'Field trip' to China a valuable experience for William: Xinhua

Want China Times, Xinhua and Staff Reporter 2015-03-01

Prince William on a visit to Kuala Lumpur, Sept. 14, 2012. (File photo/Xinhua)

The upcoming China visit will be a rare and important "field trip" for Britain's Prince William to experience in person the great Asian civilization and promote bilateral exchanges.

For nearly three decades, no senior member of the British royal family has set foot in China after Queen Elizabeth II's tour in 1986. The Duke of Cambridge's arrival in Beijing on Sunday is expected to make history.

William, second in line to the British throne, will have the opportunity to engage directly with Chinese officials, students, ethnic minorities and people from different social communities to learn about the real conditions of China and how Chinese people feel about his country.

These first-hand experiences will become valuable assets for the prince, who is keen to help promote commercial and cultural exchanges with Beijing, and may also serve other royal family members with fresh knowledge about China.

Against the backdrop of some Western reports that Prince William will go "behind enemy lines" and take issue with Beijing on ivory ban and African elephant protection, the royalty will learn about China's commitment and efforts on protecting wildlife by visiting an elephant sanctuary in southwest China's Yunnan province.

He will be able to conduct direct and in-depth exchange of views with local staff, residents and officials on wildlife protection. Moreover, the Chinese side would like to draw on the royalty's experience and influence on the issue to advance domestic and international efforts on wildlife protection.

Beijing's recent one-year ban on imports of African ivory carvings is a fresh measure on the issue and will provide quantified evaluation of how effective China's policies can help with elephant protection.

Meanwhile, the engagement of Prince William in promoting Britain's industries of culture, creativity and education in China, will also help boost cultural and people-to-people exchanges and friendship between the countries.

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