What they say

"Qingdao is known for innovation and brand building. It has made up its mind to enhance innovation power to vitalize the city. I hope everybody will like the city as I do."

Yang Jiechi, State councilor

"The charm of Qingdao makes everybody fall in love with the city. Qingdao has made a great contribution to the C20 conference. It has provided sufficient support to the meeting, thanks to its state-of-the-art infrastructure, thriving service culture, beautiful coastal views, and dynamic innovation."

Sun Jiazheng, vice-chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and president of China NGO Network for International Exchanges

"Qingdao is a city with unique characteristics and a very open environment, where NGOs in all sectors can operate successfully and offer greater help to society."

Essam Abdelaziz Ahmed Sharaf, former prime minister of Egypt and chairman of the board of trustees of the Sharaf Foundation for Sustainable Development

"The city is very friendly. It is also a city with very interesting history that it grows from a little fishing village ago to an international city in one hundred years. There is a lot to learn about it."

Joseph Chilengi, presiding officer of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union

"Qingdao is a very dynamic city. As far as I know, Qingdao has strong consumption and high gross domestic product. It is a modern city with green development."

Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee, deputy secretary general of ASEAN

"Qingdao has exceeded my expectation on my first trip to the city. I have heard about Qingdao before, and it is even better than my imagination when I get here in person. It is really impressive to have civil societies from more than 50 countries and regions to gather in the city."

Nick Martin, director of Public Affairs of the Fred Hollows Foundation of Australia

"I am very excited to visit Qingdao which has special connection with Germany from more than one hundred years ago, and I enjoy the Tsingtao beer very much."

Barbara Furst, policy adviser of Oxfam Germany

"An open economy and tolerance to difference and diversity, as well as innovation have rooted in the blood and DNA in Qingdao. I believe NGOs will continue to grow with great innovation power and make more contribution to the local society."

Xu Qiang, secretary general of the Beijing NGO Association for International Exchanges

(China Daily 07/20/2016 page12)