WU Minglian, China's Ambassador to Italy, visited the ICTP on 2 November, to express his thanks for the assistance that the Centre has rendered to Chinese scientists over the years. The Head of ICTP's Condensed Matter Group, YU Lu, who hosted WU Minglian's visit, pointed to the ICTP's Joint Travel Grant Arrangements with the Chinese Natural Science Foundation as an example of the successful partnership that China and the ICTP have developed since the Centre's earliest days. Over the past 34 years, scientists from China have spent more time at the ICTP than any other national group. This mutually beneficial partnership is expected to become even stronger in the future.