On December 16th, Vice-President Wang Qishan met with former foreign leaders including former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and representatives of diplomats in China, who attended the reception of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. 

Wang Qishan said that China’s development cannot exist separate from a good international environment and its development will also benefit the world. The Chinese government always pays high attention to people-to-people diplomacy. Amid the current changing international situation, it is of great importance to consolidate the foundation of people-to-people friendly exchanges. Meanwhile, he called for more efforts to continuously deepen mutual understanding between Chinese people and those in other countries and to promote dialogue and cooperation among all parties, thus injecting more positive energy into world peace, stability and prosperity. Calling the foreign guests old friends of the Chinese people, Wang said he hoped they can continue to help promote friendly relations between China and their countries.

Yukio Hatoyama congratulated on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. He expressed that he will continue to make greater contributions to the development of bilateral ties and friendly non-governmental exchanges.

After the meeting, Wang Qishan posed for a group photo with attending guests. 

Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the committee’s Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, attended the above-mentioned event.