CCAA Delegation Headed by Deputy Director-General Ms. Chu Xiaoying Visited Sweden and Norway

At the invitation of Swedish and Norwegian adoption agencies and approval by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, a CCAA delegation headed by Deputy Director-General Ms. Chu Xiaoying travelled to Sweden and Norway for an official visit from May 21 to 30, 2010. The members of the delegation are: Director of Domestic Adoption Department of CCAA, Mr. Ji Gang; Deputy Director of the Finance Department of CCAA, Ms. Huang Yue; Director of the Centre for International Adoptions in Yunnan Province, Ms. Zhang Ling; Deputy Director of Beijing Children’s Welfare Institution, Mr. Zhang Yingjie.

During the visit, the delegation had meetings with the Swedish central authority Inter-country Adoption Authority and Norwegian central authority Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs. The delegation introduced to the two authorities updated development of China’s inter-country adoption and familiarized themselves with the working procedure in both countries. The post-placement tracking system and placement of special needs children were also discussed in depth. The delegation also listened to the advices and suggestions of the two governments on China’s inter-country adoption.

During the visit, the delegation also had seminars with all the agencies in Sweden and Norway working with China, and visited the offices of Adoption Center Swedish Society for International Child Welfare, Family Association for Inter-country Adoption of Sweden, Adopsjonsforum and Verdens Barn in Norway. Through thorough communication, the delegation shared with agencies the status quo and trends of China’s inter-country adoption, and gave detailed explanations to questions on special needs children adoption. Besides that, the delegation attended adoptive family gatherings and visited homes of adoptive families. Through face-to-face communication with the adoptive parents and adopted children, the delegation had the opportunity to understand the life and education of adopted children abroad and felt the close connection between the children and their adoptive parents.

In a word, the delegation enhanced understanding with the governments and adoption agencies in Sweden and Norway, built up relationship between the two countries, and promoted cooperation in inter-country adoption through meetings, seminars, face-to-face communication and on-the-spot visiting. The visit received good effects and achieved its expected goal.