From April 14th to 16th, Vice President Xie Yuan led a CPAFFC delegation and attended BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave 2016 in Mumbai, India. Nearly 100 representatives from BRICS central and local governments, political, economic and cultural fields and enterprises including Mr. Shri Venkaiah Naidu, union Minister of Urban Development of India, Mr. Alok Dimri, Joint Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs of India, Mr. Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra of India, Mr. Diego Blanc, Chief Advisor for Institutional Relations and Bilateral Cooperation of Brazil, Mr. Sergey N. Movchan, Vice Governor of St Petersburg of Russia and Mr. Modjadji Malahlela, Chief Director Uban Development Planning of South Africa attended the forum.

Vice President Xie Yuan delivered a speech on local government exchanges and cooperation among BRICS nations at the opening ceremony. Mr. Xie noted that CPAFFC and CIFCA will continue to promote people to people exchanges and enhance BRICS people’s friendship, build more exchanges platforms and expand BRICS cooperation, and support friendship-city program to inspire BRICS cities’ vitality. China will assume presidency of BRICS Summint next year. CPAFFC and CIFCA will continue to host BRICS Friendship Cities and Local Governments Cooperation Forum in China then. Mr. Xie invited all representatives to go to China and attend the forum in 2017. Representatives from Shanghai and Qingdao exchanged views on topics of urban management, house planning, climate change, energy utilization, waste management, etc. with other participants and reached comprehensive consensus.

During the forum, Vice President Xie Yuan met with Mr. Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra of India,Mr. Sergey N. Movchan, Vice Governor of St Petersburg of Russia, Mr. Narinder Nayar, President of Mumbai First and Mr. Fernandez, President of India-China Friendship Association respectively and reached extensive consensus with them on cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, education, friendship city relations and so on. Mr. Xie also invited them to attend the 5th China International Friendship Cities Conference in Chongqing in November this year. 

 Vice President Xie Yuan delivering a speech at the opening ceremony

 Vice President Xie Yuan briefing firendship-city work of China to Mr. Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra

CPAFFC delegation meeting with St Petersburg delegation

Vice President Xie Yuan talking with Mr. Narinder Nayar, President of Mumbai First

Vice President Xie Yuan presenting a souvenir to Mr. Fernandez, President of India-China Friendship Association