Chinese retired diplomats strive to contribute to economic progress

About 350 Chinese and foreign diplomats and entrepreneurs gathered Friday in Beijing to discuss economic cooperation. But hellos and smiles between the participants, mostly retired Chinese ambassadors, made it an old friends' party more than a money-generating business fair.

"It's a very rare opportunity to meet so many old friends who used to be scattered around the world," said 72-year old Ni Yaoli, former Chinese consul general to Houston in the United States.

Most of the diplomats knew each other very well since they all started their careers decades ago in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is now located in a new gray building decorated with marble in eastern Beijing several kilometers north of the business district.

"The retired diplomats know both China and other countries very well and have good personal relations with foreign officials and businesses. That's a very valuable resource for Chinese enterprises," said Cai Fangbo, former ambassador to France and president of the Association of Former Diplomats, which has 1,400 members.

Wang Shaohua, former spokesman of Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco is now general manager of a consultation and translation company. "We will contribute our knowledge to Chinese companies, which are trying to explore foreign markets or invest abroad."

China is encouraging domestic companies to invest abroad along with booming trade. Chinese overseas investment totaled at about 37 billion US dollars by 2004, according to Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai.

Source: Xinhua