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China's ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang receives warm Belfast welcome
Updated 06:48, 30-Mar-2023
CGTN
Europe;UK
02:27

"I saved the best for the last." Those were the warm words of Zheng Zeguang, China's ambassador to the UK, on his first visit to Northern Ireland since taking the position two years ago.

Zheng's visit this week aims to promote cultural exchanges and economic cooperation between Northern Ireland and China.

Among the destinations of his whistlestop tour of Belfast, was Ulster University and the Wrightbus company, while Zheng also gave a reception at China's consulate-general and met some children of Millburn primary school. There he addressed more than than 100 guests representing local government, business, culture, and education including King Charles III's representative to Northern Ireland.

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He told attendees: "Despite the pandemic, I have been able to travel to Scotland, Wales, and many cities in England. But I saved the best for the last."

WATCH: The children of Millburn primary school sing for the ambassador

00:55

Zheng added: "The purpose of my visit is really to enhance my understanding and for me to get a better understanding of the place, I need to be here. Seeing is believing. Even more importantly (I wanted) to meet the people."

The ambassador insisted he was confident that many Chinese business delegations, students, and tourists would visit Northern Ireland in the coming years.

Zheng also said he wished to grant more visas for people from the country to visit China and promote people-to-people exchanges.

Zhang Meifang, Consul General of China in Belfast, Professor Ian Greer, Vice Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast. China's Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, and his wife Hua Mei. /Yubin Du/CGTN
Zhang Meifang, Consul General of China in Belfast, Professor Ian Greer, Vice Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast. China's Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, and his wife Hua Mei. /Yubin Du/CGTN

Zhang Meifang, Consul General of China in Belfast, Professor Ian Greer, Vice Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast. China's Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, and his wife Hua Mei. /Yubin Du/CGTN

Alan Logan, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Belfast and representative of the UK Monarchy for the region welcomed Zheng, telling CGTN Europe: "There are many wonderful examples of cooperation between China and Northern Ireland, certainly in the area of business, which have resulted in a number of fine products reaching the China market."

Zheng also met with Christina Black, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, who reminisced with the ambassador about her own experience of visiting China.

She told CGTN Europe: "We discussed future partnerships and working together. We discussed my visit to Shenyang over 15 years ago. I've been advised of the need to make an immediate return so I look forward to visiting China again but there's lots of avenues for us to explore in terms of advancing technology, so there's great plans afoot."

Black added that she was proud that so many Chinese students are studying at universities in Belfast. On his visit to Ulster University, Zheng discussed with faculty and student representatives the importance of language learning in building mutual understanding.

The university has hosted a Confucius Institute since 2012, providing Chinese language courses and cultural activities to university students and students from more than 160 schools across Northern Ireland.

One of them is Millburn primary school, whose students honored Zheng with a rendition of a popular Chinese song. A choir of pupils, who have been learning the language as part of their curriculum, performed for the audience of dignatories. 

Zheng also visited hydrogen Belfast bus pioneers Wrightbus. The company, which made the UK's first electric bus, showed off its cutting-edge technology, as Beijing looks to cement its place as the world's largest producer and user of hydrogen.

 


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Video editing: Butchy Davy and Terry Wilson

Cover image: Ambassador Zheng Zeguang meets Belfast's Lord Mayor Christina Black./CGTN

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