Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon!
It's my great pleasure to be in such a
beautiful and vigorous city, Shanghai. It's also my great honor to attend this
conference organized by the Charhar Institute, the Netherlands Institute of
International Relations "Clingendael" and the Institute for
International Cultural Relations. As vice president of China Public Diplomacy
Association and co-Chair of the International Advisory Board of the Charhar
Institute, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you.
The international forum on public diplomacy
has already become an important platform for communication of think tanks
between China and Europe. I still keep in my mind what was like in Hague
conference: All of my colleagues and I were warmly welcomed by the Netherlands
friends. We have talked frankly and friendly on our common concerns and made
consensus on how to continue the China-Europe Dialogue. I wrote a poet for
Hague conference to express my feelings. It is not I like traveling, but I was
born for China's diplomacy; Hardships we are confronted now, but we can always
be surprised. Efforts should be always making to safeguard world peace; Hague
Consensus is one of the important contributions by the conference.
I would like to say that choosing
"city diplomacy" for the theme of the 3rd forum held in Shanghai is
very appropriate. Shanghai, as one of China's largest city, has made a lot of
achievements both in city development and in public diplomacy, which lay a good
foundation for the success of the forum.
The forum will focus on Practice and
Exploration of City Diplomacy, which is meaningful for the reason that city
diplomacy holds a very important position in public diplomacy. The overall
national diplomacy needs city diplomacy. City diplomacy, on the other hand, by
making full use of local resources in international relations, communication
and exchanges, will not only promote the city's development, but will also
serve for national diplomacy.
City diplomacy or regional diplomacy has
been paid much attention and achievements have been made. City diplomacy is of
great importance for China's public diplomacy.
Ladies and gentlemen, world today are in
constant changes. There is still a long way to go for world peace and
development. There are rumors on China's rise, which create opportunities for
scholars and experts and think tanks on public diplomacy in every country to do
the research and to show their talents. I hope the forum will be fruitful and
will make its due contribution to China-European relations and to world peace!
Thank you very much!