, Japan and southeast Asian nations.

All these activities helped to epitomize the friendly, cooperative relations between China and other related countries, and therefore served an irreplaceable role for the overall diplomacy, added Liu.

Former U.S. political figures made speeches on different occasions after they returned to their own country, creating a friendly atmosphere before Premier Wen Jiabao's successful US triplast December.

An advisory group to Vietnam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai came to visit China after the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and, through their successful trip,they increased their understanding of Chinese policies.

Judi Moylan, chairperson of the Australia-China Friendship Group of the Australian Federal Parliament, addressed the parliament after her visit to China, saying that the economies of Australia and China were mutually compatible and bilateral amity and cooperation should be further advanced.

The IFA would work harder still for a greater success in conducting the high-level, non-government diplomacy, he said, adding that the IFA in 2004 would continue to invite prominent former state leaders to China from the U.S. and the Europe and hold large-scale seminars, including a symposium to mark the 50th anniversary of the Five-Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, he said.

The IFA would conscientiously sum up its work experience over the past year, so as to explore more fields in foreign exchanges in the new year, Liu said.

Source: Xinhua

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