At the invitation of CAFIU, an 11-member European-American young leaders delegation composed of politicians, think tank researchers and media workers from France, Germany, Italy, UK and US headed by Mr. Manlio di Stefano, Member of House of Representatives of Italy and Chairman of the Five-Star Movement parliamentary group in the  House’s Foreign Affairs Committee visited China from Oct. 18 to 27. 

 

 In Beijing, Qi Xichun, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of CPPCC and Vice-President of CAFIU and Liu Hongcai, Vice-Minister of IDCPC and CAFIU Advisor met with the delegation on separate occasions. Experts from Beijing University and Beijing Foreign Studies University gave thematic lectures on “Toward Governance Modernization: Reforms of Governance since China’s Reform and Opening-up”and “Approaches and Challenges of the Market Economic System with Chinese Characteristics”. The delegation attended Wanshou Forum themed on “China in Development: in Your Mind and in Your Eyes”.  It called on the Standing Committee of Haidian District People’s Congress, made field studies on the Greater Wangjing Sci-Tech and Business Innovation Area, and experienced traditional Chinese culture at Beijing Yidege Culture Development Co. Ltd. 

 

Apart from Beijing, the delegation also visited Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Wang Heshan, Vice-Chairman of the Region’s Government met with the delegation. The delegation held discussions with the Region’s Foreign Affairs Office, the Ethnic Minorities’and Religious Affairs Committee, the Poverty Alleviation Office and the Environmental Protection Department and learnt about the implementation of national policies on ethnic minorities and religion as well as poverty alleviation and environmental protection in the Region. The delegation made field investigations on Baijitan desert-control farm and Minning Town proverty-alleviation industries as well as Zhongyin Cashmere Co. and Ningdong Energy & Chemical Industry Base. The delegation visited Najiahu Mosque and held a discussion with the imams and also went to Liupanshan High School and conducted exchanges with the teachers and students.

 

All the members of the delegation agreed that the visit increased their understanding of China’s national condition in a comprehensive way and expressed willingness to make due contribution to further promoting mutual understanding and cooperation in the future.