Foreign diplomats stationed in Hong Kong started their first Chinese mainland tour after the 19^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in the southwestern Sichuan province on April 8.

They were accompanied by officials from the Office of the Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as well as members of the commercial circles and the media, to form a delegation of 40 members.

The trip was aimed to boost exchange and cooperation and offer the opportunity to discover China’s latest developments, according to Xie Feng, the Foreign Ministry commissioner in Hong Kong.

Placed as the first stop on the trip, Sichuan is seen as a microcosm of the fast-developing China.

Representing the future urbanization strategy of balancing economic development and habitable environment, the Tianfu New Area in Chengdu became a focal point of the Sichuan visit.

Australian Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macao, Michaela Browning, who has been interested in Chengdu’s cultural and creative industry, participated in the event.