The 1st Annual Meeting of Changchun Consultation Association of International Friends Held
The 1st Annual Meeting of Changchun Consultation Association of International Friends and Consultative Meeting for the Establishment of China-ROK (Changchun) International Cooperation Demonstration Zone were successfully held at the Wanda Wenhua Hotel in Changchun City.
Thanks to the cooperation among and promotion by such units as Changchun Foreign Affairs Office (CCFAO), Changchun Municipal People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Jilin International Studies University, the Changchun Consultation Association of International Friends was officially established on May 25, 2019. Over the past half plus year, the association has organized several large-scale activities including German Night and German Beer Festival, recommendation of competent medical institutions and concerts on weekends for association members.
The organizing committee shared with the participants the 13th Five-Year Plan, the 14th Five-Year Plan and corresponding information about the establishment of China-ROK International Cooperation Demonstration Zone at the meeting. In addition, the voting of new deputy secretary generals was ratified at the meeting. The participants made suggestions for the future operation of the association, the socioeconomic development of the city and the establishment of China-ROK International Cooperation Demonstration Zone.
The meeting ended with the concluding speech by Mr. Ziad Oueslati, the president of the association.
This annual meeting, the first plenary session since the establishment of the association, is also a landmark effort in making the foreign friends in Changchun actively participate in the city’s socioeconomic construction with their ideas and suggestions.
Interview of relevant personnel by media correspondents
Mr. Ziad Oueslati, the president of the association
﹒Q1: How do you feel about working and living in Changchun?
After having started in 2017 with my wife, we have found a nice living area. All of us have kept the curiosity and interest to discover more of Changchun, Jilin and whole China.
Most enjoyable for us is being in close contact with people in Changchun, which is certainly not always easy due to language difficulties. Nevertheless, some of these cross-cultural relations turned to real friendship, meanwhile. As a Changchun resident, the longer I live here the more I am finding out communalities between cultures instead of differences initially. Compared to Tier 1 cities, I experience Changchun as clearly arranged, open and hospitable for foreigners, offering various possibilities to meet and enlarge networks between different nationalities, but always maintaining the friendly, Northeastern China character of life.
﹒Q2: What’s your expectation as the President of Changchun Consultation Association of International Friends?
The 1st preparatory meeting of the establishment of the association was held on May 14, 2019, and the key positions were elected. It’s my honor to be the president since then.
After the association set up, we do a serious works to get close relationship with foreign companies and foreign friends, assist to solve difficulties, such as: German Night—Beer Festival, find medical institutions for association members which coordinate with U.S. consulate general in Shen Yang, etc.
In the future, I hope the association will develop better and better and provide more support and service for foreign companies and friends in Changchun, also make forward opinions and suggestions on Changchun's economic and social development.
Thank you.
Mr. Akmal Soliman, General Manager of WandaVista Changchun
﹒As a foreigner working in Changchun, this year is your first year to join the first annual meeting of Changchun consultation association of international friends and consultation conference. Would you please share your expectations for the work of Changchun consultation association of international friends and consultation conference in the new year（suggested answers include feelings about China and the city of Changchun）?
Yes, it's my first year in Changchun, but it's already my 6th year in China. Living in China makes you feel at home, away from your own home. In my free time, I like traveling, visiting new cities, meeting people, learning about the Chinese culture and try the different and delicious Chinese dishes. Different cities always bring me different feelings, the solemnity of the Forbidden City, the silence of the Mogao Grottoes, the peddler's peddling in the alleys of Chengdu, and the Chinese culture and profound historical background make me always surprised and increase my admiration for the Chinese culture. When I came to Changchun early March, I have been fascinated by everything in the city. Lakes and forests in Changchun makes me enjoy the pleasure given by nature. The distinctive characteristics of the city makes it very special. The warmth and kindness of the people, the rich culture, the old-style buildings, the snowy nights in winter, the night markets everywhere in the streets, and the pubs and music in the lanes... ". This special mixture makes me very happy and enjoying every moment. This year is also my first time to participate in the activities of the foreign friends' conference. I am very excited and looking forward to be part of this great initiative. I strongly believe that as a foreigner in Changchun, I should contribute to the development of the city and take an important part in the community service and activities. By working in the hospitality business, I will make sure that Wanda Vista Changchun is having an important role in helping the organization in terms of providing hotel accommodation, catering services meeting facilities,..etc and above all personalized service. On the hotel level, I always tell my team that together we make a difference and I believe that the Foreign Friends Conference is just the start of a fruitful relationship that will add a lot to the community and foreign friends living in Changchun. Thank you for this great opportunity, and thank you for your time.
