Global guests attending the China International Friendship Conference in Beijing embarked on a tour of the country and called for more mutual learning between countries, highlighting the crucial role of interpersonal engagements and first-hand visits.
The conference coincided with the 70th founding anniversary of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, a Beijing-based organization under the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dedicated to building people-to-people relations across borders.
In separate interviews with China Central Television (CCTV), the international friends, including former political leaders from various countries and heads of international friendship organizations, offered their views on why modern China is worth studying.
"I have been able to witness the remarkable transformation of China. China has been able to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. China's development has been remarkable, outstanding, almost magical," said Vincent Meriton, former vice president of Seychelles, whose first visit to China was in 2002.
"When I was a young person in the Ministry of Finance, we received a lot of Chinese experts to come to Hungary to learn how we are doing the economy, the market economy. Now I think this is the time for Hungary to learn from China," added former Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy, whose first time in China was in 1987.
Several guests emphasized that against an increasingly complex geopolitical backdrop, active efforts are necessary to promote friendship among nations.
"I have a duty to make sure I do everything I can to improve the relationship between New Zealand and China, and I think we need to make sure that aspect of friendship moves to another generation," said David Carter, former speaker of New Zealand Parliament.
"More investment, more Chinese companies coming to Ireland, more Irish people coming here," said former Taoiseach of Ireland Bertie Ahern.
Others stressed that they are willing to strengthen friendly exchanges with Chinese people to eliminate misunderstandings.
"People-to-people exchanges are fundamental to the relationships. As more exchanges take place, as people-to-people really endeavor to work together and understand each other, a lot of these misunderstandings will probably shave off," said Luca Berrone, a board member of Iowa Sister States in the United States.
Guests at friendship conference in Beijing explore China, call for cross-cultural dialogue
Guests at friendship conference in Beijing explore China, call for cross-cultural dialogue
