On September 10, 2015, the Foreign Ministry held a briefing for domestic and foreign media, and invited Vice Education Minister Hao Ping to introduce relevant details on Vice Premier Liu Yandong's forthcoming visit to the European Union (EU) headquarters to chair the third meeting of China-EU High-Level People-to-People Dialogue (HPPD) Mechanism and visit to the UK to chair the third meeting of China-UK High-Level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism.
Hao Ping expressed that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and also the beginning year to implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping during his visit to the EU headquarters last year with EU leaders on forging the China-EU four major partnerships of peace, growth, reform and civilization. President Xi Jinping will soon pay a state visit to the UK and elevate China-UK comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level. The visits of Vice Premier Liu Yandong to the EU and the UK to chair the meetings of the two major people-to-people mechanisms will be at an essential time point and of great significance with full schedule and fruitful results. They will further promote China-EU and China-UK people-to-people exchanges, propel the construction of China-EU four major partnerships as well as create a good atmosphere for President Xi's forthcoming state visit to the UK and further consolidate the social and public support foundation for the development of China-UK relations.
The theme of the third meeting of China-EU HPPD Mechanism is "Diversity and Colorfulness, Mutual Learning and Common Prosperity". Vice Premier Liu Yandong will co-chair the third meeting of China-EU HPPD Mechanism with European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Tibor Navracsics and together sign the Joint Statement of Third Meeting of China-EU High-Level People-to-People Dialogue Mechanism. Besides, Vice Premier Liu Yandong will attend the premiere of Friendship of Forty Years, a large feature film for the 40th anniversary of China-EU relations, attend the inauguration ceremony of the Chinese Cultural Center in Brussels, visit the Belgian Nuclear Power Research Center, and visit the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and deliver a speech.
The theme of the third meeting of China-UK High-Level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism is "Promote People-to-People Practical Cooperation and Jointly Create the Future of China-UK Friendship". During her stay in the UK, Vice Premier Liu Yandong will co-chair the third meeting of the Mechanism with Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt of the UK and together sign the Joint Statement of Third Meeting of China-UK High-Level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism. She will also meet with leaders of the UK side and attend activities including concert for the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Anti-Fascist War, the round-table meeting of China-UK youth leaders, the China-UK health policy dialogue, the China-UK culture dialogue, the inauguration ceremony of separate teaching building of London Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine (CITCM), the symposium on football development in China and the UK and a friendly football match between Chinese and UK middle school students. Besides,Vice Premier Liu Yandong will also visit Wales to attend the China-UK symposium on science and technology innovation, visit Cardiff University and deliver an important speech at the China-UK innovation and entrepreneurship forum.
Persons in charge of relevant member units of the mechanisms including the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Culture, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the National Tourism Administration, the All-China Youth Federation and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries introduced at the briefing activities of relevant fields of Vice Premier Liu Yandong's visits.