On May 31, 2007, Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei met with the 64 members of the U.S. Envision EMI university student delegation in the press hall of the Chinese foreign ministry.

He extended warm welcome to the U.S. students and introduced China's independent foreign policy of peace, principled position on developing ties with the U.S. and the second round of China-U.S. strategic economic dialogue. He noted there is a Chinese saying that "read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles around". To feel China's history, culture and development personally is another way, in addition to books and other channels, of getting knowledge about China. He is confident that the students would learn a lot from this visit. To strengthen exchanges between youth of China and the U.S. is of great importance to enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship of the two peoples and promoting the long-term development of bilateral relations. He expressed hope that the youth of the two countries join hands to create a bright future and build a harmonious world.

Later, Xie Feng, Deputy Director-General of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, and Feng Tie, counselor of the Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs, introduced the background information about China, the history and current status of China-U.S. relations and the successful practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong and answered questions of the students on Taiwan, China's peaceful development, democratic and legal system construction and labor system, China-Japan relations, energy and environmental protection. The delegation also held workshops with young diplomats from the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, the Department of Policy Planning, the Information Department and the Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs.

Amid a cordial atmosphere the U.S. students asked questions enthusiastically. They said that their visit to China and meetings with people from the Chinese foreign ministry and related organizations and universities helped them get a comprehensive and objective understanding of China and China's foreign policy and relations with the U.S. In the future they would like to learn more about China, pay greater attention to its development and make active contributions to promote the friendship between the two countries.

The activity is hosted by the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs and fully supported by the General Office, the Information Department, the Department of Policy Planning and the Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the foreign ministry. The U.S. Envision EMI mainly aims to provide U.S. university and middle school students with after-school education and arrange visits to and exchanges with foreign countries for excellent students. The Chinese foreign ministry has received the Envision EMI university student delegation for 5 consecutive years since 2003. After the visit to Beijing the delegation will also go to Xi'an and Shanghai.