Ministry of Foreign Affairs Holds Event Presenting Shaanxi Province

On July 5, 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) held the third event presenting Chinese provinces at the Blue Hall of the Ministry, with the theme of "An Open China: Shaanxi Engaging the World". Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered remarks. Secretary of Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China Lou Qinjian made an address, and Governor of the People's Government of Shaanxi Province Hu Heping gave the presentation. Present at the event were nearly 600 people including foreign envoys and representatives in China from over 130 countries and international organizations as well as representatives from industrial and commercial sectors, experts, scholars and reporters.

Wang Yi said that today witnesses the third event presenting Chinese provinces for the MFA to contribute to China's domestic development. After Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, we now have "the Day of Shaanxi Province".

Wang Yi pointed out that as the birthplace of the Chinese nation and the cradle of Chinese civilization, Shaanxi has played a very important role in the modern history of China. With extensive and profound history and culture, Shaanxi, also as a technology pioneer with industrial importance in contemporary China, is actively building itself into a new engine of scientific development in west China as well as a new highland of inland reform and opening up. On the threshold of the 21st century, President Xi Jinping put forward the grand initiative of jointly building the "Belt and Road". As the starting point on the ancient Silk Road, Shaanxi has once again won widespread attention from the international community and ushers in new development opportunities. As President Xi Jinping said, "Shaanxi is the psychological identity of Chinese culture and Chinese revolution as well as the natural identity of Chinese geography." If you want to know the origin of China, you can go and see the Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor and the Terra-cotta Warriors of Qin Shi Huang. If you want to know the origin of the Communist Party of China, you can go and see the BaoTa Mountain and yao dong (traditional Chinese cave dwelling) in Yan'an. And if you want to know the future of China, you should also go to Shaanxi and witness the exciting new changes undergoing at the starting point of the ancient Silk Road.

Lou Qinjian said that Shaanxi not only boasts a long history and splendid culture, but is also an open province with a perfect combination of history and modernity as well as tradition and fashion. When President Xi Jinping inspected Shaanxi, he noted that carrying out the "Belt and Road" initiative will change the opening-up pattern of west China and especially the northwest region, bringing Shaanxi to the frontier of opening-up westward. Located in the center of the country, Shaanxi enjoys rich natural resources, highlighted advantages in science and technology talents, a complete industrial system and a beautiful eco-environment. The central government has given Shaanxi the mission of piloting a new highland of inland reform and opening up, which guarantees more support to Shaanxi. All these create more business opportunities for friends around the world, and Shaanxi looks forward to sharing the development opportunities with the world. Hu Heping gave the presentation from seven aspects, including Shaanxi's natural landscape, history and culture, rich mineral resources, innovative vitality, harmonious life, development prospect and an open image, and welcomed people from all circles at home and abroad coming to Shaanxi for sight-seeing, exchanging and cooperation.

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to China Kim Jang-soo, French Ambassador to China Maurice Gourdault-Montagne and US Ambassador to China Max Baucus delivered speeches respectively. They thanked the MFA for holding the event, and highly praised the rich historical and cultural significance of Shaanxi and its current achievements in development, construction and opening up. They spoke positively of the fruitful and practical cooperation between their respective countries and Shaanxi in various fields, and expected to strengthen the friendly exchanges with Shaanxi and launch more mutually beneficial cooperation in building the "Belt and Road".

Wang Yi, Lou Qinjian and Hu Heping also visited the exhibition showcasing Shaanxi's local features with envoys from various countries and had in-depth exchanges.