Leaders of ICC Meet with Representative of Australian Ambassador to China

On November 25th, Zhang Chongqing, member of the Strategic Advisory Committee of the International Cooperation Center (ICC) and Honorary President of the China Group Companies Association (CGCA), along with relevant leaders of the ICC, held discussions with Carly Stevens, Counsellor (Economic) of the Australian Embassy in China, on topics of mutual concern in Beijing. They attended the symphony concert performed by the China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) later in the evening.

Gift Exchange between the Two Sides

Zhang Chongqing warmly welcomed Counsellor Stevens and her delegation, and reviewed and shared his outlook for the development of Sino-Australian relations during the discussion. Stevens expressed gratitude for the invitation from the ICC. She said Graham Fletcher, the Australian Ambassador to China, delegated her to convey his greetings and attend the CNSO’s symphony concert in Beijing before their tour in Australia. Both parties expressed expectations on cultural exchanges to cement friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of China and Australia.

Symphony Concert at the Beijing Concert Hall

After the discussion, on behalf of the Strategic Advisory Committee of the ICC, Zhang Chongqing presented Counsellor Stevens with a thread-bound edition of “The Book of Rites” published by the Zhonghua Book Company, and offered a brief introduction on the classic. In turn, on behalf of the Australian Embassy in China, Stevens presented Zhang Chongqing with two publications, “Australia-China Stories” and “Australia in Brief.”

Zhang Yu, Deputy Director of the Steering Committee of the ICC, attended the meeting. Cheng Yu, the Executive Secretary-General of the ICC, Xin Shaosong, Executive Deputy Director of the Secretariat Office of the ICC, Will Bridges and Emily Collins, Second Secretaries at the Australian Embassy in China, along with Tian Tian, Senior Public Affairs Officer at the Embassy, were present at the meeting and the concert.

Zhou Yu (Third from the Left) and Carly Stevens (Fourth from the Right)

On the evening, both parties attended the CNSO’s commemorative symphony concert for the 190th anniversary of Brahms’ birth, “The Sound of Rhine”, at the Beijing Concert Hall. Before the concert, Zhou Yu, Party Secretary of the CNSO, was invited to receive Stevens with a brief introduction and exchange. Stevens conveyed best wishes from Ambassador Graham Fletcher for the CNSO’s tour in three Australian cities starting on November 26th.

Yin Bo, Deputy Director of the CNSO, Lin Xi, Deputy Party Secretary, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, and Deputy Director of the CNSO, and Liao Yanru, Deputy Director of the CNSO, also participated in the meeting with the ICC delegation and took a group photo with the guests attending the concert.