In the evening of December 3^rd, 2019, a welcome dinner was held in Uijeongbu-Si of Gyeonggi-do, the Republic of Korea (ROK) for the participants to the “5th China-ROK Public Diplomacy Peace Forum”.

Dr. Han Fangming, Chairman of the Charhar Institute, attended the event with a delegation and delivered a speech.

Nearly 200 guests from both China and ROK were at the welcome dinner, including An Ping-lung, Mayor of Uijeongbu-Si. 

Group photo at the welcome dinner 

Mayor An Ping-lung in his speech welcomed Chairman Han Fangming and the delegation of the Charhar Institute he led. He wished the forum which was to open the following day a complete success.    

Mayor of Uijeongbu-Si An Ping-lung speaks at the event.

In his speech, Chairman Han Fangming first thanked Mayor An Ping-lung for his warm hospitality. He said that the characteristics of China-ROK relations could be described with the words "One small flaw cannot obscure the splendor of the whole piece of jade". He noted although the China-ROK relations have encountered setbacks and severe challenges in recent years due to a series of complex factors, in the long run, the friendship and close exchanges between the two countries will remain the mainstream, which is also in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

Han also remarked that the timing of this forum coincides with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the ROK in early December. The delegation of the Charhar Institute also met with the representatives of Uijeongbu-Si, ROK. All these show us that the exchanges between the two countries are very extensive, and it is imperative to develop the China-ROK relations. 

Chairman of the Charhar Institute Han Fangming speaks at the event.

He added that it is our common goal and mission to further enhance the China-ROK friendship, promote exchanges and dialogues between high-level institutions of China and ROK, and strengthen the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership.           

Zhang Guobin, Senior Fellow and also Vice President of the Council of the Charhar Institute, said in his speech that the China-ROK Public Diplomacy Peace Forum is not only a long-term mechanism for effective communication, but has also become a distinctive symbol, which represents both the goal and determination for jointly safeguarding the healthy development of China-ROK relations. The previous forums have yielded fruitful achievements, reached consensus on both direction and ways for further promoting China-ROK relations in the future, which has played an important role in promoting China-ROK relations. He believes that this year's forum will also be a complete success.   Vice President of the Charhar institute's Council Zhang Guobin speaks at the event.

At the welcome dinner, Mayor An Ping-lung and Chairman Han Fangming, the speaker of the Municipal Council of Uijeongbu-Si, and President of the Charhar Institute’s Council Zhang Guobin, and Deputy Mayor of Uijeongbu-Si and Vice President of the Charhar Institute’s Council Xiao Fengchi, exchanged gifts respectively.       

Mayor An Ping-lung (L) and President of the Charhar Institute's Council Zhang Guobin (R) shake hands while exchanging gifts at the event.

The China-ROK Public Diplomacy Peace Forum has been successfully held for four consecutive sessions, and has become an important public diplomacy activity on reducing the attention on the Korean Peninsula. This year’s forum will conduct in-depth discussions on "Exploring new China-ROK cooperation modes against the backdrop of changes on the Korean Peninsula ".

As China's non-governmental think tank on foreign affairs and international relations, the Charhar Institute has made strenuous efforts while shuttling among all stakeholders of the Korean Peninsula since its establishment in 2009, for reaching consensus of all circles, deepening understanding of all parties, and pushing forward international dialogue and cooperation, so as to realize the final goal of settling down the Korean Peninsula issue in a peaceful way.

Specifically, during the period of twists and turns in China-ROK relations, the Charhar Institute has worked as an effective communication platform which has enjoyed close relations with the ROK, and has made its own contribution to the restoration of China-ROK relations.

In the future, the Charhar Institute will keep on playing its unique role as a think tank in relevant fields and making efforts for non-violent settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.

Copy Editor: Zhu Yanhong