A total of 130 representatives from 25 foreign countries and over 50 consular officers in Guangzhou are taking part in the 2019 Guangdong Public Diplomacy Week from August 20th to 25th in Guangdong.

A group photo of guests from Guangdong and foreign countries. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Ms. Li Xin, Vice Chairperson of CPPCC Guangdong Committee, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

At the opening ceremony, Ms. Li Xin, Vice Chairperson of CPPCC Guangdong Committee, said that Guangdong is willing to strengthen exchange and cooperation with the international community in the areas of economy, trade, science, technology, culture and tourism, to deepen mutual understanding and enhance the well-being of peoples of both sides.

On the opening day, the Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (GPAFFC) signed MOUs with Bolivia-China, Pacific-China and Zambia-China friendship associations.

Chen Qiuyan (R), President of GPAFFC, exchanges MOU with Dr. Hiria Ottino, President of Pacific China Friendship Association. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Dr. Hiria Ottino, President of Pacific China Friendship Association, has lived in China for ten years, including a six-year study of Chinese medicine in both Guangzhou and Kunming. He said Guangzhou is very special to the nations of the Pacific region because it was the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road going to the South America through the Pacific countries, and as a result there is a large population of Chinese ancestry in the region, most of whom are from Guangzhou. “This makes our ties very strong,” Dr. Ottino said. And he hopes western media can take a more balanced stance on China, instead of merely criticizing, they should recognise the things China has achieved over the years.

Guests pose for a photo at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

The Guangdong Friendship Dialogue on Cooperation: Learn in Exchanges and Cooperation for a Win-win Future  [Photo provided to Newsgd.com] 

Shu Qin Li, President of Australia China Friendship Society NT, said that this was the second time for her to take part in the Guangdong Public Diplomacy Week. Li pointed out that since a direct flight between Shenzhen and Darwin was launched last May, more and more people-to-people exchange as well as economic and trade cooperation is occurring between Guangdong and northern Australia. In the future, Li plans to bring more Australians to Guangdong to scout out opportunities in the fields of trade, culture, education, medicine and technology.  

Huang Weiwen, Chairman of the Panama Chinese Entrepreneurs Association, whose ancestral home is in Qingyuan, Guangdong, has engaged in business in the Caribbean Region for over 30 years. It took him more than 20 hours to fly from Panama to Guangzhou with transfers in Houston and Beijing. Huang said, “It’s a long journey, but I really wanted to come back to my hometown and look for opportunities in the Greater Bay Area for Chinese businessman in Panama.”

Ouyang Jiangxuan (R), Vice Chairman of GPAFFC, visits the Oil Paintings Exhibition of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

During the first two days, the participants visited two special exhibitions in Guangzhou, the “Anna Donchenke and Lin Juan Joint Exhibition” which is being held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and China as well as ‘Oil Paintings of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge’.

Russian painter Anna Donchenke (R2) [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Chinese artist Lin Juan (R1) [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

In the next several days, they will attend the 2019 Guangdong Maritime Silk Road International Expo, watch the distinctive Lingnan folk dance drama ‘The Awakening Lion’, and go on a tour of investigation in both Guangzhou and Huizhou to to learn more about the development of the Greater Bay Area.

Guests visit an enterprise in Huizhou. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Guests pose for a group photo at the International Friendship Tree Garden where they have planted trees. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

The 2019 Guangdong Public Diplomacy Week is hosted by GPAFFC, Guangdong Public Diplomacy Association and co-organized by the subordinate units of GPAFFC in Guangzhou and Huizhou. Starting from 2015, GPAFFC has held four annual Public Diplomacy Weeks, which has contributed a lot to improving exchange and cooperation between Guangdong and the world.

Authors: Monica Liu, Pu Enling (intern)

Editor: Simon Haywood