On the evening of February 3, Assistant Minister Li Hui attended a reception hosted by Mr. Wu Zhenglong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Affairs Management, for diplomatic envoys, representatives of international organizations and some foreign agencies at the Diaoyutai State Guest House. Present were over 100 guests, including diplomatic envoys and diplomats in charge of local cooperation from 40 countries, representatives from 3 international organizations, officials from Beijing branch offices of 3 foreign agencies, directors-general from Foreign Affairs Offices of 9 Provinces and Autonomous Regions, as well as leading officials from relevant departments under Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pictures and pamphlets highlighting local particularities were displayed along the reception hall.
In his speech, Assistant Minister Li Hui specifically introduced the functions of the Department of Foreign Affairs Management.
Li pointed out, as the department in charge of local exchanges, one of its major functions is to instruct, assist and support local governments in conducting external exchanges. Its responsibilities fall 
into the following categories: (1) to give instructions to local governments on matters of foreign exchanges, foreign affairs management and the enactment of relevant regulations; (2) to provide updated information on exchanges and cooperation for local governments, assist local governments in establishing liaison channels with foreign partners; and (3) to assist local foreign affairs offices in training their personnel by initiating various training programs so as to enhance their professional competence. Toward those ends, the Department has all along maintained close working contacts with the foreign affairs offices of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities throughout the country.
Assistant Minister Li recalled the exchanges and cooperation programs implemented by the Department with Embassies of Japan, Korea and Russia since its inception in 1998.
He said, the Department, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan, selects candidates annually to participate in the Japan Exchange & Teaching Program (JET) initiated by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These candidates are chosen by local governments of China to work for 1 or 2 years in local governments of Japan. Some of them engage in international exchanges, others are responsible for the Chinese language teaching, still others work as sports coaches. Their work has been highly valued and welcomed by Japanese friends.
Through working with the Department, the Japanese Embassy also donated the fund for a school construction program in a poor area inYunnanProvincein 2003.
The Department has worked with the Korean Embassy in organizing local public officials of China for several training courses in Korea.
The Department has set up annual consultation mechanism with the Bureau for Relations with the Parliament, Social Organizations and Local Governments of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, with the 3rd round of consultation concluded in January 2003. These consultations have played a positive role in promoting mutual exchanges and economic cooperation between the localities of the two sides.
The Department has also established close relations with the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations of Japan (Clair) and Korean Local Authorities Foundation for International Relations (Klafir). By working closely with their Beijing offices, such programs as joint symposiums on local exchanges, mutual visits by mayors and local officials of two sides are launched periodically.
All these events and programs have enriched local exchanges and mutual cooperation, and played an irreplaceable role in enhancing the friendship and understanding between the peoples of China and foreign countries, and in strengthening and developing bilateral relations.
In conclusion, Li said, local exchanges reach deep into the grass roots, cover lots of areas and are more flexible. Therefore, they have already become a vital part of international relations. It is also an important task for the diplomatic envoys to promote these exchanges and cooperation. We hope that this reception would be helpful for the guests to know more about the Department of Foreign Affairs Management, and about the local governments of China. We also hope that by working closely and through concerted efforts, more exchanges and cooperation between local governments of China and foreign countries could be carried out.
Foreign guests attended spoke highly of the reception. They said, by attending this reception, they know better about the Department of Foreign Affairs Management, and get acquainted with some officials from the foreign offices of local governments. This will surely help in establishing good working relations with the Department and enhancing the cooperation and exchanges between local governments of China and their countries.
