On May 15, 2015, the Forum of Leaders of the Regions of China and India was co-hosted by CPAFFC and CIFCA at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. About 180 representatives from 2 municipalities directly under the Central Government, 4 provinces and 4 cities of China and 2 states and 4 cities of India attended the Forum. Under the theme of “Smart City, Smart Living”, participants had in-depth discussions on sustainable urbanization and the role of states and provinces in fostering closer developmental partnership between India and China. During the forum, CPAFFC and the Ministry of External Affairs of India signed the MoU on Establishment of the State/Provincial Leaders’ Forum. Sichuan and Karnataka, Chongqing and Chennai, Qingdao and Hyderabad, Dunhuang and Aurangabad signed the third batch of Sino-Indian friendship provinces/states & cities agreements. CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin said in her welcoming speech that with Chinese and Indian friendship-city relation developing steadily, the holding of the forum is at the perfect time to upgrade the exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Indian localities to a new level. CPAFFC is committed to strengthening communications and contacts with Indian states and cities and providing more opportunities for Chinese and Indian local governments to share resources and achieve common development. Chief Minister Patel of Gujarat pointed out that the holding of the forum is of significant importance and provides a great opportunity for exchanges and cooperation at the local level. Indian states pay high attention to the development of friendly relation with their Chinese counterparts, and are willing to strengthen contacts and promote practical cooperation with Chinese local governments. Mr. Wang Anshun, Mayor of Beijing, Mr, Huang Qifan, Mayor of Chongqing, Mr, Guo Shuqing, Governor of Shandong, Mr. Zhu Xiaodan, Governor of Guangdong, Mr. Wang Ning, Executive Vice Governor of Sichuan, Mr. Xia Hongmin, Vice Governor of Gansu, Mr. Zhang Xinqi, Mayor of Qingdao, Mr. Liu Shoucheng, Vice Mayor of Chengdu, Ms. Yang Bi, Vice Mayor of Kunming, Mr. Jia Taibin, Mayor of Dunhuang and Ms. Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ms. Meenakshiben Patel, Mayor of Ahmedabad, Mr. Duraisamy, Mayor of Chennai, Mr. Gopal, Municipal Administrator of Hyderabad, Mr. Dharam Pal, Acting Chairman of New Delhi attended the forum and delivered speeches.

On May 15, 2015, the Forum of Leaders of the Regions of China and India was co-hosted by CPAFFC and CIFCA at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Premier Li Keqiang and the visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India attended and addressed the forum. Premier Li Keqiang congratulated on the launching of the forum. He pointed out that over the 30-odd years of reform and opening up, China has made enormous achievements in economic and social development. An important reason is to fully mobilize the initiative of both central and local governments. As two developing countries with the largest population, both China and India have great development potential. Developing exchanges and cooperation between the local governments of the two countries is conducive to mobilize the two peoples to build smart cities and realize smart living through smart work. The launching of the forum is of significant importance and is a good start for practical cooperation between Chinese and Indian localities. Prime Minister Modi said that it is the first time that Indian government sign a MoU on regional exchanges and cooperation with another country. It is a significant event in our bilateral relations. India pays high attention to the forum and is willing to discuss and share cooperation opportunities with its Chinese counterparts. He hoped that the local governments of both countries will make joint efforts to bring the grand vision of developing the bilateral relations into reality. About 180 representatives from 2 municipalities directly under the Central Government, 4 provinces and 4 cities of China and 2 states and 4 cities of India attended the Forum.

Vice President Xie Yuan met with Indiana Governor Mike Pence on May 12, 2015. Vice President Xie expressed his warm welcome to Governor Pence who is visiting China for the first time at CPAFFC’s invitation. VP Xie made a brief introduction about CPAFFC’s history. He said, CPAFFC has long been committed to promoting and expanding China-US sub-national exchanges and cooperation. The China-US Governors Forum, annual programs of elected US state and city officials and sister-city programs have all played very positive roles in this cause. Indiana is Zhejiang’s sister state. It is our sincere hope that the two sides can enhance communication and exchanges and that the State of Indiana could provide easier access to attract more Chinese investment. He also recommended Indiana to explore business opportunities in central and west China while developing ties with coastal and east China. Governor Pence said, Indiana attaches great importance to developing ties with China. Since establishing sister-state relations with Zhejiang in 1987, the two-way trade between China and Indiana has been on the rise. China is now Indiana’s fifth largest trading partner, with a trade volume of 1.5 billion US dollars last year. As a traditionally agricultural state, Indiana is keen on promoting cooperation with China in Agriculture, with its lieutenant governor leading an agricultural delegation to China in June. Apart from agriculture, Indiana hopes to expand further cooperation with China in the state’s other strong industries including manufacturing, logistics and distribution, life science, medical and animal science and higher education.

Deputy Director General Ruoning Zhang of the Department of European & Asian Affairs led a delegation to attend the UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau Meeting in Makati, Philippines from 27 to 30 April. The meeting gathered over 100 local government leaders from the Asia Pacific region.

At the Invitation of the Kenya - China Friendship Association and the South Africa - China Friendship Association, Vice President Hu Sishe led the CPAFFC delegation and visited Kenya and South Africa from April 15th to April 23rd, 2015. During the visit in Kenya, the delegation met with Ekwe Ethuro, Speaker of Kenyan Senate, attended the reception hosted by Deputy Speaker Laboso, the National Assembly, held work meetings with Samuel Tunai, Narok County Governor and Michael Munyao, Chairman of Kenya - China Friendship Association, and exchanged views with the Kenyan side on promoting local government exchanges, holding “Kenyan Week” and enhancing cooperation in tourism and agriculture, etc.. During the visit in South Africa, the delegation held work meetings with Dr. Sefora Masia, Executive Head of International Relations and Intergovernmental Relation of City of Tshwane and Cao Xingzhi, Executive Chairman of South Africa - China Friendship Association and reached broad consensus on promoting local government exchanges among BRICS countries, developing friendship cities relations and cooperation in the fields of education, culture, etc.. Vice President Hu Sishe met with Ekwe Ethuro, Speaker of Kenyan Senate The delegation attended the reception hosted by Deputy Speaker Laboso, the National Assembly The delegation held work meetings with Samuel Tunai, Narok County Governor and Michael Munyao, Chairman of Kenya - China Friendship Association The delegation met with Dr. Sefora Masia, Executive Head of International Relations and Intergovernmental Relation of City of Tshwane

On April 17th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with Mayor Paul Leon and his delegation from Ontario, California, U.S. He briefed that promoting China-U.S. sub-national exchanges is one of the major tasks of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). The two countries have already established exchange and cooperation mechanisms at provincial, county and city levels. California is the largest state in the U.S, and China’s largest trading partner among all U.S. states. The future development of China will provide greater cooperation opportunities for Ontario and other localities in the State of California. Mayor Leon said this was his first visit to China. It is aimed at gaining better understanding of Jieyang City, Guangdong Province, facilitating the establishment of sister city relationship with Jieyang and looking for cooperation opportunities in the cities he visited, including Xiamen, Shanghai, Linyi and Beijing. This trip allows him to have first-hand experiences of China, which contrast greatly with the negative reports about China in the U.S. media. China has so much for people to admire. As one of the free trade zones in U.S., the city of Ontario boasts advantages in the fields of transportation and commerce, and make itself an important gateway of California to China.

At the Invitation of INTERKULTUR, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, and Newcastle University, Vice President Hu Sishe led a 4-member CPAFFC delegation and visited Germany, France and the UK from March 21st to 30th, 2015. During the visit, the delegation met with Mr. Günter Titsch, President of INTERKULTUR, Mr. Jean-Claude Frécon, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Mr. Denis Huber, Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Regions of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Prof. Eric Cross, Dean of Cultural Affairs of Newcastle University, Prof. Peter Stone, Head of School of Arts and Cultures of Newcastle University and etc.. The delegation had work meetings and reached extensive consensus with organizations mentioned above on cooperation in people-to-people exchanges, cultural, educational and other fields. During the stay in Germany, the delegation had detailed discussion with INTERKULTUR about the 2nd China Germany Culture Forum which will be held in Beijing next year. Mr. Günter Titsch also invited Vice President Hu to lead a delegation to attend the 2nd European Choir Games in Germany this July and the 9th World Choir Games in Sochi next year. During the stay in France, the delegation attended the 28th session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. Vice President Hu made a speech on local responses to urbanization challenges at the Congress and got positive response from participants of the Congress. During the stay in the UK, the delegation had productive discussion with School of Arts and Culture of Newcastle University on intercity exchanges and cooperation programs and the protection of intangible cultural heritage along the Silk Road. The School expects to conduct pragmatic cooperation with CPAFFC soon. Vice President Hu Sishe meeting with Mr. Günter Titsch, President of INTERKULTUR Mr. Günter Titsch introducing INTERKULTUR’s work to the delegation Vice President Hu Sishe making a speech at the 28th session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Vice President Hu Sishe meeting with Mr. Jean-Claude Frécon, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe The delegation holding the meeting with the School of Arts and Culture of Newcastle University Vice President Hu Sishe meeting with Mr. David Brouch, the responsible person of China Convoy Reunions Group

---Director General Zhang Heqiang of Dept.of American and Oceanian Affairs Meets with Mrs. Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Chrischurch, New Zealand On Mar.27, on behalf of President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC, Director General Zhang Heqiang met with mayor Lianne Dalziel of Chrischurch, New Zealand and her delegation. Mr.Zhang conveyed Madam Li’s greetings to the mayor and expressed thanks for her participation in the Launching Ceremony of New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum and the support to the local government exchanges between China and New Zealand. He extended invitation to the mayor to participate in the First New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum, which will be co-organized by CPAFFC and Local Government New Zealand in Xiamen in September. Mayor Dalziel thanked Mr.Zhang for the hospitality she received, and expressed that it was her honor to attend the Launching Ceremony and meet with Chinese mayors last year. She spoke highly of this mechanism as a great platform for local government exchanges. The purpose of her current visit to China was to celebrate the 30th anniversay of establishment of friendship city relations between Chrischurch and Gansu Province. Mrs. Dalziel pledged Chrischurch will further strenghthen cooperation with China in all aspects.

Vice President Song Jingwu met with Mr. Peter Woods, the Ambassador of UCLG ASPAC and Mr. Richard Forster, Chief Editor of “Cities Today” magazine on March 19th, and held a welcome lunch in honor of the delegation. Both sides exchanged views on how to enhance the relations between CPAFFC and UCLG ASPAC, as well as jointly?promote result oriented cooperation among local governments with private sectors worldwide.   

Director General Zhang Heqiang of American and Oceanian Affairs met with Director Kristopher Sanchez of International Trade of Nevada on March 12, 2015. Director General Zhang made a brief introduction of the ongoing NPC and CPPCC sessions, emphasizing that having entered an important stage of comprehensively deepening reform and advancing law-based governance, China will interconnect with the rest of world closer than ever. China’s development and huge market will bring more opportunities to the US and other countries in the world. The CPAFFC has long been committed to promoting and expanding China-US sub-national exchanges and cooperation. The China-US Governors Forum, annual programs of elected US state and local officials and sister-city program have played very positive roles in this regard. Nevada, an important state in American west, pointed out by Zhang, may set a leading example for the rest of regional states in strengthening ties with China. Director Sanchez said, with US economic recovery taking hold, Nevada is garnering sound economic momentum with greater demands for international cooperation. China lies in the priority of its foreign relations. At the invitation of the CPAFFC, Governor Sandoval made his groundbreaking visit to China in 2012, which was also the first overseas mission by a Nevada governor in the state’s nearly 150-year history. Director Sanchez himself attended the Second China-US Governors Forum held by the CPAFFC in Tianjin in 2013, which left him a deep impression. According to Sanchez, Governor Sandoval plans to head a high-ranking delegation to visit China this year during his capacity as President of the Council of State Governments. The mission will focus on further deepening exchanges and cooperation for Nevada and other US states with China.