Role of friendly exchanges highlighted

70th anniversary of Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs celebrated

Vice-President Wang Qishan underlined on Monday the importance of consolidating the foundation of people-to-people friendly exchanges among countries amid the current changing international situation.

He made the remark in Beijing when meeting former foreign leaders and diplomats before a reception commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.

China's development cannot exist separate from a good international environment and its development will also benefit the world, Wang said, adding that the Chinese government always pays high attention to people-to-people diplomacy.

He called for more efforts to continuously deepen mutual understanding between Chinese people and those in other countries and to promote dialogue and cooperation among all parties, thus injecting more positive energy into world peace, stability and prosperity.

Calling the foreign guests old friends of the Chinese people, Wang said he hoped they can continue to help promote friendly relations between China and their countries.

During their meeting, foreign guests, including former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama, offered his congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the institute.

They said they will continue to make contributions to promoting the development of bilateral ties and facilitating friendly exchanges between civilians.

Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the committee's Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, said in a speech at the reception that the trends of unilateralism, protectionism and bullying are rising in today's world, introducing instability and uncertainty to the international situation.

However, justice will prevail and people in all countries are increasingly calling for strengthened international cooperation, Yang said, adding that the trends of global multipolarization and economic globalization cannot be stopped.

Friendly exchanges among people are one of the basic forces to promote world peace and development, and are also basic preconditions for realizing win-win cooperation, Yang added.

The Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs was founded in December 1949 on the initiative of the late premier Zhou Enlai. It is the first of its kind devoted to people-to-people diplomacy after the founding of the People's Republic of China.