On the evening of November 24, the 2023 Reception in Honor of Foreign Diplomatic Missions to China was held at the National Speed Skating Oval, also known as the “Ice Ribbon”, in Beijing. Envoys from 101 diplomatic missions to China and representatives of international organizations in China, and their spouses were invited to attend the event. Yin Li, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, delivered a speech. Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, and Li Xiuling, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, were present.
In his speech, Yin Li expressed appreciation to foreign diplomatic missions to China for their long-standing interest in and support for the development of Beijing. President Xi Jinping pointed out that humankind is a community with a shared future. China can only do well when the world is doing well. When China does well, the world will get even better. As win-win cooperation is the prevailing trend of the times, building a community with a shared future for mankind has increasingly gained international consensus. Yin said that this year, the world emerged from the pandemic with vitality gradually recovered. This year also marked the 45th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. We have opened wider to the world, successfully hosting the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing. The eight major steps China will take to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation have received widespread recognition. Major events hosted in Beijing, such as the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) and the ZGC Forum, have catalyzed a number of international cooperation projects. As the capital of China, Beijing is known as a prominent historical and cultural city in the world and a significant center for international exchanges with ever closer links with the international community. The city boasts exceptional advantages in science, technology, and talent, along with world-class innovation resources and development environment. We will implement the strategic decisions adopted at the 20th CPC National Congress to enhance international exchanges and cooperation, thus promoting high-quality development. The aim is to take the lead in realizing socialist modernization, contributing more to China’s economic growth and global development. With improved functions, Beijing will provide convenience and support for diplomatic missions to China and representatives of international organizations, he underscored.
Elia George Kaiyamo, Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia to China, made remarks on behalf of diplomatic missions to China, saying that this event emphasizes the importance of diplomats and representatives of international organizations in China. He believed that all of them appreciate the rich history and the beautiful and clean environment Beijing has to offer. This is the most secure city in the world and they can learn from Beijing’s city governance. He also expressed his wish for Beijing to achieve greater development achievements.
Before the reception, diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations interacted with robots, tried skating, took a test drive in autonomous vehicles, and enjoyed figure skating performance. At the reception, guests watched a wonderful performance together.
Officials on the Chinese side also include Guo Yezhou, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee; Hua Chunying, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs; officials of Beijing Municipality: Xia Linmao, Zhao Lei, Yu Jun, Sima Hong, and Cui Shuqiang; Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; and Mu Peng, Secretary General of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality.
On-site Sketching
Diplomatic Envoys Give Thumbs-up to Beijing’s Development
As the night falls, the National Speed Skating Oval, also known as the “Ice Ribbon”, becomes illuminated with 22 color-changing strip lights, becoming a breathtaking winter wonderland. On the evening of November 24, envoys from 101 diplomatic corps and representatives of international organizations in China gathered here for the 2023 Reception in Honor of Foreign Diplomatic Missions to China in Beijing.
Beijing attached great importance to this long-awaited event, as it marked the first offline gathering of its kind in over three years since the pandemic. The organizers made elaborate arrangements, which were evident in various aspects, including the selection of venue and the diverse range of activities. Attendees had the opportunity to have test rides in driverless vehicles, interact with robots, watch figure skating performances, and experience the “fastest ice” in person.
At 4:30 p.m., an hour and a half prior to the commencement of the event, many guests had arrived early. The road outside the venue was lined with cars equipped with the latest autonomous driving system. They boarded the cars, tapped “Start the Trip” on the screen, and the cars automatically navigated to the entrance of the venue along the designated route. Ambassador of Tunisia to China Adel Elarbi, who had just disembarked from the car, exclaimed, “This is my first time riding in a driverless car, and this futuristic experience is amazing, allowing me to perceive the rapid progress of Chinese science and technology. During my stay in Beijing for more than four months, I have visited many places that exemplify the development of China”.
Upon arrival at the venue, the first thing that caught the attention was the coffee robot, a popular attraction at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. With its two nimble and coordinated arms moving up and down, a cup of hot coffee was served. Intrigued by this fun and novel product, guests lined up for a cup of “customized” coffee. “It is very interesting and tasty,” praised Ulf Hausbrandt, Minister of the Austrian Embassy in China, while tasting the coffee, “This is my first visit to the ‘Ice Ribbon’, which is large with modern facilities, befitting a venue of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Beijing is a metropolis, modern, green, and clean, which impresses me a lot”.
The rink in the “Ice Ribbon” was acclaimed as the “fastest ice” during last year’s Beijing Winter Olympics, where athletes from around the world broke Olympic and world records 13 times during the intense speed skating competitions. After enjoying the spectacular figure skating performance, participants also came to the rink to experience the same ice surface used at the Winter Olympics.
The reception concluded with “Snowflake”, a children’s choral song performed by the Beijing Angelic Choir. The lyrics went as follows: “Swirling snowflakes, fall down and down. Like you and me, together we are bound”. The clear and touching melody not only evoked memories of the exciting moments of the Beijing Winter Olympics, but also conveyed the sincere desire to deepen friendship, strengthen mutual trust, and achieve win-win development with friends worldwide.
At the reception, old and new friends from around the world engaged in friendly conversation. As Elia George Kaiyamo, Ambassador of Namibia to China, said, “We have so much to share about Beijing that it could take all night.”
