China promotes Hubei ‘from the Yangtze River to the World’

On 12 July, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 14th promotion event presenting Chinese provinces under the theme of China in the New Era: Hubei, from the Yangtze River to the World at the Blue Hall of the Ministry. State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech. 

Secretary of Hubei Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Jiang Chaoliang addressed the event, and Governor of the People’s Government of Hubei Province Wang Xiaodong gave the presentation. More than 500 people including Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zhang Yesui, Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng, Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Hanhui, diplomatic envoys in China from over 140 countries, representatives from international organisations in China, delegates from industrial and commercial sectors, Chinese and foreign experts, scholars as well as journalists attended the event.

Wang Yi expressed that diplomatic envoys from so many countries gathered here today, as a big family, to support the reform and development of Hubei in a harmonious atmosphere. However, such is not always the case for the world. There are some people who have been making things difficult and stirring up trouble for they do not wish to see China’s booming development and a prosperous life for the Chinese people. Nonetheless, China’s development is like the mighty and unstoppable Yangtze River, and the goal of national rejuvenation pursued by the Chinese people is bound to be realised!

Wang Yi stressed that this year marks the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up. President Xi Jinping has officially announced to the world that China will adhere to the policy of reform and opening up, and that the door of China’s opening up will not be closed but will open even wider since the reform and opening up not only conforms to the interests of the Chinese people, and accords with the trend progressing with the times, but also is in line with the common interests of people from all countries. The major trend of a new round of reform and opening up has presented the song of the Yangtze River in the new era in which Hubei is one of the most splendid chapters.

Wang Yi expressed that Hubei in history was once an important birthplace of Chinese civilization. Hubei has become an important pioneer of Chinese revolution and construction since modern times. Hubei in the new era is building itself into a new highland for the development of the central region. Today, Hubei actively participates in the cooperation of the Belt and Road Initiative, with the “river-sea-going” shipping route connecting the Pacific Ocean to the east, China-Europe freight trains going directly to Europe to the west, and the passenger air routes flying non-stop to the four continents. I believe that Hubei, which has entered the new era, will surely move from the Yangtze River to the world and become a new window for China’s all-round opening up.

Jiang Chaoliang expressed that Hubei has left a glorious and brilliant historical chapter in the development process of the Chinese nation. It is also the birthplace of modern industrial civilisation in China. In recent years, Hubei has earnestly implemented the development strategy of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, accelerated economic transformation and upgrading, adhered to ecology first and green development, and actively aligned with and integrated into the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. Hubei hopes to deepen practical cooperation in such aspects as industry, economy, trade, science and education, people-to-people and cultural engagement and tourism to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results with all countries in the world. Wang Xiaodong gave the presentation of Hubei from such aspects as innovative development, green ecology, advantages in opening up, happiness and people’s livelihood, and invited friends from all countries to jointly explore new ways of cooperation, development and win-win results in the new era.

Pakistani Ambassador to China Masood Khalid, Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov, French Ambassador to China Jean-Maurice Ripert, Belgian Ambassador to China Marc Vinck, Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale and Ecuadorian Ambassador to China Carlos Humberto Larrea Dávila successively introduced the situation of cooperation between their country and Hubei, and looked forward to further strengthening friendly exchanges and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with Hubei under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Before the promotion event, the People’s Government of Hubei Province held a symposium with multinational companies. Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Jun and Executive Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Hubei Province Huang Chuping attended the promotion event.