On August 3, 2004, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui met with Mr. Michel Gabaudan, new Regional Representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and accepted the letter of deputation he presented.

Zhang extended a welcome to Gabaudan for taking the new role in China and expressed satisfaction with the good cooperation between China and the UNHCR, saying that China would continue supporting the work of the UNHCR and its representative office in China and expressing the hope that during the term of Gabaudan, cooperative relations between the two sides would progress forward constantly. Gabaudan responded that the UNHCR pays attention to the position and role of China in international affairs and stands ready to join forces with China to make efforts towards the further enhancement of the practical cooperation between the two sides.