On May 16th, Mr Song Jingwu, Vice President of the CPAFFC hosted a banquet for Mr Arder Carson, Lord Mayor of Belfast from Northern Ireland, UK.
Mr Song Jingwu welcomed Mr Carson’s visit to China, introduced the functions of the CPAFFC and its work in facilitating the cooperation between local governments from China and abroad and the related mechanisms it has built up, especially the Inaugural China-UK Local Leaders Exchange Program which was held in the UK in March this year, and welcomed Belfast’s participation in the next China-UK Local Leaders Exchange Program. Mr Song has pointed out that the CPAFFC is willing to help facilitate the substantive cooperation between Belfast and Chinese provinces and municipalities on the basis of the long term friendly cooperation between the CPAFFC and Northern Ireland Government, thus inject new impetus into the relations between China and the UK as well as China and Northern Ireland.
Mr Carson appreciated the CPAFFC’s hospitality and said it is his first visit to China, of which the purpose is to sign the agreement of establishing friendship relations between Belfast and Shenyang. He introduced the cooperation between Belfast and China and elaborated the plans for Belfast’s future development--the Belfast Initiative. According to him, as the 4th biggest FDI destination in the UK, Belfast will make use of the reduction of company taxation in the Northern Ireland to speed up the development of its commercial properties, retailing, leisure, tourism and film industries, Belfast is willing to participate in the events held by the CPAFFC and to strengthen the cooperation with China in the above fields.
