On September 17, Mr. SONG Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), who was accompanying Vice Premier LIU Yandong in attending the 3rd Meeting of the China-UK High-Level People-to-People Dialogue in London, held a bilateral meeting with Mr. James Wharton, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for UK Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG). The two sides exchanged in depth views on issues such as China-UK Friendship City development, cooperation among cities and city clusters, and China-UK local government exchange program.

On September 10, Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of CPAFFC met with Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) delegation and Wellington Mayor delegation respectively.   Group Photo of Vice President Xie Yuan and LGNZ Delegation Vice President Xie Yuan reviewed the First New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum, which was hosted in Xiamen with Mr. Malcolm Alexander, Chief Executive of LGNZ and Madam Celia Wade-Brown, Mayor of Wellington. All parties believe the Forum achieved a complete success, accumulating plenty of beneficial experiences. The three parties will join hands to prepare the 2nd New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum.   Group Photo of Vice President Xie Yuan and Wellington Mayor Delegation

On the 7th, September 2015, the First New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum was successfully hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) in Xiamen. Dr. Ma Peihua, Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Vice President of China-Oceanian Friendship Association, Madam Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC and H.E. Mr. Ambassador John Mckinnon attended and addressed the Forum respectively. 25 mayors and representatives from both China and New Zealand and around 200 delegates altogether was present at the Forum. Group Photo of Dr. Ma Peihua, Vice Chairman of CPPCC and VIP Guests for the First New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum Dr. Ma Peihua pointed out in his speech that local exchanges constituted an important part of state relations. Cooperation among local governments of China and other countries had tightened their trading, economic and cultural relations. Moreover, they have deepened understanding and friendship between peoples of China and other countries cross the globe. In November 2014, with witness from President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister John Key, CPAFFC and LGNZ officially announced the establishment of the mechanism of exchange and cooperation of mayors of New Zealand and China. Local government cooperation between the two countries featured highly-complementary and both sides should value innovation and grasp favorable opportunities to lift the local exchanges to a new high.   Dr. Ma Peihua, Vice Chairman of CPPCC addressing the Opening Madam Li said that CPAFFC would take this Forum as an opportunity to enhance cooperation with LGNZ and try our best to implement the mechanism, making it a long-standing platform for mayors of the two countries, thus promoting practical cooperation and inject new momentum for China-New Zealand relations.   Madam Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC addressing the Opening Mr. Lawrence Yule, President of LGNZ expressed that the Forum was very efficient and fruitful. He wished that local governments could take active parts to expand cooperation thus injecting new stimulus for the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.   Mr. Lawrence Yule, President of LGNZ addressing the Opening Themed on “Innovation and Development”, the mayors discussed upon exchanges and cooperation in the fields of tourism, education and primary industry, etc. The outcome of the Forum turned out as Xiamen Declaration. H.E. Mr. Ambassador John Mckinnon addressing the Opening Mayors from China are: Mr. Pei Jinjia, Mayor of Xiamen, Mr. Lu Ziyue, Mayor of Ningbo, Mr. Zhang Xinqi, Mayor of Qingdao, Mr. Wan Yong, Mayor of Wuhan, Mr. Chen Jianhua, Mayor of Guangzhou, Mr. Xu Qin, Mayor of Shenzhen, Mr. Ma Xuming, Mayor of Yichang, Mr. Zhang Zejun, Mayor of Lijiang, Mr. Huang Zeyuan, Mayor of Zhangye, Mr. Ji Ningfeng, Vice Mayor of Guiyang, Mr. Li Mingyuan, Mayor of Weinan, Mr. He Xiangdong, Vice Mayor of Lanzhou, Ms. Lu Baoyun, Mayor of Gongqingcheng. Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of CPAFFC presiding over the Forum Mayors from New Zealand are: Mr. Lawrence Yule, Mayor of Hastings, Ms. Celia Wade-Brown, Mayor of Wellington, Mr. Len Brown, Mayor of Auckland, Ms. Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch, Mr. Dave Cull, Mayor of Dunedin, Mr. Stuart Crosby, Mayor of Tauranga, Mr. Grant Smith, Mayor of Palmerston North, Mr. Damon Odey, Mayor of Timaru, Mr. Meng Foon, Mayor of Gisborne, Ms. Annette Main, Mayor of Wanganui, Mr. David Trewavas, Mayor of Taupo, Ms. Jan Barnes, Mayor of Matamata Piako District.   On-site of the First New Zealand China Mayoral Forum

  On August 26th, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice-President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC) met with Mr. Mark Gooding, Minister-Counselor of the UK Embassy to China. The two sides exchanged views on issues including the implementing forms of the Mechanism on Sub-national Leaders Exchange and Local Cooperation between China and the UK, the Bilateral Meeting and Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between the CPAFFC and the Department for Communities and Local Government of the UK under the framework of the China UK High Level People to People Dialogue, and ways to promote cooperation between the Chinese and UK provinces, cities and city-clusters.

Vice president Xie Yuan met with first lady Carla Markell of the State of Delaware and her family on August 18th，2015. Vice President Xie extended warm welcome to her first visit to China. He introduced that one of the CPAFFC’s major tasks is to push forward sub-national exchanges and cooperation between China and the U.S.. He highly commended Governor Markell for attaching great importance to the relationship with China and being committed to promoting the exchanges between Delaware and China. Mrs. Markell held that the State of Delaware is small in size but strong in many aspects. It pays great attention to Chinese language learning and the State’s Chinese Immersion Program covers elementary schools to high schools. She talked about the fate of herself and her husband with China. Twenty five years ago, with Shien Biau Woo’s match-making, they got married. Woo, who served as Lt. Governor of Delaware in the 1980s, is the first Chinese-American lieutenant governor in the U.S. history. Her husband and their son Michael love playing table tennis and Michael is now learning Chinese and fascinated with Chinese cuisine.She hopes to gain more knowledge about China through this trip. 

  On August 13th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with the delegation led by Mr. Marcel TUIHANI, President of French Polynesian Assembly and expressed warm welcome to all the delegates on behalf of Madam Li Xiaolin, President of our association. Vice President Xie Yuan expressed his high appreciation towards the unceasing efforts made by President Marcel TUIHANI on promoting friendly cooperations between French Polynesia and China, which enables the smooth development of our bilateral relationship. He pointed out that our association had sent a delegation to French Polynesia to attend the Inaugural Ceremony of Tahiti Nui Ocean Foods of Tianrui International Investment Ltd not long ago. Moreover, during the visit of President of French Polynesia to China, we have reiterated that our association will as always support pragmatic cooperation with French Polynesia in the fields of tourism, sports, direct flights and investment and push forward the development of our bilateral relationship. President Marcel TUIHANI said that he felt grateful for Vice President Xie Yuan’s coming all the way to Shenzhen from Beijing to meet him. The purpose of his business trip this time was to attend the First International Overseas Chinese Trade Fair and to seek for export opportunities of black pearl, spice and so on. Vice President Xie wished their visit all the success. Mr. Hao Zhongwei, Deputy Director General of Department of American and Oceanian Affairs attended the meeting.

At the invitation of CPAFFC, a five-member delegation led by Jean Marie EWENGUE, mayor of Oyo city of the Republic of Congo paid a visit to Beijing, Yangzhou and Shanghai from Jul. 26 to Aug. 2, 2015.The delegation successively met or dined with Vice President of CPAFFC Ms. Lin Yi, Mayor of Yangzhou Mr. Zhu Minyang, Chairman of Yangzhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Mr. Hong Jinhua, Vice President of Shanghai People’s Association for Freindship with Foreign Countries Mr. Zhou Yajun. and they attended in “the “Day of the Republic of Congo - Promotion Meeting for Economic Cooperation and Exchange between Oyo and Yangzhou” in Yangzhou, in which they had a meeting with Yangzhou Munipipal Bureau of Commerce and representatives of 12 enterprises. During the visit, they took a study tour to Jiangsu Huajian Construction Corparation and FAMSUN, and called on Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone Administration.  As the hometown of H.E. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, President of the Republic of Congo, Oyo City wishes to strengthen the exchange with Yangzhou through the visit, with the aim of estabilishing sister-city relations in the future. Therefore, Mr. Jean Marie EWENGUE, mayor of Oyo signed a MOU on friendship exchange with Mr. Kong Lingjun, Deputy Mayor of Yangzhou, on behalf of both sides.   H.E. Daniel OWASSA, Ambassador of the Republic of Congo to China, was with the delegation during the visit. 

  On July 20th, 2015, Vice President Xie Yuan met with Vice Mayor Brian Kenner of Washington DC from the United States. They shared opinions on issues including enhancing local government exchanges and sister-city relationship, as well as promoting China-US cooperation on city planning, clean energy, public transportation.

At the invitation of INTERKULTUR, Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) and Association of Communes of Romania (ACOR), Vice President Xie Yuan led a CIFCA delegation to visit Germany, Romania and Macedonia from July 9th to 18th. During the visit to these three countries, CIFCA has reached important agreements with the above mentioned organizations concerning cooperation in BCIM and Silk Road Initiatives. During the stay in Germany, Vice President Xie was invited to attend the 2rd European Choir Games and met with President Gunter Titsch of INTERKULTUR, Mayor Lutz Trumper of Magdeburg, Vice Chairman Torsten Schafer Gumbel of Social Democratic Party of Germany, Director Christoph Hoppel of the Office of the Former President Walter Scheel, Ambassador Makhenkesi Stofile of the Embassy of South Africa in Germany respectively. CIFCA and INTERKULTUR agreed upon holding Musical Exchange Activities during BCIM Local Government Conference this December and 2016 China International Friendship Cities Choir Week and the 2rd Walter Scheel Forum. During the visit in Romania, Vice President Xie met with President Emil Draghici of A.Co.R and NALAS, Secretary of State Ministry Sirma CARAMAN of Regional Development and Public Administration, Mayor Mariana Gaju of Cumpana commune, Constanta County, Mayor Daniela Ancuta Belu of Kogalniceanu, Mayor Murat Gheorghe of Topalu, Mayor Robert-Sorin Negoita of 3rd District of Bucharest, President Association of Municipalities of Romania respectively. As agreed, CIFCA will receive the Romanian Mayors Delegation to visit China this November and dispatch a Chinese Mayors Delegation to attend the China, Romania and Moldova Mayor Forum held in Romania next February. During the visit in Macedonia, Vice President Xie met with NALAS Executive Director Kelmend Zajazi, Mayor Koce Trajanovski of Skopje, President of the Macedonian Association of Local Self-Government Units (ZELS). CIFCA agreed with them on attending the General Assembly of NALAS every year and holding China Southeast Europe Local Government Forum as appropriate. The delegation also invited these organizations to dispatch delegations to attend the 2016 China International Friendship Cities Conference held later the next year. The delegation was also supported by Chinese Consulate General in Constanta and the Chinese Embassy in Macedonia.    

  At the invitation of CPAFFC, the Silicon Valley Mayors Delegation visited China from July 7 to 17. Director General Zhang Heqiang of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs, CPAFFC attended the 2015 US-China Mayors Dialogue held at Beijing Longtan Academy in Beijing, and delivered a keynote speech on the topic of China-US relations, and China-US sub-national exchanges. The dialogue was co-hosted by US-China Innovation Gateway, and China Council for the Promotion of Nationalities Trade, and was aimed at promoting exchanges between middle and small cities between China and the U.S., and build a new platform for international cooperation. The Silicon Valley Mayors delegation, including delegation leader Mr. Brian Peck and the 9 U.S .mayors, as well as Chinese mayors from Jiangmen city of Guangdong Province, Qinghuangdao city of Hebei Province, Zhangjiakou city of Hebei Province, Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou Province, Tongbai County of Henan Province, Batang County of Sichuan Province participated at the dialogue. The attendees of the conference agreed that the middle and small cities from China and the U.S. can join together for cooperation on higher level, in wider areas and broader fields, in order to promote development and prosperity of the two countries.