Foreign Nationals in Hubei and Compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao Invited to Observe Opening Session of Third Session of 14th Hubei Provincial People's Congress and Attend New Year Exchange Event

On the morning of January 16, 2025, the Third Session of the 14th Hubei Provincial People's Congress solemnly opened. The Foreign Affairs Office of the Hubei Provincial Committee invited some foreign nationals in Hubei and compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao to observe the opening session and attend a New Year exchange event.

Foreign Nationals in Hubei and Compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao Observe the Opening Session

A total of 29 guests were invited to the opening session and the subsequent New Year exchange event. They included the Consuls General of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States in Wuhan, the Deputy Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Wuhan and other consular officials from the Consulate General, representatives of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Region governments in Wuhan, as well as foreign business representatives, senior executives from foreign-invested enterprises, and well-known foreign experts and scholars working in Hubei. This marks the 14th consecutive year since 2012 that Hubei Province has invited foreign nationals residing in the province to observe the sessions. To date, approximately 430 person-times have been invited to observe.

Reactions from Attendees:
Dominic McAllister, British Consul General in Wuhan, stated after observing the sessions: "Hubei achieved impressive economic growth last year, demonstrating vibrant development... The sessions provide a valuable opportunity for us, helping to inform our planning for future work."
Christopher Reynolds, US Consul General in Wuhan, said: "I was very excited to listen to the government work report today. The positive momentum of Hubei's economic growth last year is remarkable and lays a solid foundation for our future cooperation."
Ahn Young-ki, Deputy Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Wuhan, emphasized the significance of inviting foreign nationals to observe the sessions, noting it enhances understanding and improves the transparency and efficiency of government work. He mentioned Hubei's rich cultural and tourism resources and expressed his intention to actively promote Hubei to attract more Korean tourists.
Other distinguished foreign guests, including Daisuke Takahashi, Chief Representative of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Wuhan Office, and Karl P. Jewell, Chairman of the Board of Governors, American Chamber of Commerce in Central China, also spoke highly of Hubei's socio-economic achievements. They praised aspects such as stable economic development, promising retail consumption, continuous improvement in people's livelihoods, and increasing people-to-people exchanges, while expressing their expectations for future exchanges and cooperation with Hubei.

Guests Attentively Listen to the Government Work Report

The invited guests listened attentively to the Government Work Report.
New Year Exchange Event Fosters Dialogue
To deepen understanding and promote exchange, and to welcome the upcoming Lunar Year of the Yi-Si Snake, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Provincial Committee hosted a New Year exchange event following the opening session. Director Zhang Xiaomei gathered happily with the guests to celebrate friendship and discuss cooperation.

Director Zhang expressed her delight at gathering with representatives from international institutions, universities, and enterprises based in Hubei during both the Lunar New Year period and the Provincial People's Congress sessions. She thanked the foreign nationals and compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao for their contributions to Hubei's exchanges and cooperation with various regions. Director Zhang expressed her hope that through observing the substantial and inspiring Government Work Report, the guests had gained a deeper understanding of Hubei's economic and social development. She emphasized that under the strong leadership of the new Hubei Provincial Committee and Provincial Government, Hubei and other regions are bound to open a new chapter of closer and more efficient cooperation and exchange. Director Zhang looked forward to this inaugural New Year exchange event held alongside the congress sessions potentially becoming a well-established, unique, and enduring traditional brand activity in the future, continuously providing a high-quality platform for dialogue among all parties.

Festive Atmosphere at the Exchange Event

The exchange event was filled with a warm and lively atmosphere, featuring surprise interactive segments. Guests exchanged New Year's greetings with sincere smiles and evident joy. The traditional Chinese calligraphy demonstration area became a focal point. As the calligrapher wielded the brush, the ink's fragrance quickly spread, captivating the surrounding guests whose gazes reflected admiration and appreciation, fully revealing the unique charm of traditional culture. During roundtable discussions, participants spoke actively, sharing their observations from the session and delving into discussions about the progress and future plans for projects in economic, trade, and cultural fields. The guests expressed great enthusiasm for contributing to Hubei's development in the future and eagerly anticipated gathering again for this event next year.

Source：www.fohb.gov.cn