The inauguration ceremony for China Today Shenyang Salon, along with a series of other events, was held in Heping District, Shenyang, on January 21, 2026. Lv Zhicheng, mayor of the Shenyang Municipal People's Government, and Yu Yunquan, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), attended and inaugurated the salon. Nearly 100 guests from government departments, enterprises, universities, and the media attended this event.
Lv Zhicheng and Yu Yunquan opening the China Today Shenyang Salon.
Yu Yunquan addresses the Salon opening.
Yu Yunquan said Shenyang is working to become a national advanced manufacturing base, a modern service industry center in northeast China, and a regional hub for technological innovation. In the future, the China Today Shenyang Salon should fully leverage the CICG’s advantages in multilingual, multi-platform, and multimedia international communication, as well as the advantages of overseas institutions and partners, he said. The aim is to transform the salon into a window showcasing Shenyang’s image, an important platform for international exchange, and a key brand for global communication, vividly and effectively telling the story of Chinese modernization.
Zhao Wei speaks at the salon opening.
According to Zhao Wei, vice mayor of the Shenyang Municipal People's Government, as the seventh China Today Salon worldwide and the first established in northeast China, it provides Shenyang with a comprehensive international platform integrating high-level dialogue, resource connectivity, and industrial empowerment. Not only is it a key initiative by CICG to serve the revitalization of northeast China, he said, but it also reflects CICG's strong recognition and support for the city of Shenyang. It holds profound significance and is destined to become an important window for showcasing the image of Shenyang and northeast China, as well as a forefront base for open cooperation.
Ambassador Hussam Al Husseini delivers a video address to the inauguration ceremony.
In his video address, Hussam Al Husseini, the Jordanian ambassador to China, said that the salon has established a new platform for communication between Shenyang and the world. He hoped that it will actively promote mutual understanding and friendship between the people of Jordan and Shenyang, thereby advancing exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in culture, tourism, trade, and other areas to a higher level.
Zhao Lijun addresses the salon.
According to Zhao Lijun, president of the CICG Center for Europe and Africa (China Today), the center is committed to promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and Europe, Africa, and West Asia. The salon provides a key platform for expanding Shenyang's international cooperation, particularly in advancing industrial connections. In the future, Zhao said the salon will focus on functioning as a service hub for international economic and trade cooperation, high-level cultural exchanges, and information resources. It will help cultivate cross-cultural, multidisciplinary talent, enhance Shenyang's connectivity with the world, boost high-standard opening-up, and propel regional development.
Peng Guanglei addresses the salon.
Peng Guanglei, head of Heping District People’s Government, said that as a central district of Shenyang and a window for external exchanges, Heping District continuously deepens its collaborative ties with cities domestically and internationally. The China Today Salon in Heping District not only serves as full recognition of its achievements in opening up, but also entrusts it with a significant mission. Peng pointed out that the district is willing to strengthen cooperation with CICG in planning investment promotion events and international cultural exchange, making every effort to establish a forefront position for opening-up and international cooperation.
Signing ceremony of the series of events.
Following the inauguration ceremony, a number of strategic cooperation agreements were signed on site. This series of collaborations fully demonstrates Shenyang's determination and effectiveness in attracting high-end resources and promoting industrial innovation by fostering a favorable business environment. In addition the 2026 Shenyang Enterprises Middle East Tour program was launched to assist local enterprises in expanding into the Belt and Road markets.
The 2026 Shenyang Enterprises Middle East Tour program inauguration.
The China Today Salon is a comprehensive international exchange platform created by the CICG Center for Europe and Africa to effectively tell China's story to the world, promote Chinese culture, and facilitate cultural and economic exchanges between China and other countries. It highlights different functional characteristics based on the unique features of each particiipating city, supporting local governments in their opening-up to the outside world and high-quality development.
This event was organized by the CICG Center for Europe and Africa, with support from Shenyang Municipal People's Government and Heping District People's Government.
