Mr. Xie Yuan, vice president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Peru Regions delegation led by Mr. Juan Tonconi Quispe, chairman of Tacna Region, Mr. Zenón Cuevas Pare, chairman of  Departamento de Moquegua on June, 17th. Vice President Xie Yuan extended warm welcome to the delegation and made an introduction about the main work of CPAFFC for people-to-people diplomacy. He also hoped that the delegation could further promote the exchanges and cooperation of the local governments between the two countries through this visiting, enhance mutual understanding and further establishing more friendship-provinces of the two countries, so as to benefit to the people. Chairman Juan Tonconi Quispe and Chairman Zenón Cuevas Pare thanked CPAFFC for invitation and reception. They respectively introduced the region of their own and expressed that after the visiting, they would further develop exchanges with China’s provinces, cities and institutions, such as Hubei province, Shanghai and Minzu University of China, so as to promote the pragmatic cooperation of the two countries in the fields of economy and trade, culture, sport and etc.. At the invitation of CPAFFC, the delegation visited China. Mr. Eduardo Yong Motta, the president of Peru-China Cultural Association (PCCA) and former minister of Ministry of Health of Peru, Mme. Teresa Joo Lamg Vda De Siu, secretary general of PCCA, accompanied with the delegation to visit China. Mr. Ji Yongjun, deputy director-general of Department of American and Oceanian Affairs of CPAFFC, Mr. Jaime Casafranca, Chargé d'Affaires a.i.of Peruvian Embassy in China, attended the meeting.         Photographed by Sun Tao

John Merrill, secretary of state of of Alabama of the US, visited the CPAFFC on May 15. He exchanged views with Director General Zhang Heqiang of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs on issues of strengthening Alabama’s cooperation with China in areas such as trade, investment, culture, tourism and education.         Photographed by Chen Ke    

On April 24, Vice President Xie Yuan met with Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis and her husband Dr. Markos Kounalakis in Beijing. The spouse are invited to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Vice President Xie expressed warm welcome to Lieutenant Governor for coming to China to attend the Forum, and briefed her the function of CPAFFC and the work it has done to promote the China-US subnational friendship. He pointed out that under the current situation, it is very important to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between local governments of China and the United States. Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis thanked the CPAFFC for the warm hospitality. She said that successive state governments of California have attached great importance to promote the cooperation with China in the fields of economy and trade, education, environmental protection etc. She looks forward to participating in the Forum and calling on local governments in China and the United States to further strengthen cooperation on climate change, contributing to the protection of our common homeland.          Photographed by Yang Xuehe

Vice President Xie Yuan met with Greg Hughes, former speaker of the Utah State House of Representative in Beijing on April 15. Vice President Xie appreciated the long-time efforts of former Speaker Hughes in promoting Utah’s exchanges and cooperation with China. He briefed the guests on the works the CPAFFC has been doing in promoting sub-national cooperation between the two countries, hoping Hughes leverage his influence in Utah, in the pursuit of practical achievements in the cooperation between Utah and Chinese localities. Hughes said, Utah would like to carry out substantial cooperation with Chinese local governments  in trade, economics, energy and education by holding events such as Golden Spike Festival and China Week.        

On January 24, Vice President Hu Sishe met with Ms. Yao Hongjuan, Director General of Shaanxi Foreign Affairs Office and Executive Vice President of Shaanxi People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Mr. Hu spoke highly of the in-depth cooperation between Cultural Exchange Department of CPAFFC and Shaanxi province. He hoped that the two sides can further enhance cooperation and promote cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world. Ms. Yao expounded working plans and draft agendas for activities like the Third Dialogue between Chinese and German Historical and Cultural Cities, the Second International Forum on Crested Ibis, and International Cooperation Forum on Poverty Alleviation.        

Vice-president Song Jingwu met Mayor of Arhus and Danish Ambassador to China on January 3rd Song welcomed the delegation and spoke highly of the 2nd Cites and Regions Forum between Denmark and China. He is quoted as saying that without the hard work of Arhus city and the Danish Embassy the forum could not achieve such a success which is recognized by two sides. Mr.Jacob Bundsgaard extended his gratitude to CPAFFC for the support given to the forum and expressed that Arhus city is ready to have more practical cooperation with Chinese cities. Mr.Carsten, Ambassador of Denmark to China said that local and state relations are two legs of the overall strategic partnership between Denmark and China and we are looking forward to the following events such as the 3rd Cities and Regions Forum in 2020 and the Celebration of 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Diplomatic Ties between China and Denmark. Vice-president Song said that CPAFFC will work closer with Danish Embassy and Arhus city to intensify the cooperation with Denmark both at State and local level.        

A trade delegation of 12 members from the State of Oregon, U.S., lead by State Representative David Smith, visited the CPAFFC on October 29. Director General Zhang Heqiang of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs met with the delegation. Director General Zhang Heqiang extended his welcome to the delegation. He said, trade liberalization and multilateralism are the trend of today’s world. Although there are some differences on trade issues between China and the U.S., we should keep exchange and cooperation going. Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled specific measures to further open Chinese market to the outside world at the Boao Forum for Asia in April earlier this year, including the upcoming the First China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai in November. He was glad to see the delegation participating in the Expo and wished their visit a great success. On behalf of the State of Oregon and the 1st District of Oregon State House of Representatives, Representative Smith expressed his appreciation to the CPAFFC for hosting the delegation. He said, China is Oregon’s largest export market and largest source of overseas tourists. Oregon sees China as an important partner and welcomes Chinese investors and tourists. In 2017, Oregon State Legislature passed a joint resolution recognizing the importance of enhancing trade and economic relations with China. He also the Oregon-China Sister State Relations Council continue to play a positive role in promoting Oregon’s cooperation with China.        

Vice President Xie Yuan met with Brian Kenner, Deputy Mayor of Washington D.C., on October 19th in Beijing. Vice President Xie expressed a warm welcome to Deputy Mayor Kenner, who is visiting China after his previous visit two years ago. He also praised the government of Washington D.C. for its continuous efforts to promote the development of sister-city relationship between DC and Beijing, as well as collaborative relations with other Chinese cities. Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the U.S. China will hold commemorative activities on that occasion. He hoped to take the anniversary as an opportunity to review the past achievements in China-U.S. sub-national exchanges and look forward to the next 40 years for future cooperation. The CPAFFC will continue to support DC’s exchanges and cooperation with Chinese localities. Deputy Mayor Kenner said, in spite of the national trade issues, DC will continue to develop relations with not only Beijing, but also other Chinese cities. Next year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of sister-city relations between DC and Beijing. The DC government will commemorate the anniversary by creating Beijing Week, holding baseball and e-sports activities, art exhibitions and performances as well as lantern festivals, furthering its cooperation with China in the area of trade and investment, culture, education and sports.        

Vice President Xie Yuan met with the delegation led by Mr. Greg Hughes, speaker of the House of Utah Representatives. Vice President Xie extended warm welcome to Speaker Hughes’s second visit to China this year, highly appreciated the efforts made by him and the State of Utah for developing the friendly ties with China. Vice President Xie said, Chinese local governments and our people cherish the friendship with Utah and hope our two sides could maintain this good momentum, further deepen the cooperation and exchanges in various fields, make contributions to a healthy and sustainable bilateral relationship. Speaker Hughes said that the current U.S.-China relationship was not as good as before. However, Utah has been enjoying long-lasting friendship with China. He believes that through our joint efforts, we will get through the tough times eventually. Utah would like to lead as an example among all states in the U.S. to carry out friendly cooperation with Chinese local governments.  Mr. Brad Herbert, son of the Governor of Utah Gary Herbert, made a speech on behalf of his father, declaring the day of October 11th as “Utah-China Friendship Day”. He said that Utah attaches great importance to cooperating with China. The State of Utah, as a reliable friend of China in the U.S. , wishes to further enhance the friendly ties with Chinese local governments, extend cooperation fields and achieve win-win development.      

Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met in Beijing with the visiting delegation led by Mr. MATSUO TAKASHI, Mayor of KAMAKURA on 9 October. Mme. Zhu Dan, Deputy Director General of Department of Japanese Affairs of CPAFFC, Mr. NAKAMURA SOICHIRO, Speaker of KAMAKURA and Mr. KUBOTA HARUHIKO, President of the Kamakura Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), attended the meeting. Vice President Song Jingwu extended welcome to the delegation and spoke highly of the valuable contributions personages from all walks of life in KAMAKURA had made for a long time to promoting the healthy and stable relationship between China and Japan at the local level, such as, actively developing the exchanges and cooperation in variou fields with Dunhuang and other China relevant regions. Vice President Song introduced the current Sino-Japanese relationship and the relevant situations of the construction of the Belt and Road to the delegation. He expected KAMAKURA to take the 20th anniversary of the establishment relationship with Dunhuang as an important opportunity to improve the exchanges and cooperation between Dunhuang and KAMAKURA a higher level in the fields of the Belt and Road, and the third party market. Mayor MATSUO TAKASHI said, KAMAKURA paid high attention to the exchanges and cooperation with China. One of the important schedules this time was to attend the activity in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment relationship between Dunhuang and KAMAKURA in Dunhuang. In future, they would like to take the construction of the Belt and Road as an important opportunity to further develope the pragmatic coopertation with China relevant regions, and make contributions to the improvement of the Sino-Japanese relationship.