1. XMFAO gears up for new tasks
Li Xiaoping (first row, middle), director of XMFAO, speaks at a seminar on Feb 19. [Photo/WeChat account: XIAMENFAO]
The Foreign Affairs Office of Xiamen held a seminar on Feb 19 to discuss the provincial and municipal governments' requirements for foreign affairs works and how the office is going to shoulder its responsibility to promote Xiamen's high-quality development.
Li Xiaoping, director of XMFAO, presided over the seminar. He said that building the innovation center for the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution is a significant task that the Communist Party of China Central Committee has entrusted to Xiamen.
He stressed that the office, as a major participant in the center's construction, must enhance its political awareness and focus on coordination, talent cultivation, and project development.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, the first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Xiamen Special Economic Zone.
Li said that every staff member in the office must be clear about domestic and overseas development trends and help promote the high-quality development of Xiamen in all respects.
2. XMFAO delegation visits Xiangyu Group
Officials of the Foreign Affairs Office of Xiamen visit the cultural exhibition hall of local company Xiangyu Group on Feb 23. [Photo/WeChat account: XIAMENFAO]
A delegation from the Foreign Affairs Office of Xiamen visited local company Xiangyu Group on Feb 23.
Chen Fang, president of the group, briefed the delegation on how it developed into one of the world's top 500 companies. He said that the group's revenue and profits exceeded expectations in 2020 despite the COVID-19 outbreak and thanked XMFAO's support for the group's overseas projects.
Li Xiaoping, director of XMFAO, said that the office has offered green channels related to overseas resources, travel policies, and administrative procedures to State-owned enterprises in recent years.
He said that the goal of the visit was to learn about the group's needs and cooperation plans with BRICS countries and decide what the office could do to help.
Kong Suting, deputy director of the office, added that XMFAO will continue to improve services for local companies, especially in the approval of overseas business trips.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
