Foreign envoys residing in China visited Hainan from Wednesday to Saturday on a tour that took in the southern island province's unique cultural heritage, sci-tech innovation and growing global trade potential under the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) framework.
The trip, organized by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together over 30 ambassadors, chargés d'affaires, representatives of international organizations, and senior diplomats from countries including Kenya, Serbia, Spain and Vietnam.
At Maona Village of Wuzhishan City in Hainan, the visitors experienced folk culture, such as the dyeing and brocade work of the Li ethnic group.
Hodan Osman Abdi, Somalia's ambassador to China, shared her impressions of the local craftsmanship and its potential for cultural exchange.
"I mean, what's very interesting is that they're not using it only for clothing. They're also using it as an art form. So they've produced a number of products right now that could be sold as gifts and souvenirs that are still utilizing this art. In my country, I believe we're still using it as just a form of clothes. So it's definitely an opportunity for communication between the two cultures and the two countries to explore more avenues for utilizing this kind of art form," she said.
A Latin American diplomat noted similarities between Hainan's tropical agriculture and that of his country.
"We learn about its culture, the cultivation of tropical fruit, which is very similar to what we have in Nicaragua. Nicaragua is a tropical country, and we have many, many tropical fruits," said Cruz Flores Ramiro Jos, ambassador of the Republic of Nicaragua to China.
Barry Mulligan, chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Ireland in China, highlighted the potential interest from Irish businesses in the Hainan Free Trade Port.
"I've learned about the Free Trade Port. So Ireland has got a number of industries that would be very interested in coming to Hainan," he said.
A Caribbean ambassador emphasized the opportunities for trade and collaboration in many fields.
"We believe that this Free Trade Port offers us that excellent opportunity to trade with Hainan and more importantly, to get to know our friends here in Hainan and to collaborate in many areas, such as agriculture, tourism, information and communication technology in research and development," said Martin Charles, ambassador of the Commonwealth of Dominica to China.
Foreign envoys visit Hainan to explore culture, innovation, trade
Slovak citizens have spoken highly of China's remarkable development accomplishments and voiced expectations for closer bilateral cooperation as their president is paying a state visit to China.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini is on a state visit to China from Monday to Wednesday.
In a recent vox pop by China Global Television Network (CGTN), local people in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, shared their impressions of China, outlooks on bilateral relations, and hopes for the presidential visit. Interviewees across different professions praised China's progress, with many highlighting its remarkable advances in infrastructure, technological innovation and economic growth.
Daniele, an IT developer, was particularly drawn to China's rich cultural heritage.
"It has a very nice culture, so that's why in the future I think I will visit this country," he said.
For others, China's forward-looking vision is a major source of inspiration. Veronika, a sales clerk, expressed her fascination with the country's technological strides.
"I have a very positive view of China. I'm fascinated by its technology and enjoy learning about it. I think there's a lot we can learn from China, and I really admire how forward-looking it is," she said.
Robin, another sales clerk, sees valuable lessons for Slovakia in China's economic model.
"It's a big country with a long history, and I think concerning the economy, it's something we can learn about to make our own economy more versatile," he said.
Jan Kubo, an administrative manager, was impressed by the sheer scale of China's development.
"China impressed me with the sheer scale of infrastructure development and economic growth," he said.
Looking ahead to how bilateral ties may evolve after the state visit, most interviewees expressed optimism about mutually beneficial collaboration.
"I think China could really contribute a lot to Slovakia's development. As I mentioned earlier, this is particularly the case with technology – whether it's cars, machinery, heavy equipment, or everyday items like phones, tablets and computers. There's definitely a lot we can learn from China, and I believe that's going to help us move forward," said Veronika.
"It's very important that these countries work together because they can learn from each other," said Robin.
When it comes to overall expectations for the presidential visit, local residents looked forward to tangible outcomes and closer bonds between the two countries.
"I certainly expect the visit to bring tangible benefits to our country. I hope the two sides will reach agreements that benefit the Slovak Republic," said Veronika.
"He is representing our European values, this is very important. But also strengthen the ties between the two countries," said Robin.
Slovaks praise China's development, eye deeper cooperation as president visits China
