Spring Festival Reception for SCO Countries’ Diplomats Held in Beijing

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A Spring Festival reception for diplomatic envoys to China from SCO countries was held in Beijing on the evening of January 13. Directed by China International Communications Group (CICG) and the SCO Secretariat, the event was hosted by the CICG Center for Europe and Asia (China Pictorial Publications) and supported by the Administrative Committee of China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA). Attendees of the reception included Du Zhanyuan, president of CICG, and Zhang Ming, secretary-general of the SCO.

Over 60 diplomatic envoys from SCO countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Iran, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Sri Lanka attended the reception. Attendees also included experts from the SCO Secretariat and Chinese and foreign representatives of political and diplomatic circles.

Du Zhanyuan delivers a speech at the reception.

Du Zhanyuan, president of CICG, said in his speech that the year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal to jointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt during his visit to Kazakhstan, and CICG will carry forward its extensive cooperation with relevant organizations and institutions of the SCO countries on telling the stories of mutually beneficial collaboration brought by the Belt and Road Initiative, while reporting on friendly exchange of the SCO family to promote people-to-people connectivity among the SCO countries. 

Zhang Ming delivers a speech at the reception.

Zhang Ming, secretary-general of the SCO, said in his speech that the fruitful SCO Summit in Samarkand last year gained international attention and recognition of the Shanghai Spirit and the SCO Secretariat will continue to maintain close cooperation with all members of the SCO family and put into practice the consensus reached by the leaders of the SCO member states.

Gao Anming delivers a toast speech at the reception.

Gao Anming, vice president and editor-in-chief of CICG, said in his toast speech that the SCO maintained strong vitality and dynamism for cooperation under the guidance of the Shanghai Spirit, and he expressed the hope that the SCO family will stay true to their founding missions, enhance dialogue and communication, and forge ahead to create a brighter future.

Zhang Dong delivers a toast speech at the reception.

Zhang Dong, member of the Party Working Committee and deputy director of the Administrative Committee of the SCODA, said in his toast speech that the year 2023 marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the demonstration area and the SCODA will share opportunities and pursue common development with all SCO countries. 

Jiang Yonggang, president of the CICG Center for Europe and Asia (China Pictorial Publications), presides over the reception.

Guests visit a CICG book exhibition.

Guests write Chinese characters “Tunian Daji” (meaning “Auspicious Year of the Rabbit”) using ink and brush.

A guest learns to make a clay figurine of Tu’er Ye, or Lord Rabbit, one of Beijing’s intangible cultural heritage items.

A Chinese folk music performance.

At the reception, the guests enjoyed a performance of Chinese folk music, experienced intangible cultural heritage items of China, and wrote Chinese calligraphy to intimately soak up traditional Chinese Spring Festival customs. They also exchanged best wishes for the upcoming 2023 Spring Festival and talked about the prospects for future cooperation and development.

Some diplomatic envoys communicate with each other at the reception.

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