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Full Coverages>China>Hebei Online>Foreign Cooperation | |
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Foreign Exchanges of Hebei Province
Since the late 1970s, Hebei Province has been active in opening up to the world and has carried out various exchanges and cooperation with the world. As a result of the great efforts over the past 20 years or so, a framework of foreign exchanges with various channels and levels have taken shape. The province has seen frequent exchanges. According to an uncompleted survey, it received a total of 4.6 million foreigners, overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong and Taiwan between 1979 and the end of 2002, and sent about 200,000 Chinese aboard on business. Friendly Exchanges in Various Ways The province has conducted a wide range of exchanges and cooperation with foreign governments. World celebrities who have visited Hebei at invitation include Lee Kuan Yew, the then Singapore's Senior Minister who headed a delegation of Singaporean entrepreneurs, and delegations from other countries headed by governors or mayors. During their visits to China, Singaporean President Ong Teng Cheong and his wife and Lee Chongyu, Vice President of the People's Democratic Republic of Korea, also made a stop in Hebei. The visits of these senior leaders have strengthened the exchanges between Hebei and foreign countries, widened the bilateral cooperation, and promoted the advancement of internationalization of the province. Besides, Hebei has also organized delegations headed by provincial and municipal leaders to go abroad on investigation. The delegations talked and negotiated with foreign political and economic circles, and signed a number of cooperative agreements with foreign governments and enterprises, which strengthened the friendship with foreign governments and boosted foreign trade and economic cooperation. By the end of 2002, the province had established friendly relationship with 53 cities in 18 countries, which helped build exchange channels of trade, science, technology, culture and education, sports and tourism. The exchanges and cooperation with foreign cities have also deepened understanding with each other and promoted Hebei's reform and economic and social development. Hebei has benefited a lot from its geographical location near Beijing, and established contact with foreign embassies. It has invited the ambassadors and commercial counselors from nearly 100 countries to visit the province and exchange information to reinforce mutual understanding and promote a batch of cooperative projects. The province also invited Chinese diplomats to help widen exchange channels. It has obtained a number of international aids through the investigation tours of World Bank and disaster relief organization to the province. Overall Promotion of Foreign Exchanges and Cooperation The all-round development of relations with the outside world has promoted the exchanges and cooperation in business, trade, science, technology, culture, education, sports and tourism, as well as promoted the economic and social development of the province. The province has so far established economic and trade relations with more than 160 countries. By the end of 2002, it had attracted US$14.374 billion of accumulated foreign investment, had 3,540 foreign-funded enterprises, and signed foreign contracts worth of US$ 1.398 billion of committed investment. By that time, its exports totaled US$50.607 billion, and turnover US$82,900. It had sent 52,900 people abroad. As a result of world multipolarity and economic globalization, different countries have closer economic relations and rely more on each other. Hebei will adapt itself to the economic globalization and the new situation after China's entry to the World Trade Organization, actively participate in international economic cooperation, promote reform and development by opening up, create comfort living condition for the people.Strengthen Exchanges and Cooperation, Promote Mutual Prosperity Making Friends With the World Hebei began to establish friendly relations with foreign states and cities in 1981. By 2002, it had set up relations with 53 provinces (states, counties and regions) from 18 counties in Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America. Most of the sister cities are in developed countries: 14 in Japan, 7 in the US, 5 in Italy, 3 in Canada, 3 in France, 2 in Russia and 2 in Belgium. The province's ranking rise from the 25th in the early 1980s to the 6th among all provinces and autonomous regions, in terms of number of foreign sister cities. Governments at all levels have made building friendship with foreign sister cities one of their key foreign affairs tasks, and have given timely instruction and support. By the end of 2001, Hebei had sent 704 delegations with 6,175 delegates to visit their sister cities, and received 17,290 people with 898 delegations from the other side. Chart of Foreign Provinces, States and Cities in Friendly
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