中国青年报客户端讯（中青报·中青网见习记者 李悦 记者 李媛媛）“建立（国与国之间的）民间友谊组织非常重要。”10月10日，已经多次访问中国、中国人民的“老朋友”，爱尔兰前总理伯蒂·埃亨伫立在北京红桥市场顶层的观景台上对记者感慨道。

多年来，伯蒂·埃亨曾与中国结下深厚友谊。1998年9月，时任爱尔兰总理伯蒂·埃亨首次访问中国后，一直为增进中爱友好交往做着不懈努力。在他看来，中国与爱尔兰能长期保持友好交流沟通，民间交流起到了尤为重要的作用。他很高兴这次能够再次参访中国，并对记者表示，“很荣幸能够庆祝和纪念中国人民对外友好协会与世界其他国家和地区建交70周年。”

10月10日，应中国人民对外友好协会邀请，来自多个国家和地区的300多名外国前政要、王室成员、国际友好组织负责人、友好人士等人齐聚北京，在北京中轴线感受古都的魅力，在北京城市副中心实地感受中国城市规划建设与文化传承保护成果。

Title: Former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern: Building Grassroots Friendship Organizations Is Crucial

"Building Grassroots Friendship Organizations Is Crucial." October 10, standing on the observation deck of the Hongqiao Market in Beijing, Bertie Ahern, the former Prime Minister of Ireland and a long-time "friend of the Chinese people," expressed his sentiments to reporters.

Over the years, Bertie Ahern has developed a deep friendship with China. Since his first visit to China in September 1998 as the then-Prime Minister of Ireland, he has continuously worked to promote friendly exchanges between China and Ireland. In his view, grassroots exchanges have played a particularly important role in maintaining the long-term friendly communication between China and Ireland. He expressed his delight at being able to visit China again and told reporters, it is wonderful to celebrate and commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries establishing diplomatic relations with other countries and regions around the world.

On October 10, at the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, more than 300 former foreign dignitaries, members of royal families, leaders of international friendship organizations, and friends from various countries and regions gathered in Beijing. They experienced the charm of the ancient capital along the central axis of Beijing and witnessed the achievements in urban planning, construction, and cultural heritage preservation in Beijing's sub-center. (By Li Yue/China Youth Daily)