From 4 to 6 January 2020, at the invitation of Harbin Municipal Government, Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), together with ASEAN diplomatic envoys to China, attended the opening ceremony of the 36th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival and related activities in Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province. H.E. Ms. Khek M Caimealy, Ambassador of Cambodia to China, H.E. Mr. Dato Basir Pehin Dato Rahmani, Ambassador of Brunei to China and his spouse, Mrs. Listyowati, Minister of the Embassy of Indonesia in China, representatives of the embassies of 10 ASEAN Member States in China and Ms. Kong Roatlomang, Director of Education, Culture and Tourism Division of ACC attended the above mentioned activities.

　　On the evening of 5 January, the opening ceremony of the 36th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival and the launching ceremony of the 21st Harbin Ice and Snow World were successfully held. Mr. Wang Wentao, Deputy Secretary of CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee and the Governor of Heilongjiang Provincial People’s Government, Mr. Wang Zhaoli, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee and Secretary of CPC Harbin Municipal Committee, Mr. Sun Zhe, Deputy Secretary of CPC Harbin Municipal Committee and Mayor of Harbin Municipal Government, delegations of diplomatic missions in China, the international friendship cities of Harbin and cultural cities from a total of more than 40 countries including 10 ASEAN Member States, Japan, Slovakia, Senegal, India, France, representatives from Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, the World Tourism Alliance, China Tourism Academy, enterprises, chambers of commerce and media, totaling over 1000 participants attended the event.


　　At noon on 5 January, Secretary-General Chen Dehai, Ambassador Khek M Caimealy, , Ambassador Dato Basir Pehin Dato Rahmani, and his spouse, Minister Listyowati, , together with other diplomatic envoys to China, attended the group meeting held by Mr. Wang Zhaoli, Secretary of CPC Harbin Municipal Committee.


　　During their stay in Harbin, Secretary-General Chen Dehai and ASEAN diplomatic envoys also attended the 36th Ice and Snow Festival Symphony Concert, Promotion of Harbin Free Trade Zone, Harbin Snow Sculpture Expo and the Reception of the 36th Ice and Snow Festival. Secretary-General Chen Dehai and his delegation had extensive contacts with guests from all walks of life including those from ASEAN Member States, and exchanged views on exploring the opportunities for cooperation.

　　With the theme of “Pearl on the Crown of Ice and Snow: Harbin”, this year’s Ice and Snow Festival will last for 5 months, from mid-November 2019 to early April 2020, with over 400 events of culture, tourism and sports, including International Winter Cities Symposium, International Business and Chamber of Commerce Match-making, “Voice of Sister Cities” Symphony Concert, International Winter Cities and Festival Mascot Tour, International Youth Ice Hockey Invitational and International Ice and Snow Sculpture Competition. “The Singapore Day” and “the Philippines Night” were also held during the occasion. It is expected that the festival will attract more than one million tourists from home and abroad.