Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (2nd R) meets with former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (2nd L front) and other former foreign politicians and foreign diplomats based in China prior to a reception commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) held a reception here Monday evening to celebrate its 70th anniversary of establishment.
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan met with former foreign politicians and foreign diplomats based in China prior to the reception.
China's growth is inseparable from a good international environment, and China's development is also beneficial to the world, Wang said.
"As the current international situation is constantly changing, the importance of building a solid foundation of people-to-people friendship has become more prominent," he said.
Wang called for efforts to continuously deepen the understanding between the Chinese people and the people from other countries, promote communication, dialogue and cooperation, and contribute to world peace, stability and prosperity.
Yang Jiechi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivered a speech at the reception, saying that China will adhere to the path of peaceful development and promote the friendship between the people of China and all other countries.
The CPIFA was founded in December 1949 on the initiative of the late Premier Zhou Enlai, the first institute of its kind devoted to people-to-people diplomacy after the founding of New China.
The purpose of the CPIFA is to study the world situation, international issues and foreign policies, and to carry out exchanges with statesmen, scholars, noted personages, relevant research institutions and social organizations of various countries, with a view to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and the world, promoting the establishment and development of friendly relations and cooperation between China and other countries, and making contributions to global peace and development.
