Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met in Beijing with the 11th Japan National Mayor Association (JNMA) delegation led by President ARAKI KEIJI on March, 5th. Vice President Song extended warm welcome to the delegation. He said that, this year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of the diplomatic relations between China and Japan. The bilateral ties face some important opportunities to further improve. CPAFFC and CJFA would like to work together with JNMA to push forward the local exchange cooperation of the two countries by way of keeping close cooperation，enriching the connotation of the exchanges and enhancing the levels of the exchanges. President ARAKI KEIJI said that there are a total number of 814 members with city-level and district-level in JNMA. Over 270 cities and districts among the members have established friendship-city relations with China. The active development of the local exchanges of the two countries is inseparable from the attention and support of the leaders of CPAFFC and CJFA. In the future, JNMA will work together with the Chinese side to further improve the local exchanges and cooperation of the two countries and made contributions to the continuous improvement and development of the Sino-Japanese relations. At the invitation of CPAFFC, the delegation will visit Beijing, Guilin, Wuxi, Shanghai and etc. from 5 to 10 March, 2017. During the visit, the delegation will inspect the current situation of the economic and social development of the different cities in China and exchange their views with the leaders of relevant organizations on topics common concern. 

At the invitation of Association of Communes of Romania (A.Co.R.), Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities of Serbia (SCTM) and Association of Municipalities in Croatia (UORH), Vice President Xie Yuan led a CIFCA delegation to visit Romania, Serbia and Croatia from February 19th to 28th. During the visit to these three countries, CIFCA has reached broad consensuses with the above mentioned organizations concerning cooperation in China and CEEC 16+1 mechanism and “One Belt and One Road” initiatives. During the stay in Romania, the delegation attended the 20th ordinary session of A.Co.R. General Assembly and Vice President Xie addressed the opening ceremony. There are over 650 mayors from Romania participating in the meeting. Liviu Dragnea, President of Romanian Chamber of Deputies, Sorin Grindeanu, Prime Minister of Romania, and several government ministers attended the meeting and delivered speeches. During the meeting, the delegation met with Mr. Emil Draghici, President of A.Co.R., and discussed about the two sides’ further cooperation. During the stay in Serbia, the delegation had a meeting with SCTM and exchanged thoughts on developing China-Serbia local cooperation under the“One Belt and One Road” initiatives. Vice President Xie also met with Mr. Nikola Nikodijevic, President of Belgrade City Assembly. Xie introduced the basic function of CPAFFC & CIFCA and the development of Chinese friendship cities to President Nikodijevic, while Nikodijevic briefed the delegation on the development of Belgrade and the friendly exchanges between Belgrade and its friendship city Beijing. The delegation also paid a visit to Smederevo City Council and met with the Mayor Jasna Avramovic.  During the stay in Croatia, the delegation had a meeting with UORH on promoting exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Croatian local authorities. Vice President Xie also met with Mr. Miro Laco, Principal of Zagreb Mayor Office. Xie introduced the basic function of CPAFFC & CIFCA and said that CIFCA would always support and help more Croatian cities to develop friendly relations with their Chinese counterparts. Laco briefed the delegation on the development of Zagreb and the friendly exchanges between Zagreb and its friendship city Shanghai. The delegation also met with Mr. Jasmin Devlic, Head of the Department of Bilateral Economic Relations of Croatian Foreign Affairs Ministry. The delegation also invited these organizations and local governments to dispatch delegations to attend the 2018 China International Friendship Cities Conference next year.  Vice President Xie Yuan meeting with A.Co.R. President Draghici  Vice President Xie and the Romanian Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu at the meeting Vice President Xie Yuan addressing the 20th ordinary session of A.Co.R. General Assembly  The 20th ordinary session of A.Co.R. General Assembly  The delegation meeting with Mr. Nikola Nikodijevic, President of Belgrade City Assembly The delegation meeting with SCTM The delegation meeting with Ms. Jasna Avramovic, Mayor of Smederevo City  The delegation meeting with UORH The delegation meeting with Mr. Miro Laco, Principal of Zagreb Mayor Office The delegation meeting with Mr. Jasmin Devlic, Head of the Department of Bilateral Economic Relations of Croatian Foreign Affairs Ministry

The reception for welcoming the Tokyo Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians delegation was held in the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries ( CPAFFC) on December 19th. CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu attended and delivered a speech. More than 50 people including Mr. Gao Shuangjin，Vice President of Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (BPAFFC), and leaders from foreign affairs offices of other related regions in Beijing, attended the meeting. CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu said, the exchange of local governments and friendly cities is an important component of the Sino-Japan relations. The both sides have been taking the friendly cities as a platform to develop colorful exchange activities and cooperation for a long time. It plays an important role in promoting the economic and social development of the two countries and deepening the friendship of the two countries. The current Sino-Japan relation is improved, but it is still sensitive and complicated. The bilateral ties are in a crucial period of sailing against the current: either you keep going ahead or you keep falling behind. As capitals and international metropolises, Beijing and Tokyo have a broad space to cooperate in fields of Olympic Games, urban construction, environmental protection, economy, trade, resident and youth. Next year will mark the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between China and Japan. The China-Japan relations are facing important challenges to be further improved. He hoped that the both sides could take these opportunities to develop friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation of the two countries and make contributions to improve the bilateral relations in the local and the people-to-people sectors. Tokyo Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians’ union President Tomotoshi Haruhisa said in his speech that it is the first time for Tokyo to dispatch all-party parliamentarians delegation to visit China. Through paying an official call upon the relevant Chinese organizations, especially after holding the wonderful exchange meeting, the delegation felt a kind of sincere willingness that the two cities were eager to keep close contact and deepen cooperation. The Japanese side is willing to coordinate with the Chinese side to jointly develop relevant activities to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties of the two countries，further unite personages with the friendly consensus on China from all walks of life in Tokyo as well as cultivate the successors for the cause of Sino-Japanese friendship. Before the reception, CPAFFC, BPAFFC and leaders from foreign affairs offices of other related regions in Beijing held an exchange meeting with the delegation. The both sides respectively introduced their own relevant experience achieved in the cause of developing the friendly exchanges between the cities and districts in Beijing and in Tokyo. The representatives  expressed that the two countries should take the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties of the two countries as an opportunity to deepen the friendly exchange cooperation so as to make efforts on improving the bilateral relations. During in Beijing, the delegation also visited Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, All-China Youth Federation and other institutions as well as Olympic Games’ facilities. The delegation was at the invitation of CPAFFC to visit China.

The Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation, or simply The Guangzhou Award, was held from December 4th to 8th in Guangzhou. Mr. Ma Peihua, the vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Mr. Song Jingwu, the vice president of CPAFFC attended the plenary and delivered speeches respectively.  In this cycle of Guangzhou Award, five cities honored for innovative development.

Mr. Yang Jiechi, State Councillor of China and Mrs. Karen Ellemann Kloch, Minister for Gender Equality and Nordic Cooperation, attended the first China Denmark Regions and Cities Forum in Beijing and delivered speeches respectively on December 5th. The forum was jointly organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Royal Danish Embassy in China. Yang Jiechi pointed out that under the guidance of the Five Major Development Concepts of Innovation, Coordination, Green, Openness and Sharing, initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping，China is moving towards the goal of establishing a well-off society in an all-round way. It is the right time to strengthen the experience sharing and pragmatic cooperation between the Chinese and Danish regions and cities. Both sides should have in-depth exchanges  in development strategies and discussion in new fields of pragmatic cooperation in order the better to serve the development of the both countries and benefit to the two peoples. Karen Ellemann Kloch said, the Danish side pays high attention to the relationship with China. She hoped that the forum would become the platform  of continuously deepening  cooperation, sharing knowledge, technology and solutions for the two countries, which could promote the development of the Chinese and Danish regions and cities. Editor: Yang Yijun Reproduced: Xinhua News Agency

On December 5, CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi met with the delegation led by Hon. Ace Magashule, Premier of Free State Province, South Africa. Mme. Lin Yi welcomed the delegation and introduced the CPAFFC’s exchanges with South Africa at local government level. She said that recent years have witnessed strong momentum in China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as tangible results in friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. The CPAFFC is willing to make more contributions to China-South Africa local government exchanges for win-win cooperation and common development.  Hon. Ace Magashule said that Free State has been in close contact with a number of Chinese localities, enterprises and universities. He is ready to work with the CPAFFC to enhance cooperation in local government, youth and culture so as to consolidate people-to-people friendship.

CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi led a CPAFFC delegation to attend the 5th National Conference of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in Johannesburg, South Africa from November 27 to December 1, 2016. Hon. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President of South Africa, Hon. Mr. Des Van Rooyen, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Mr. David Makhura, Premier of Gauteng Province, Cllr. Parks Tau, Chairperson of SALGA and President of the United Cities and Local Government (UCLG) and around 1000 participants attended the conference. 　　 Mme. Lin Yi addressed the opening ceremony, congratulating SALGA’s 20th anniversary, as well as Tau’s being elected President of UCLG. She said that the CPAFFC has been long engaged in promoting China-Africa local government exchanges and expects further cooperation with SALGA to jointly facilitate experience sharing, practical cooperation and common development between Chinese and South African local governments, so that more and more people can directly benefit from the achievement of China-South Africa cooperation.  During the conference, Mme. Lin Yi also met with with Hon. Des Van Rooyen and Cllr. Parks Tau and discussed with them on deepening pragmatic cooperation between Chinese and South African friendship cities and promoting bilateral local government and cultural exchanges.

On November 14, CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi met with the the delegation of Kenyan Council of Governors (COG). The delegation consists of the COG Chairman and Governor of Meru County H.E. Mr. Peter Munya, as well as Governors of Turkana County, Kisumu County, Trans-Nzoia County and Makueni County. Mme. Lin Yi welcomed the delegation and reviewed the CPAFFC’s people-to-people friendly exchanges with Kenya in recent years. She introduced the local government exchanges with Kenya and Africa, and said that the CPAFFC is willing to cooperate with the COG so as to further contribute to China-Kenya local government cooperation. The COG Chairman Munya said that the COG is ready to maintain friendly cooperation with the CPAFFC and further promote local government exchanges to benefit the two peoples. He also invited Mme. Lin Yi to attend the Annual Devolution Conference in Kenya in early 2017. 

On November 2, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Department for Communities and Local Government of the UK co-hosted the Second UK-China Regional Leaders Summit in Shanghai. President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC, Sir John Peace, the Chair of Midlands Engine and Vice Mayor Chen Yin of Shanghai delivered the opening speeches. Vice President Song Jingwu of CPAFFC, Consul-General Shanghai Mr John Edwards, President Zhang Xiaosong of Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and around 200 local government representatives from East China and Midlands Engine of the UK, together with entrepreneurs and scholars from both sides attended the summit. The Party Secretary of Shanghai Mr Han Zheng met the main guests before the summit. President Li Xiaolin points out that local cooperation is an important basis for the development of state relations, and the relationship between friendship cities is an important carrier of local cooperation. It is expected that local governments and entrepreneurs of both sides can seek local cooperation that works best for their regional development, and to make sure the project can follow up the practical outcomes of the existing cooperation and attract more regions to come. She hopes the summit would become a brand for regional cooperation between the two countries. Sir John Peace introduces the basic information of the Midlands Engine. The Midlands Engine is home to 11 million citizens, 25 world first-class universities and advanced manufacturing such as aviation and engine. The Midlands Engine is the long-term strategy of the current government, aiming to boost regional economy. Through the cooperation with East China, the project would like to share experience and explore the potential of economic growth. The project will bring benefits to the two peoples in the golden era between China and the UK.  Vice Mayor Chen Yin says today's Shanghai needs intellectual innovation, international vision and world wisdom more than ever, and those will boost further development. The UK is the world's major research and  innovation base, from which Shanghai can learn a lot. The regional leaders, scholars and entrepreneurs from the two countries exchanged in-depth views on Creative Industries and Sport and The Future of Advanced Manufacturing, with the aim to promote practical regional cooperation. The summit has witnessed the signing of Agreement on Establishment of Friendship Relations between Changzhou City and Solihull Metropolitan Borough, MOU between Ningbo TV and Nottingham City, MOU between Ningbo Lishe Airport and East Midland Airport and MOU between Shaoxing Yuanhenghulian Internet Technology Co. Ltd. and Red Step Marketing. Vice President Song Jingwu accepted the interview of Xinhua News Agency. The UK-China Regional Leaders Summit is the first local government exchange mechanism established in the framework of China-UK High-Level People-to-People Dialogue. This year marks the beginning of the "golden era" of relations between China and the UK. This March London and Sheffield held the first UK-China Regional Leaders Summit. The second summit held in the same year will further implement the consensus of the two countries’ state leaders, and help lift the “global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century”between the two countries to a higher level.  

Vice President Xie Yuan of CPAFFC met with Richard Daley, former mayor of Chicago, on October 24. Vice President Xie Yuan greeted Mayor Daley with warm welcome, referred him an old friend of the Chinese people and commended his long-time contribution to the development of China-U.S. relations at all levels. Since the beginning of this year, national and sub-national leaders of the two countries have paid frequent visits to each other. Sub-national cooperation in particular has been the cornerstone of China-U.S. relations. He also hoped Mayor Daley pays more visits to China, making new contributions to China-U.S. sub-national exchanges and cooperation. Mayor Daley attaches great importance to the U.S.-China relationship. He said that China is a huge market for the U.S., and practical cooperation at sub-national level will add continuous momentum to the development of U.S.-China relations.