On 10 Mar, Vice President Song Jingwu of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) attended the coordination meeting for the China-UK Regional Leaders Exchange Programme (Programme) and delivered a speech. Colleagues from the Foreign Affairs Office, the Foreign and Overseas Affairs Office, People’s Friendship Association from Jiangxi Province, Chongqing Municipality, Hubei Province, Hunan Province, Wuhan Municipality, and Chengdu Municipality also joined the meeting. Vice President Song introduced various local government cooperation platforms established by the CPAFFC with foreign countries’ counterparts, and highlighted the significance of the inaugural Programme for the local government cooperation.   Deputy Director General of the European and Asian Department Zhang Ruoning elaborated on the detailed schedule and logistic arrangement of the Programme, and answered questions from the audience. Deputy Director General of the European and Asian Department Shen Xin attended the meeting.

 At the invitation of Association of Communes of Romania (A.Co.R.), Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM) and Hungarian National Association of Local Authorities (TOOSZ), Vice President Xie Yuan led a CIFCA delegation to visit Romania, Moldova and Hungary from February 21st 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 19th ordinary session of A.Co.R. General Assembly and Vice President Xie addressed the opening ceremony. There are 487 mayors from Romania and 40 mayors from Moldova participating in the meeting. Dacian Ciolos, Prime Minister of Romania, attended the meeting and delivered a keynote speech. During the meeting, Vice President Xie met with Mr. Emil Draghici, President of A.Co.R. and Ms. Tatiana Badan, President of CALM. During the stay in Moldova, the delegation had a meeting with CALM on promoting exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Moldavian local authorities. During the stay in Hungary, the delegation had a meeting with TOOSZ and exchanged thoughts on developing China-Hungary local cooperation under the“One Belt and One Road” initiatives. Vice President Xie also met with Mr. Peter Szegvari, chief councilor of Mayor of Budapest. Szegvari briefed the delegation on the development of Budapest and the friendly exchanges between Budapest and its friendship cities Beijing and Shanghai. The delegation also invited these organizations to dispatch delegations to attend the 2016 China International Friendship Cities Conference held later this year.   Vice President Xie Yuan addressing the 19th ordinary session of A.Co.R. General Assembly     Vice President Xie and the Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos at the meeting   The delegation meeting with A.Co.R   The delegation meeting with CALM   The delegation meeting with TOOSZ    Vice President Xie Yuan meeting with Mr. Peter Szegvari, chief councilor of Mayor of Budapest

With the aim of strengthening China-U.S. sub-national exchanges and cooperation, the Accord on the Establishment of China-U.S. Sub-national Legislature Exchange Mechanism was signed by Vice President Xie Yuan of CPAFFC, President Stephen Lakis of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF) and Al Carlson, Chair of  SLLF on December 5th in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.. The newly established mechanism was on the list of achievements of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the U.S. in September. Its purpose was to construct a platform for sub-national legislatures from both countries to discuss issues of common concern, enhance friendship and mutual trust, and strengthen practical cooperation. Representatives from Chinese Foreign Ministry, Embassy in DC, and Consulate General in Houston, as well as 24 legislative leaders from 21 U.S. states witnessed the signing ceremony. In his remarks, Vice President Xie said, the mechanism was established to promote practical cooperation between the two sides in areas such as legislation, economic development, energy, environmental protection, tourism, education and culture, improving the livelihood and welfare of local people. He also hoped U.S. state legislative leaders actively participate in various activities under the mechanism, especially the First China-U.S. Sub-national Legislature Cooperation Forum to be held next year. Counselor Xu Min from the Chinese Embassy expressed her appreciation to the contribution SLLF has made in recent years to sub-national exchanges between the two countries. She said the mechanism would help fill one of the important gaps in China-U.S. exchanges. Through this mechanism, both sides could increase mutual understanding, learn from each other and better serve their own people. Deputy Consul General Zhao Yumin from the Chinese Consulate General in Houston said, sub-national legislative leaders of both countries had been playing an important role in local political spectrum. The establishment of the mechanism would facilitate face-to-face interaction and practical cooperation, promoting common development and common prosperity of U.S. states and Chinese provinces. SLLF President Stephen Lakis said, U.S. and China were faced with common challenges in public policy, under which circumstances, sub-national government should learn from each other, promoting cultural, trade and economic exchanges. He also sincerely hoped that through this platform, sub-national legislatures from both countries could deepen their friendship and mutual trust, increasing opportunities of cooperation in education, environmental protection, infrastructure construction and legislation. Both sides have agreed to co-sponsor the First China-U.S. Sub-national Legislature Cooperation Forum in 2016. 2016 is the China-U.S. Year of Tourism. The theme of the forum will be tourism cooperation, providing a platform for China-U.S. sub-national exchanges and cooperation in tourism-related areas.

On December 2, 2015, at the invitation of United Cities and Local Government Africa (UCLGA), CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi led a delegation to attend the 3rd China-Africa Mayors Dialogue and Special Lunch with Chinese Elected Representatives for the 7th Africities Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Around forty Chinese participants, including Mr. Tian Shujun, Vice Chairman of CPPCC Dalian Municipal Committee, Mr. Lu Zuoquan, Vice President of Nanchang People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr. Lu Zhengda, Deputy Mayor of Jingdezhen, Mr. Liang Xianting, Deputy Mayor of Zaozhuang and Mr. Chen Hongning, Deputy Mayor of Liuzhou, attended the dialogue. There were over forty African participants attending the dialogue, including Mr. Khalifa Sall, UCLGA President and Mayor of Dakar, Mr. Parks Tau, Mayor of Johannesburg, the host city of 7th Africities Summit, Mr. Thabo Manyoni, President of South African Local Government Association and Mayor of Bloemfontein, Ms. Jacqueline Belle, Mayor of Victoria, Mr. Mohamed Saddiki, Mayor of Rabat and Mr. Moubacar Bah, Mayor of Bamako, as well as local government representatives from Benin, Congo, Cameroon, Guinea, Mozambique and Uganda. During the visit to South Africa, the delegation also met with Hon. Marius Fransman, Honorary President of South Africa-China People’s Friendship Association (SACPFA) and Chairman of African National Conference in Western Cape Province, Mr. Cao Xingzhi, Executive President of SACPFA, and held talks with City Mayoral Committee of Cape Town.

On Nov.24th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, U.S.. VP Xie expressed warm welcome to Governor Hutchinson’s visit to China and introduced the present condition of sub-national cooperation and people-people exchanges between China and U.S.. He hoped that through this visit, the cooperation between Arkansas and China in the fields of agriculture, trade and other fields could be further developed and enhanced. Governor Hutchinson thanked CPAFFC for inviting and hosting the delegation’s visit to China. He regarded this visit as a fruitful one, for his state deepened the practical cooperation with Shandong, Henan and Guangdong provinces in agriculture, trade,economy and investment. He is willing to continue working with CPAFFC and participate in more sub-national exchange programs so as to push forward U.S.-China sub-national relations.

Co-hosted by CPAFFC and the Regional Cooperation Committee of Foreign Ministry of France, the Enlarged Meeting of China-France Regional Cooperation Steering Committee was held in Nantes of France on November 23. Local representatives present at the meeting were from the Pays de la Loire Region of France, the Rhone-Alpes Region of France, the French Cities union and the French Regions Association, and from the Chinese Sichuan Province, Jilin Province and Changchun City. Vice President of CPAFFC Mme. Lin Yi, President of the Pays de la Loire Region Mr. Jacques Auxiette, and Vice President of the Rhone-Alpes Region gave keynote speeches respectively.Ideas were exchanged at the meeting regarding the cooperation in fields of environmental and local sustainable development, art of living, cuisine, agriculture, medical care and vocational training. Parties from China and France also held profound discussions about the preparation of the 5th China-France High Level Forum of Local Government Cooperation.

  At the invitation of CIFCA, Mr. Christoph Hoeppel, Head of Staff, Office of Walter Scheel, Presidency Office of Germany visited Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing and Chengde from November 7th to 15th. During his visit, he met with delegates respectively who were invited to attend the 1st China-Germany Cultural Forum held last year. He wanted to know their follow-ups and discuss the possibilities of holding the next Forum with CIFCA. The 1st China-Germany Cultural Forum was held in Berlin last September. It is held to promote exchanges and cooperation in fields of culture and beyond between our two countries. The next Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing the next year.

Co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Undersecretary for International and Economic Relations of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies (PACS), the seminar of Chinese and Philippine local government leaders was held in Manila from November 13 to 14, 2015.  The theme of the seminar is “Sustainable Communities: Developing Dialogues for Local Governance”. Madame Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Zhan Wangmin, Vice Mayor of Huanggang in Hubei Province, Ms. Liu Ruiying, Mayor of Dexing in Jiangxi Province, Mr. Ding Feng, Vice Mayor of Jinjiang of Fujian Province, Mr. Wu Dongsheng, Vice Mayor of Tianhe District of Guangzhou attended the seminar together with around 50 delegates from DFA, social organizations, and eight Philippine cities including Tarlac, Quezon, Coron, etc.   Madame Lin Yi Delivering a Speech Vice President Lin Yi said in her opening remarks that city diplomacy is gaining special momentum in today’s world, constituting an important part of relations among countries.  This seminar is the first national-level bilateral activities on Chinese and ASEAN local governments, which will set up a good example and create favorable atmosphere for the coming APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Manila.   Mr. Kalaw Delivering a Speech Mr. Antonio D. Kalaw, Jr., CESO I, President of DAP said that during the process of urbanization, cities are facing common challenges in economic growth, environmental protection and social demand. The solutions should go beyond national election and budget, attaining the goal of being comprehensive and sustainable. This seminar provides a people-to-people channel for exchanges between local government leaders and will promote mutual learning and the reaching of relevant consensus.  At the same time, the seminar will also attract the attention of APEC meetings this year and next year.   Madame Laura Rosario Delivering a Speech Madame Laura Q. Del Rosario, Undersecretary of DFA invited both delegates from China and the Philippines attended her welcoming dinner for the China-ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting.  In her speech, she welcomed the delegates from CPAFFC and Chinese local governments, saying the seminar will further enhance cooperation in various fields between local governments in the two countries. During the seminar, Chinese and Philippine delegates gave introduction on the features and industrial advantages of respective cities. They also exchanges ideas on issues of mutual concern.

  Vice President Xie Yuan met with Mme. Muriel Boeser, Mayor of Washington D.C. on November 10th, 2015. Vice President Xie Yuan extended warm welcome to the delegation and said that the Mayor’s visit is at the important junction of China-US relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the U.S. in September and reached a series of consensus with U.S. President Obama. His visit will not only promote our bilateral relations but also facilitate local cooperation and exchanges. CPAFFC is committed to pushing forward sub-national cooperation between our two countries and has hosted 10 U.S.Governors this year alone. CPAFFC coordinates and oversees the work of establishing and developing friendship-city relations between China and other countries. Up to now,245 pairs of sister state/province and sister cities have been established between China and the U.S..Washington D.C. and Beijing are sister cites, and they are good example for sister cities between China and the U.S..We hoped that the friendly relationship between the two cites will keep growing in the future. Mayor Boeser thanked the CPAFFC for hosting the Washington D.C. delegation. She said that China and the U.S. should work hand in hand to promote common development and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas of commerce, trade, education and so on. She hoped that she could visit China more often.

The Second Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation (CALGC Forum), hosted by the CPAFFC and the Chinese-African People’s Friendship Association (CAPFA), was held in Beijing on November 10, 2015. Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Yang said that local cooperation plays a crucial role in the development of relations between states. In recent years, exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa has been booming. In particular, a series of exchanges have been carried out since the First CALGC Forum, which promotes the pragmatic cooperation and economic exchanges between Chinese and African local governments, adds new connotations to China-Africa relations and plays an active role in the development of this relationship. China encourages the establishment of more friendship-city relationship with Africa, so as to share experiences of development, strengthen the cooperation in infrastructure, trade, investment, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges, and achieve inclusive development for Chinese and African localities. Yang pointed out that during the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, China’s 13th Five-Year Plan with the development concept of “ innovation, coordination, green development, opening up and sharing” was made public. Africa is currently committed to implementing the first Ten Year Plan of the Agenda 2063 which prioritized industrialization and sustainable development, providing new opportunities for China-Africa cooperation. Given their respective strengths, China and Africa share mutual opportunities and need each other for cooperation and development. CAPFA President Abdul’ahat Abdurixit, CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin and Saviour Kasukuwere, Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development of Zimbabwe, the current AU rotating presidency holder, attended the opening ceremony. The CALGC Forum was initiated in August, 2012. Within the framework of the FOCAC and as its sub-forum in the aspect of local government, the Forum is aimed at promoting pragmatic cooperation between Chinese and African local governments. The theme of the second forum is “Enhancing Local Capacity Building, Promoting China-Africa Industrial Cooperation, and Achieving Inclusive Development for Provinces and Cities”. Local government officials, entrepreneurs and scholars from 26 African countries and 24 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities attended the Forum.