1. Xiamen strengthens ties with Wellington amid pandemic
Wu Xi (third from left), Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand, and Andy Foster (far right), mayor of Wellington, attend a handover ceremony for masks donated by Xiamen on July 31. [Photo/fao.xm.gov.cn]
A face mask handover ceremony was held in Wellington, New Zealand on July 31, during which Andy Foster, mayor of the capital city, received 50,000 surgical face masks donated by Xiamen in East China's Fujian province.
The mayor thanked Xiamen for its support in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. He said Wellington attaches great importance to its 33-year friendship with Xiamen and he has been looking forward to resuming communications with the southeastern Chinese city after the health crisis comes to an end.
2. Safety prioritized for international exchange amid pandemic
A conference emphasizing the safety of personnel engaged in overseas projects related to the Belt and Road Initiative is held in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Aug 4. [Photo/WeChat account: XIAMENFAO]
The foreign affairs office of Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, hosted a conference on Aug 4 emphasizing the safety of personnel engaged in overseas projects related to the Belt and Road Initiative.
Representatives from 25 relevant government departments, including the public security, education, and tourism bureaus, took part in the conference.
Yao Jianhong, deputy director of the office, analyzed the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak in promoting Belt and Road cooperation and briefed attendees on various measures Xiamen has taken to protect the health and safety of locals working overseas.
Yao suggested that related departments should continue to optimize working mechanisms, make clear their responsibilities, and communicate with each other during these challenging times.
3. Xiamen, Hungary discuss cooperation
Lin Jian (L), vice-mayor of Xiamen, presents a book as a gift to Szilard Bolla, consul general of Hungary in Shanghai, on Aug 4. [Photo/WeChat account: XIAMENFAO]
Lin Jian, vice-mayor of Xiamen, Fujian province welcomed Szilard Bolla, consul general of Hungary in Shanghai, on Aug 4.
The two sides agreed to take full advantage of Xiamen's status as a land and maritime hub of the Silk Road to promote China-Europe railway services and encourage airports in Xiamen and Budapest to establish partnerships and launch direct flights between the two cities.
The consul general also invited Xiamen tourism agencies and associations to conduct field research on Hungary's tourism market and to promote itself on a live streaming platform in 11 countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
Bolla said he will encourage Hungarian cities to establish sister city ties with Xiamen to boost cooperation in trade, cultural heritage protection, tourism, and education.
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.
