On July 8th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with the U.S. Silicon Valley mayors delegation headed by Brian Peck, Deputy Director of the International Affairs and Business Development of California. Vice President Xie introduced that the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship  with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) is aimed at enhancing people-to-people friendship and promoting local-government exchanges between China and the rest of the world. The CPAFFC receives around 10 U.S. governors, lieutenant governors as well as dozens of mayors every year. It has facilitated the establishment of more than 240 pairs of sister provinces/states and sister cities between China and the U.S.. The mayor delegation comes at an important moment of China-U.S. relations. He hoped that the visit will  help create more cooperative opportunities and further strengthen the bilateral relationship. He also introduced “Photo Exhibition in Commemoration of China-U.S. Cooperation during the World War II”, an important project launched by the CPAFFC during the Sixth China-U.S. High Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange in Washington D.C. last month. Brain Peck, head of the delegation, said that the state government of California and the CPAFFC have been on a sound track of cooperation and are now working together to co-host the third U.S.-China Governors’Forum. Governor Brown and President Li Xiaolin have long been good friends. The State of California has good cooperation foundation with Guangdong Province and other parts of China. He hoped that this visit will help connect more Californian cities with their Chinese counterparts and push forward more cooperation with the CPAFFC.

At the invitation of CPAFFC, Hon. C. Mutjavikua, Governor of Erongo Region of Namibia, visited Beijing and Shaanxi Province from June 28 to July 2, 2015. During the visit, Executive Vice Governor of Shaanxi Province Yao Yinliang and CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi met with the delegation. The delegation also visited Xi’an International Trade & Logistics Park, Xi’an Economic & Technological Development Zone, Shaanxi Automobile Group, Lijun Pharmaceutical Corporation and Xi’an Jiaotong University Medical Equipment Factory, held talks with Shaanxi Nuclear Industry Group, Top International Engineering Corp. and Beijing Hi-Tech Energy Investment Co., Ltd..

Vice President Hu Sishe met with Indiana Lieutenant (Lt.) Governor Sue Ellspermann and her delegation on July 1, 2015. Vice President Hu extended a warm welcome to Lt. Governor Ellspermann’s trade mission to China. He said that US President Obama paid a state visit to China after the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting last year. and Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the US in September this year. The Seventh China-US Strategic & Economic Dialogue and Sixth China-US High-level Consultation on People-to-people Exchange were successfully concluded in DC. President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the US this September. All these show that the political, economic, cultural, educational and military cooperation between the two countries have been deepened. Lt. Governor Ellspermann’s Agricultural Trade Mission to China has come at a great time. Integrated development of rural and urban areas and agricultural modernization are important parts of China’s efforts to comprehensively deepen the reform. As Indiana boasts advanced agricultural technologies and rural development expertise,  a great prospect faces the State to strengthen the cooperation with Chinese counterparts in agriculture and beyond.   Lt. Governor Ellspermann thanked the CPAFFC for its strong support for her mission to China. She said that as a US top agricultural state, 83% of Indiana’s land is dedicated to farms or forests, producing high-quality corn, soybeans, pork and poultry. China is a vast newly developing consumer market ready for more choices of food and other commodities that the Indiana agriculture industry can provide. Her visit to Zhejiang, Sichuan, Shandong, Tianjin, Hebei and Beijing is an important first step in building relationships with Chinese provincial governments and business leaders, and will provide a solid foundation for the mutually-beneficial cooperation between the two sides in the future.  

Co-hosted by CPAFFC, Lodzkie Regional Government of Poland and Polish Ministry of Development and Infrastructure, the 3rd Poland-China Regional Forum was held successfully in Lodz City of Poland on June 28, 29. Nearly 600 representatives attended the Forum, including Chinese government officials, scholars and entrepreneurs from Sichuan, Chongqing, Hebei, Henan, Shanghai, Liaoning, Jilin, Guangdong, Guangxi, etc., as well as officials of Polish local governments. Present at the Forum were Mr. Grzegorz Schetyna, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Olgierd Dziekoński, Secretary of State in the Chancellery of the President of Poland, Mr. Xu Jian, Ambassador of China to Poland, Mr. Tadeusz Chomicki, Ambassador of Poland to China, Mr. S?awomir Majman, President of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, and Polish Vice Ministers of Science and Higher Education, of Economy and of Development and Infrastructure, as well as representatives from Polish local governments. A series of cooperation agreements were signed between Chinese and Polish local governments and enterprises regarding trade, investment, culture and education.   Polish Foreign Minister Mr. Grzegorz Schetyna spoke at the opening ceremony that during his fruitful trip to China recently, he discussed the China-Poland regional and provincial cooperation with Chinese Foreign Minister, and both agreed on the vast potential within. He believes that the railway from Lodz to Chengdu connects not only the two cities, but also the two counties and two cultures. Polish government supports enterprises to participate in the “One Belt and One Road” initiative advocated by the Chinese government, and hopes to enhance the cooperation with China. Vice President Mr. Song Jingwu said that with the development of China-Poland strategic partnership, regional exchanges between the two countries are becoming more frequent with each passing day. Regional cooperation plays an important part in the comprehensive development of relations between China and other countries. The “One Belt and One Road” initiative requires the Chinese and Polish governments to actively participate and cooperate, which in turn will expand the scope of region cooperation between the two countries. Fast, steady and efficient, regional cooperation provides us with a convenient, smooth and effective way for cooperation. We shall strive for a complementary win-win situation, improve local cultural exchanges while build together the silk road economic belt, and bring closer the people of the two countries. The two governments shall seize the historic opportunity of “One Belt and One Road” initiative, give full play to regional cooperation, and carry out cooperation with mutual benefit and win-win result in policy communication, economic and trade flow, infrastructure connection, capital financing and people-to-people friendship. With the outcome of pragmatic cooperation, benefits will be shared by the people of two countries. Ambassador Mr. Xu Jian expressed in his speech that many successful cooperative projects between China and Poland were initiated and promoted on the local level. So far, over 50 pairs of sister cities have been established or intended to be established. He said that Poland spearheaded in the construction of “One Belt and One Road” and was the only central-eastern European country among the 57 initiative countries of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He hopes that the regional cooperation between the two countries can take the opportunity to realize their development strategies and requirements, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win result. Participants discussed issues including local authorities functioning mechanisms in Poland and China, “One Belt and One Road” initiative as an opportunity for the central-eastern European regions, smart city and smart region and urban strategic dialogue, regions in business, tourism and education exchange promotion. During the Forum, regional cooperation agreements were signed between the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Henan Province, Lodz and Chengdu, Koluszki and Dujiangyan, Cz?stochowa University of Technology and Jianzhu University in Shenyang, Poland-Asia Research Center and Shanghai University of International Business & Economics.

Hosted by CPAFFC and Qinghai Provincial People''''s Government, Xining International Forum & Cooperation Forum of Cities Along the Silk Road was held in Xining on June 17th, 2015. About 150 local officials and scholars from Sri Lanka, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, Nepal, Russia, UK, South Korea, Japan and representatives from local governments, enterprises and universities of Xining and Qinghai attended the forum. On behave of CPAFFC and CIFCA,Vice President Xie Yuan addressed at the opening ceremony. He said that as an important Northwest city along the Silk Road Economic Belt, Xining seized the strategic development opportunity of China’s Opening up to the West and the Belt and Road Initiatives to actively promote city diplomacy and people-to-people friendly exchanges. The brand building of Cool City-Xining is a very good example. The success of this forum will greatly improve Xining’s popularity as a cool city and reveal its distinct vitality. At the forum, Vice President Xie and Vice President Gong Jianzhong of China Public Diplomacy Association jointly unveiled the plaque for the Association for Xining-Silk Road Cities Cooperation. During the forum, Xining and Osh, Kalutara, Antalya and Singapore respectively signed the MoU on Friendly Exchanges and Pragmatic Cooperation Among Cities Along the Silk Road.      

On June 12th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with Local Government New Zealand Delegation led by President Lawrence Yule at the invitation of our association. Vice President Xie discussed with them about the arrangements for the first New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum to be held in the coming September in Xiamen City. Mr. Brian Hewson, Political Counsellor of New Zealand Embassy also attended the meeting.

From May 28th to June 4th, a 15-member delegation composed by governors from 5 southern provinces of Thailand, headed by Vice Governor Anuchit Trakulmututa of Songkla province, visited Guangxi and Shandong. The delegation is recommended by the Chinese Consulate-General in Songkla and received by CPAFFC. Madame Li Kang,Vice Governor of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr.Zhang Xinqi, Mayor of Qingdao city and Mr.Li Junfeng, Vice Mayor of Dongying city met or hosted banquets for the delegation respectively. The delegation studied the management experience of economic zone and bonded area, visited the enterprises of tire, rubber and chemical industry and attended 2 themed product promotions for tire and rubber. The visit further promoted the friendly exchanges and  cooperation between CPAFFC and the related Chinese governments with Thailand’s southern provinces and played a positive role for the friendly atmosphere of the 40th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations this year. Mr.Zhang Jinxiong,Chinese Consul-General in Songkla, accompanied the delegation during the visit.

On June 1, Vice President Xie Yuan met with US delegation of secretary of state, headed by Elaine Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State and President of National Association of Secretary of State. Other members in the delegation are: John Merrill, Alabama Secretary of State; Mark Martin, Arkansas Secretary of State; Paul Pate, Iowa Secretary of State and Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky Secretary of State. Vice President Xie said that since the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and the United States 36 years ago, bilateral ties have enjoyed sound development and cooperation in various fields has deepened. Currently, leaders of our two countries reached important agreement on building a new type of major country relations between China and U.S., and the two sides have put in place a number of measures such as reciprocal visa arrangement to implement the agreement. At sub-national level, the collaboration among local governments of both countries have boosted local economic growth and benefited the people, which makes it an important component of the bilateral relations. Over the years, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries worked closely with a number of U.S. Organizations including National Association of Secretary of State in building platforms for local government exchanges, and achieved positive results. Secretary Marshall thanked Vice President Xie for meeting with the delegation. She said that National Association of Secretary of State is the oldest organization for sub-national government officials. The secretaries of state attach great importance to local economic development. China is increasingly becoming an important partner for U.S. states. The Association would like to carry forward cooperation with CPAFFC and have more secretaries of state to visit China to promote mutual understanding and practical cooperation.

On May 25, CPAFFC Vice President Hu Sishe met with U.S. Diplomatic Trade Mission and witnessed the signing of M.O.U. between the city of Tustin, U.S. and the city of Heyuan, China. U.S. Diplomatic Trade Mission was organized by US-Sino Friendship Association, which already sent two mayors’ delegations to visit China in 2012 and 2014. This year’s delegation includes mayors from well-known U.S. Cities such as Las Vegas, Yorba Linda, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Santa Monica and Tustin. They plan to promote comprehensive cooperation between their cities and Chinese cities. During this visit, six pairs of cities from both sides will sign M.O.U. on the development of sister city relationship. Vice President Hu Sishe said in his remarks that China-US relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. The building of a new model of major-country relationship between the two countries will not be realized without the close cooperation from cities and people of both sides. The CPAFFC and China International Friendship Cities Association are coordinating 2171 pairs of sister city (province) relationship with other countries, among which 1/9 come from China and the U.S. This shows to us the depth and width of China-US sub-national exchanges. He encouraged cities from both sides to enhance common development and people-to-people friendship. He also welcomed U.S. mayors to attend the China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference to be held in Chicago from Oct. 22 to 24 this year. Vice Mayor Zhu Weiwei from Heyuan said that Heyuan is a vibrant and green city, which enjoys rapid development in high-tech industries, solar energy, new metal materials and bio-pharmaceutical industries. It has much in common with the city of Tustin in ecology and development theories. She hoped that Heyuan and Tustin enhance their cooperation ties in economy and trade, tourism, education and other fields, in order to promote common development in each other’s economy and society, as well as the friendship between Guangdong, California and the two countries. President Simon Pang of U.S.-Sino Friendship Association presented Vice President Hu Sishe the congratulatory letters from U.S. Congresspeople Mike Honda, Judy Chu and Ted Lieu, to the CPAFFC, in recognition of its contribution to China-US exchanges, cooperation and friendship. He also handed the certificates of recognition from Mayor Garcetti of Los Angeles and California State Treasurer John Chiang, which honor Madam Li Xiaolin’s contribution to enhancing ties between China and California, and China-U.S. relations. Mayor Charles Puckett of Tustin said that he was excited to sign the M.O.U with city of Heyuan, and was looking forward to strengthening cooperation with the city.

On May 20th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with the U.S. Silicon Valley Mayors Delegation which consists of former Mayor Tony Spitaleri of Sunnyvale , Mayor Kathy Chao Rothberg of San Pablo, Mayor Peter Longmire of Pittsburg , Mayor Ken Chew of Moraga, representatives from China Silicon Valley and entrepreneurs from the Silicon Valley. Vice President Xie introduced that the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC) was founded in 1954 and is the oldest Chinese organization engaged in people-to-people diplomacy. Over the years, it has been dedicated to enhancing friendly contact and cooperation between Chinese people and peoples from other parts of the world. He  pointed out that China-U.S. Ties have become much closer since the diplomatic relations were established 36 years ago. Nowadays about 4.3 million people travel between the two countries annually. The new visa agreement reached between our two governments last year will provide greater convenience to the personnel exchanges in various fields. As a hub of high-tech and innovation, the Silicon Valley is of great potential and opportunities in expanding the cooperation with China especially in high and new technology industry. Tony Spitaleri said that this was his fourth visit to China and each time he saw huge changes in China. The deepening and healthy development of US-China relations have brought significant benefits to the development of the Silicon Valley. That Asian community accounts for over 60% of total Silicon Valley population is not only bringing the region an advantage of cultural diversity, but also a favorable condition to strengthening the cooperation with China.