On October 28, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement, saying that the Department of State would discontinue participation in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People's Republic of China Concerning the Establishment of the U.S.-China Governors Forum to Promote Sub-National Cooperation (MOU) jointly signed by the two countries back on January 19, 2011. He also slandered the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) “has sought to influence state and local leaders”. We are not at all surprised at this, because the like of Pompeo never cared about the wellbeing of the people, and never learned about the concept of peaceful coexistance and common development. Their minds are full of outdated ideological prejudices, and would only mislead the American people by creating tensions and fabricating lies. We feel pitiful and regrettable for a superpower to choose such a person to lead its diplomacy!

It is well known that CPAFFC, founded in 1954, is a national people’s organization engaged in people-to-people friendship cause between China and the rest of the world. With the aims of enhancing people’s friendship, furthering international cooperation, safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, CPAFFC has always stayed committed in establishing friendly ties with other countries. Our efforts in maintaining and deepening such ties are welcomed by all parties.

During the past few months, despite the globally ravaging pandemic, over 20 diplomats in China from countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as representatives from the business sector of the U.S. and Japan met with the President of CPAFFC, discussing on deepening mutual people-to-people friendship and subnational win-win cooperation. This is just one example of how the rest of the world recognizes the role of our association.

The above MOU signed by the two sides was proposed by the United States. CPAFFC of China and National Governors Association of the U.S. are responsible for the implementation of the MOU respectively. Through joint efforts from both sides, the China-U.S. Governors Forum has been successfully held for five times, bringing together subnational leaders from 23 Chinese provinces (regions or municipalities) and 35 U.S. states. The Forum has become an important platform for China-U.S. subnational cooperation, and is widely welcomed by the subnational governments from both sides. The Forum promoted bilateral trade and investment cooperation, brought tangible benefits to both peoples and created jobs. These outcomes can not be denied by the like of Pompeo.

Promoting friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between the people and subnational governments of China and the U.S. serves the common interests of the two countries and peoples. Upholding the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, openess and transparency, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, China-U.S. subnational exchanges have focused on economic cooperation as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges, so as to enhance mutual understanding and friendship and facilitate win-win cooperation. After the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, the subnational governments and the two peoples expressed sympathy and support to each other, and rose to the common challenge together to safeguard people’s life and health, reflecting the common aspiration of the Chinese and American people.

Pompeo slandered China-U.S. subnational and people-to-people friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation as “united front work” and “malign influence”. He obviously underestimated and insulted the kindness, intelligence and wisdom of the American people, only exposing his own inanity and incompetence.

We firmly believe that only by upholding dialogue and exchanegs, inclusiveness and openness, could a country prosper and its people enjoy a happy and peaceful life. Self-closure, being even afraid of one’s own shadow, and ruling the country through lies will only lead the U.S. to isolation and decline.

Justice naturally inhabits man's heart. We believe that the insightful people in the U.S. could clearly see and firmly oppose the “political virus” spread by the like of Pompeo, strengthen friendly exchanges between the Chinese and American people, and drive forward subnational win-win cooperation so as to promote common development.