Diplomatic Envoys to China Visit Yichun

2009 is the China Ecotourism Year which coincides with the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The 2009 Friendship Competition Among Ambassadors and Madams on Knowing Chinese Culture sponsored by the CPAFFC got positive response from 52 foreign embassies in China. After its kick-off ceremony and the press conference held in Beijing， over 70 diplomats including 23 ambassadors from Jordan， Canada， Iraq， Greece and other 31 countries paid a successful visit to Yichun， a city known for its ecotourism in Northeast China from July 16 to 19.

Yichun， China’s largest forest city， is located in northeastern Heilongjiang， separated from Russia by the Heilongjiang River. The Lesser Xing’an Mountains run southwards through the city. The city， with an 84 % forest coverage， possesses the largest and best-preserved Korean pine primeval forest in Asia and is reputed as “China’s forest capital”， “homeland of Korean pine” and “natural oxygen bar”. It is also a famous tourist city in North China， boasting beautiful mountains， clear water， luxuriant forest， rare stones and picturesque scenery of four seasons. The “great forest”， the “great Heilongjiang River” and the “great wetland” with their primitive， natural， rugged and miraculous features are known far and wide.

The activities in Yichun carried out by the diplomats of 35 countries were focused on the theme of “exploring China’ecotourism city most desirable to be introduced to the world”. The diplomats through a photo contest experienced at first hand the charms of Yichun—the “great eco-forest”.

When visiting the Jinshan Deer Park， the diplomats excitedly took pictures of deer on the lawns， among toothed oaks and by streams. When looking at these beautiful spotted deer， they wanted to get close to them， but did not have the heart to disturb their free and happy life. Jordanian Ambassador to China Anmar A. Al Nimer Al-Hmoud who serves as dean of the diplomatic corps said with emotion: “Here I see the harmony between man and nature and also experience peace of mind. Yichun’s ecological resources and its experience in environmental protection are worth being publicized and recommended by us to the world.” In Jiayin County of Yichun， the Heilongjiang River (border river between China and Russia)， and the magnificent sunset over it， and the fossils of dinosaurs that dominated the earth 30 million years ago in the Dinosaur National Geological Park made the diplomatic envoys forget their fatigue from the travel. Camera shutter clicks mingled with admiration from the diplomats became warm praises of Jiayin， Yichun and China. Fascinated by the forests and rare stones in the Tangwanghe Forest Farm and the towering Korean pines in the Xishui Forest Park， they could hardly tear themselves away from these natural wonders and could not help admiring the achievements in ecological protection. Bruneian Ambassador Magdalene Teo said， through this eco-cultural activity， they have learnt that apart from the long-standing history and culture， China also has such beautiful and harmonious eco-environment like Yichun. Through ecological conservation China has opened another window for the world to know it， which will surely encourage other countries in the world to give special concern for the environmental issue. During the activity， the diplomats， in the name of their respective countries， adopted a number of Korean pines—a rare and endangered tree species.

On the evening of July 18， at the opening ceremony of China Heilongjiang (Yichun) Forest Ecotourism Festival， the diplomatic envoys went onto the stage and solemnly presented a plaque on which is written “Yichun—China’s Ecotourism city most desirable to be introduced to the world by the foreign embassies in China” to the Yichun Municipal People’s Government.

Excellent photos selected from the “Forest Ecological Tour” photo contest of diplomats to China will be compiled into a photo album titled “Yichun—China’s Forest Capital in the Eyes of Diplomatic Envoys to China”. The album will be published and presented as a gift to all the foreign embassies in China on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China to witness together with the world the achievements in the conservation of forest resources and ecological civilization China has made in its 60-year development process.