From June 6 to 10, 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized diplomatic envoys to China to visit Shanghai and Zhejiang Province. Ambassadors and senior diplomats from 31 countries including Syria, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Nigeria, Jamaica, Thailand and Azerbaijan attended the tour.

On June 7, the secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Li Qiang met with the delegation of diplomatic envoys. Secretary Li Qiang said that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC. As the birthplace of the CPC and its original aspiration, Shanghai is a window through which the world observes China, a hub connecting China to the world, and a place where miracles are constantly being created. At present, Shanghai is fully implementing the important instructions and spirit of President Xi Jinping's visit to Shanghai, speeding up the building of "five centers" and a modern international socialist metropolis with world influence. He hopes that the diplomatic envoys would gain a more comprehensive, profound and objective understanding of China and Shanghai through this visit, further enhance their understanding of China's philosophy, China's spirit and China's path, and push forward the Shanghai's practical cooperation with their countries in the fields of economy, trade, industry, education and culture to a new level.

Secretary Li Qiang meets with diplomatic envoys.

On June 9, Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee Yuan Jiajun met with the delegation of diplomatic envoys. Secretary Yuan Jiajun said that at present, Zhejiang Province is earnestly practicing the "double eight strategy", striving to build an "important window" and be a pioneer province of socialist modernization, and promoting high-quality development and building a demonstration area of common prosperity. We would like to take this visit to Zhejiang Province as an opportunity to deepen cooperation and cultural and people-to-people exchanges with your countries in economy and trade, science and technology, and anti-pandemic.

Secretary Yuan Jiajun meets with diplomatic envoys.

During the meeting, Special Envoy Zhai Jun said that the CPC has led the Chinese people to stand up, become rich and strong after 100 years of unremitting efforts. On the occasion of the centenary of the founding of the CPC, through their visits, the envoys have had a deep understanding of Shanghai's glorious history, beautiful reality and bright future, and a deep feeling of Zhejiang's openness and innovation, green environmental protection and people's well-being. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been actively leveraging its advantages to serve the external exchanges and cooperation of Shanghai and Zhejiang Province, and will continue to provide full support for their development and opening up.

During their visit to Shanghai, the envoys witnessed the glorious journey of the CPC at the site and the memorial hall of the First CPC National Congress, and experienced the great changes of Shanghai's urban development under the reform and opening up in Shanghai Pudong Expo. They perceived how technological innovation promotes economic development in Zhangjiang Artificial Intelligence Island, and experienced smart community governance in Sixth Xinjing Village. They also felt the inspiration of the concept of "cities are built by the people" along the Yangpu Riverside and saw the vitality of Shanghai's high-level opening up when overlooking the Huangpu River at Shanghai Tower.

During their visit to Zhejiang Province, the envoys visited the Red Boat on South Lake in Jiaxing City, highly praising the tremendous changes in China since the birth of the CPC. They attended the opening ceremony of the 2nd China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Expo in Ningbo City, witnessing China's unremitting efforts on deepening openness and cooperation with other countries. They also visited the Chuanshan port area of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, where they were infected with the ambition of the world-class strong port aiming to connect the world and serve the world. When visiting Zijingang Campus of Zhejiang University in Hangzhou City, the envoys lingered in this famous university which is full of youthful vitality. They immersed themselves in the Chinese culture at the China National Tea Museum, and experienced the speed of China's construction when visiting the main venue of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022. They also visited Astronergy Co., Ltd. (Chint Solar), and gave a thumb up on the development, innovation, and vitality of Chinese enterprises.

The envoys extended warm congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, and said during their visit to Shanghai and Zhejiang Province, they fully experienced their prosperity and people's happiness life, had a deeper understanding of the great changes that have taken place under the strong leadership of the CPC, especially the great achievements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in guiding China's all-round development. Looking at the changes in the past century, the CPC deserves high praise for its foresight, governance strategy and diligence for the people, and China's development experience is worth learning. They believe that the CPC will lead China to create new glories and make greater contribution to the world.