BEIJING — Diplomats from more than 140 embassies and international organizations stationed in China took part in an event in Beijing on May 27 to espy the city's development prospects.

Organized jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, the event also witnessed the diplomats participating in a tree-planting activity in the city's Jinzhan Forest Park located in Chaoyang district.

The foreign diplomats lauded China's development and hailed the new vitality achieved by Beijing. They put up name plaques of their countries or institutions on the planted saplings.

Calling the tree-planting activity an embodiment of multiple symbols, Mohamed Elbadri, Egyptian ambassador to China, said one of the symbols is that of harmony between China and the rest of the world.

"It represents seeds of our commitment as China and all the ambassadors present here and who were not able to come as well, that we are committed in the seeds of a growing relationship with China," said Mohamed Elbadri.

The foreign diplomats also interacted with locals and took part in various leisurely activities such as table tennis, badminton, and traditional Chinese calligraphy.

Said Jama Mire, first counselor and deputy head of mission, Somali Embassy in China, wrote "Somalia China" "to the friendship between China and Somalia" in Chinese calligraphic characters.

Noting that China and Somalia share a genuine friendship, he said he hopes that Somalia and China will continue to deepen their friendship and further expand bilateral friendly cooperation.

Hussam Al Husseini, Jordanian Ambassador to China, said that it is highly impressive to witness how China's development plans and projects have really made an impact on people's livelihood and how the Chinese people actively participate and contribute to such initiatives.

"It is a joint effort between the government and the people to create a miracle for China," the ambassador said.

Luis Jorge Roa Corredor, first secretary of the Colombian Embassy in China, has been living in Beijing for more than 30 years. He said he has witnessed the great changes in China's economy, education, and people's living standards since first coming here in 1986.

"When I studied in Beijing in the 1980s, there was only one public telephone and one television in the dormitory building. However, everyone has a phone now," he said, adding that since the reform and opening-up, China has made great progress in scientific and technological innovations.

"The application of many new technologies, such as 5G, has significantly improved people's lives," he said.