Chongqing- To promote international cultural exchanges, deepen friendships with other countries, and boost the construction of a demonstration zone for international exchanges in Yuzhong District, "Consulates in Chongqing Gather in Yuzhong District — 2021 Mid-Autumn Festival Party" was held at Huguang Guild Hall on September 17. The event was co-organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government and People's Government of Yuzhong District.

Huguang Guild Hall is an important witness of "Huguang filling Sichuan" — a massive resettlement program initiated during the Qing Dynasty to fill up the depopulated regions of Sichuan. It also sees the economic growth of Chongqing. In 2006, Huguang Guild Hall was approved to be a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level by the State Council. Yuwang Temple Fair, Immigration Cultural Festival, and other traditional folk events are held here to celebrate Spring Festival, National Day, and other significant festivals each year. Huguang Guild Hall is a landmark and a cultural spot in Yuzhong, Chongqing.

Under the theme of Gathering in Yuzhong District for Full Moon, the event tried to unveil the charming traditional Chinese culture to officials and their family of general consulates in Chongqing, with such activities as trying on Hanfu, writing calligraphy, and making moon cakes. It also staged Chinese and foreign songs, puppet shows, traditional Chinese music performances, and Sichuan opera face-changing to stimulate international cultural exchanges.

Stephen Ellison, British Consul General in Chongqing, delivered the speech. He said that he and the other diplomats in Chongqing shared a common purpose: to promote exchanges and cooperation between his country and Chongqing. It is good to see that Chongqing's economic development is progressing steadily and that the city is becoming more and more international. He is looking forward to more international cooperation with Chongqing in the future.

Zhao Shiqing, Secretary of CPC Yuzhong District Committee, and Wang Wen, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government, participated in the event and delivered speeches. As Zhao Shiqing stated, consular offices in Chongqing that bridge Chongqing to the world are the important channel and resource platform for Yuzhong District to expand its opening and cooperation with the outside world. In turn, Yuzhong District strives to provide comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, and convenient services to consular institutions, foreign-funded enterprises, and foreigners in Yuzhong District and better spearhead and drive openness in the western region.

In her speech, Wang Wen thanked the active participation, effective matchmaking, and cooperation facilitation from all Consulates-General in Chongqing to build Chongqing into an inland opening-up pioneer. She also stated that under the current situation that the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin City Economic Circle is off to a great start, there are exciting future prospects for Chongqing as a Center for International Exchanges in Central-Western China. The Chongqing FAO is willing to deepen communication and cooperation with all Consulates-General in Chongqing to reach more common ground and form an ongoing synergy for more mutual-beneficial achievements and advancement.

Other attendees included the Philippine Consul General in Chongqing Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo, Consul General of Cambodia in Chongqing Yos Sokhemrak, and Dmitry Emelyanov, Belarusian Consul General in Chongqing