The Hongkou District People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (PAFFC) held its inaugural meeting on June 25.
Chen Jing, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai People's Congress and President of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Li Qian, Party secretary of Hongkou, attended the meeting and delivered speeches.
Fu Jihong, Vice President of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Lu Ming, the Director of Hongkou, unveiled the plaque for the district's PAFFC.
"State-to-state relations thrive when there is friendship between the peoples," said Li Qian. The establishment of the Hongkou PAFFC is seen as a vital part of China's overall diplomacy.
Li said Hongkou has always placed high importance on civil diplomacy. It will uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, aiming to enhance friendship between the people of Hongkou and those of various countries worldwide, promote international exchanges and cooperation, and support common development.
The association will play a leading role in promoting people-to-people diplomacy, a key role in advancing public diplomacy, and act as a bridge in fostering city diplomacy, thereby providing robust support for Hongkou's further high-level opening up, said Li.
Chen Jing congratulated the establishment of the Hongkou PAFFC and elaborated on the significance of civil diplomacy in the new era. He highlighted Shanghai's efforts in promoting foreign civil exchanges and cooperation.
Hongkou, rich in foreign-related resources and characterized by distinctive foreign activities, will see mutual support between the municipal and district PAFFCs.
Together, they will leverage Shanghai's international talents and brand resources, create premium projects, and conduct small yet exquisite activities to better serve Shanghai's economic and social development.
Li Qian emphasized that the district PAFFC should make extensive connections, serve the country's overall diplomatic objectives, and expand Hongkou's international "circle of friends" to contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
It should cultivate a network of contacts to foster high-quality development, actively attract international high-end resources, and advance international cooperation and exchanges.
The association should also engage the public in diplomacy to ensure that people worldwide can better share the outcomes of China's modernization and its role as an important window for showcasing these achievements.
The first session of the first members' meeting elected the district PAFFC's first leadership team, with Xie Rongrong being elected as president.
She expressed the association's commitment to fostering friendly exchanges and mutual understanding between the people of Hongkou and various countries, upholding the principles of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, and exploring sustainable development paths through multi-field exchanges and cooperation to contribute to the region's high-quality economic development.