China Public Diplomacy Association Delegation Led by Vice President Chen Yuming Visited Romania
2019-10-09 12:10:00

From October 8 to 10, Vice President Chen Yuming of China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA) led a delegation of experts and scholars to visit Romania. At the moment of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China as well as the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Romania, this visit, through exchanges with all the sectors of Romania, aims to discuss further enhancing bilateral relations and the sustainable and deep growing of the two peoples’ friendship under the traditional friendship and the historical background of joint struggle as well as the new situation.

On October 8, the delegation participated in the “China-Europe Relations and the 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-Romania Diplomatic Ties” co-hosted by Chinese Embassy to Romania, Romanian Foreign Ministry and Romanian Institute of Diplomacy. About 150 people were present, including H.E. Ms. Jiang Yu, Chinese Ambassador to Romania, H.E. Mr. Isticioaia, Special Representative of Asian Affairs of Romanian Foreign Ministry, Peter, President of Romanian Institute of Diplomacy, Head of Romanian Think Tank, representatives of Romania-China Friendship Institute, scholars of international relations, and faculty and students of Confucius Institute.

H.E. Mrs. Jiang Yu stated that in the past 70 years, China-Romania relations stood the tests of hardships and practice, and have been moving forward in a steady pace centering on friendly cooperation, with economic and trade cooperation expanding, people-to-people friendship deepening constantly, which have yielded fruitful outcomes. Being faced with new situation and new challenges, we should think seriously about how to consolidate China-Romania traditional friendship and deepen bilateral relations. Pines, bamboos and plums stand against the wind and snow, and never wither even in winter, which are called “three cold-weather friends”. They offer us great enlightenment to promote China-Romania relations. An ancient Chinese poem goes as “Bamboos are firmly rooted in the green mountains”. We should be persevering like bamboos in maintaining world peace and stability, firmly support multilateralism and trade freedom to achieve common development of all the countries. “The green pines are tall and straight even under heavy snow”. We should have this kind of strength of character, so that we won’t yield to external pressure, or be confused by the turmoil of the world, but make sure the China-Romania relations move forward steadily along the healthy track. “The fragrance of plum blossom sharpens in the bitter cold”. We should have this kind of mind, rise up to challenges, take actions proactively, explore new cooperation areas and innovate cooperation models, promote bilateral pragmatic cooperation to yield more fruits so that both the two peoples could benefit from them. China and Europe are two important poles in the multi-polar world. In a world that is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, the strategic and epochal features of China-EU relations have been even more prominent. The two sides should shoulder each own responsibilities, tackle global challenges jointly, uphold international justice to make contribution to promoting multi-polarization, improving global governance and advancing the peace and stability of the world. At the new start point in history, we are ready to work with Romania to gather the courage and wisdom of the two peoples to promote the common growth of China-Romania and China-EU relations to step towards a new and broader ground.

Vice President Chen Yuming expressed in his speech The Crossroads of History that the seed of friendship grows in the hard time and flourishes in cooperation. The flood disaster in 1970s and China’s assistance casted into the foundation of the decades of years of China-Romania friendship. Romanian tractors, trucks and experts, Mihai Viteazul, Stefan cel Mare, and The Danube Waves came to China when most needed. During the past 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Romania, the two sides have shown political wisdom at a high level, who respect, support and trust each other. China cherishes the bilateral ties and friendship built in a hard time. On the issues concerning each other’s major interests and concerns, the two sides should support each other firmly. There’s a lot we can do in deepening cooperation in economy and trade, investment, infrastructure construction, agriculture, tourism, traditional Chinese medicine and people-to-people exchanges. At present, the international community is at a critical juncture of changing times, economic transition, booming scientific technology and rising up challenges. The 70-year experience after the war tells us that confrontation and conflicts, protectionism and political hegemony couldn’t bring us peace, economic prosperity, or social stability. Never, and won’t. It’s peaceful development, trade freedom, economic globalization, and international political democracy that bring the precious peace and development to the world. Overturned cart in front is a warning for those behind. At the crossroads of history, we can only move forward. As an important country in Europe and European Commission, Romania, I believe, will make the traditional and wise political choice. Chen, on behalf of CPDA, expressed warm congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-Romania diplomatic ties and reaffirmed firm support to China-Romania and China-EU cooperation as always.

Liu Qing, Director of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies of China Institute of International Studies, said that the China-EU cooperation is at a critical moment of connecting the past and the future. The two sides should bear in mind our original aspirations to build comprehensive strategic partnership, accumulate consensus, make the win-win cooperation cake bigger, properly manage our differences and further strengthen the perseverance of China-EU relations. Liu proposed 4 points in terms of developing China-EU ties: First, build strategic consensus to make sure the overall China-EU cooperation and its direction; second, stick to win-win cooperation and share development opportunities; third, innovate thinking and explore new areas for China-EU cooperation; fourth, uphold multilateral order firmly and advance to improve global governance. China is ready to work with Europe to constantly give new impetus to the sustainable growth of bilateral relations.

Ding Chao, Professor of School of European Languages and Cultures of Beijing Foreign Studies University, mentioned that over the past 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Romania, overcoming the obstacles of time, space and languages, continually expanded and deepened the mutual understanding between the two peoples and the mutual learning between the two civilizations, which have cultivated deep friendship among the public of both countries. Language is the best key to know about a country. Language and culture are the irreplaceable bridges to people-to-people connectivity and elevating the level of cooperation. It’s hoped that the two sides could strengthen the exchanges and cultivation of languages and culture, and expedite the infinite possibilities of people-to-people friendship through Chinese and Romanian.

Peter, President of Romanian Institute of Diplomacy, said that the 70 years of diplomatic relations is the history of friendship, common development and solid relations. China is a major contributor to the world economy, a pioneer in the scientific and technological progress as well as an active participant in restructuring the world order. China has always been a great and powerful country since the ancient times, and the rise of China is resurgent. The “Belt and Road” Initiative will revive China’s glory while providing other countries including European countries with a chance to rediscover history and opportunities. The “Belt and Road” Initiative not only builds closer trade relations among relative countries, but also advances people-to-people connectivity. Romania-China friendship is especially important. As a European country along the “Belt and Road” Initiative, Romania should do more in bridging the geographical and mental distance, and constantly consolidate and carry forward the 70-year friendship between the two sides.

H.E. Mr. Isticioaia, Special Representative of Asian Affairs of Romanian Foreign Ministry, expressed that EU-China relations started from 1975 which grew fast in recent years with prominent fruits. At present, China has become the country with whom EU established the most communication mechanisms and most diversified cooperation in Asia. The importance and particularity of China is self-evident. The fast development of China has changed the economic and political structures of the world. China exerts great influence on major international issues including climate change, trade, and regional hot spots, etc. The new century needs not containment but cooperation. EU and China should manage divergences and differences properly, join hands to tackle global challenges and shape the EU-China relations to be more perseverant, balanced and fruitful, for which the two sides should innovate cooperation models, expand cooperation areas and endeavor to create an environment that is opening, just and non-discriminatory so that the EU-China relations could grow healthily and sustainably.

Zaman, Academician of Romanian Academy of Sciences, pointed out that Romania-China friendship sets an example for international relations. A crucial reason that Romania-China relations grow steadily in a long time is that the two sides share the same value, follow the same international norm, and hold identical position on major international issues. In the past, both China and Romania objected to hegemony, and now we support globalization, multilateralism and trade freedom. China made economy miracles through courageous reform and opening-up, the success experience of which is worth learning for Romania. China respects other countries to choose their own development paths without exporting or imposing development model on others. China is undergoing a new round of reform and opening-up to further relax restrictions on market access to financial and service industries to create a better business environment for foreign investors. The idea of building a common community with a shared future for mankind proposed by China is historic. It’s hoped that China-EU could speed up strategic cooperation on development to achieve mutual benefits, and Romania-China cooperation could be deepened. It’s believed that Romania will benefit more from China’s development.

On the same day, Iordache, Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies, met with the delegation. Iordache expressed that Romania will firmly develop friendship and pragmatic cooperation with China as always. He hoped that China could make better use of its advantages in Romania and EU to deepen cooperation in infrastructure construction and other fields.

On October 9, the delegation went to Brasov to conduct exchanges with representatives of the faculty and students of Transylvania University and Confucius Institute as well as Chinese students in Romania. The delegation attended the opening ceremony of the Sub-Exhibition of “International Photo Exhibition Celebrating the 70th Founding Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China” in Brasov. They also met with friendly personages of Romanian diplomacy and other fields, and discussed approaches to strengthen China-Romania and China-EU cooperation.