Diplomats visit flower market, university in Yunnan

Ambassadors and envoys from 28 countries visited the Dounan flower market and Yunnan Minzu University in Kunming, Yunnan on April 21, part of a 4-day tour in the southwestern Chinese province.

Accompanied by Le Yucheng, Chinese vice foreign minister, the diplomats come from Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Ukraine and others.

At the Kunming international flower auction and trading center (KIFA), Kenyan ambassador to China, Sarah Serem, was surprised to see flowers from her hometown are sold at the market. “What a small world! It is international trade that brings us together,” said Sarah.

Walking into Yunnan Minzu University, the diplomats found the university unique and colorful in Yunnan ethnic cultures. Dressed up in costumes of ethnic minorities, the college students attracted the foreign friends with enthusiastic ethnic dances and songs.

“I’m glad that Malay is visible here. Language talents play an essential part in the China-Malaysia communication,” said Mr. Sanmugan Subramaniam, deputy chief of the Malaysian Embassy in China. The Malaysian language is among the 15 south and southeast Asian linguistic programs offered at the university.

Following their stops in Kunming, these diplomats are expected to pay a visit to Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in southeast Yunnan.

Reporting by Han Chengyuan, Liu Ziyu and Zhou Can (Yunnan Daily); Trans-editing by Mo Yingyi