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The Chinese Dream, for Happiness and Peace
Speech by Madame Li Xiaolin, President of the CPAFFC, At Yonsei University, Seoul ( 24 July, 2013 ) Respected President of Yonsei University Mr. Jeong Kap-Young, Respected President of Korea-China Friendship Association Mr. Pak San Koo, Dear Professors and Students of Yonsei University, It’s a great pleasure for me today to share with you the idea of the Chinese dream. I had many dreams before, but I have never dreamed of having such an honor to make a speech at Yonsei University, the highest institute of learning in the Republic of Korea. I would like to extend my gratitude to President Jeong Kap-Young, President Pak Sam Koo and the Board of Yonsei University for inviting me and giving me such a joy and favor. To my knowledge, Yonsei University, founded in 1885, is the university with the longest history in Korea. As a Chinese saying goes: “It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred to cultivate people.” The cultivation of talents really takes a longer and more arduous road. It’s precisely owing to its over a hundred years of tradition and its unchanged spirit of upholding “truth and freedom”, that Yonsei University has cultivated so many outstanding personnel for Korea as well as for humankind.  Education is the foundation for the progress of a nation. Just because it has such outstanding schools as Yonsei University, the Republic of Korea has achieved its development today.  I heard that the students of Yonsei University are well known for their active thinking. As soon as I entered its campus, I could feel a spirit of youth everywhere, which forms a sharp contrast with its time-honored buildings. I am amazed by such a perfect combination of tradition and modern trends. Whether in the past or at present, to many people, university is the cradle of dreams, a place where dreams start. Just like the young people in your country, the Chinese young people also cherish the dream of studying at a famous university.  I heard that many parents in Korea burn incense and pray for their children when they take university entrance exams.  It’s the same in China. Famous universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University are the most desired aims for a great many young students in China. To this end, Chinese parents have to make meticulous plans for their children’s future from the time when they enter primary schools or even kindergartens.  After entering university, the next dream of the Chinese students is mostly to get a satisfactory job after graduation. In China, such a job has different standards in different historical periods. In the early days of new China, an ideal job was to become a worker, a soldier or a public servant, because it could provide a basic guarantee for the living of a family. However, since China introduced the policy of reform and opening up, market economy has developed, and the income from jobs in enterprises or financial trades became higher. So many people gave up the jobs provided by the state and went in for business and trade. As at that time people were still quite unfamiliar with those jobs, we called such adventures as “plunging into the sea”. Now, with the rapid development of Chinese economy, the choice for jobs for the Chinese has become more diversified. I heard that many Korean girl students want to marry doctors, lawyers or court judges in the future; I would like to ask the boy students present here: do you also hope to marry a girl at this university or EWHA University across the road? Just like you, the Chinese young people also dream of having a good job, a happy family and living a happy life. And this is just the simple Chinese dream of the Chinese people. When I was young, I wanted to become a doctor. My father, who was President of China, said to me: “ Doctors have to face patients with painful expressions everyday. I hope you will work for people-to-people diplomacy to make friends from all countries.  Then your life will be filled with sunshine everyday.” I accepted my father’s advice and entered the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) after my graduation from Wuhan University. The CPAFFC is the largest national organization engaged in people-to-people diplomacy since new China was founded. The purposes of the Association are Friendship, Cooperation, Peace and Development, which, I believe, are also the common aspirations of the people of the world. Therefore, our work enjoys extensive support from the people of various countries. Up to now, the Association has established relations of friendship and cooperation with over 500 NGOs in more than 150 countries in the world. By conducting friendly exchanges, we have made contributions in promoting the mutual understanding and friendship between states as well as peoples. I have worked with the Association for 38 years, and I made friends from various countries from state leaders to ordinary people. Just as my father predicted, this job has filled my life with sunshine everyday. To me, it’s not only a job; actually, to help Chinese people know the world and the world understand China has become a cause, a mission, and a part of my life.  Thanks to this job, I have visited over 70 countries in the world and found that people in every country share the same basic dream, that is, to live a happy life. Now, the Chinese people are all talking about the Chinese dream. Whether rich or poor, healthy or sick, in cities or rural areas, every person has the right to seek his (or her) own dream. To have a dream is to have a hope. To my understanding, the Chinese dream means to realize a strong and prosperous country, the rejuvenation of the nation and the well-being of the people.  The Chinese Government pays great attention to overall development in the fields of economy, politics, social, cultural and ecological civilization.  Although China’s GDP in 2012 reached 7.5 trillion US dollars, the annual average income was only 5000 US dollars per capita, ranked after 80th in the world.  At the national level, the Chinese dream sets the goal to double by 2020, reaching 15 trillion US dollars, with average income of 10,000 US dollars per capita.  Recent statistics show the average income of 20,000 US dollars for Koreans, higher than those for Chinese. Needless to say, China has a long way to go.  China can’t reach the goal or realize the Chinese dream without the support of the world.  In fact, we have close cooperation with our Korean counterparts in this regard. Since 2009 when our Association and the Korea Foundation jointly initiated the youth exchange program, more than 2,000 outstanding young people visited each other’s country in the past four years. Seeing is believing. For these young people, their personal experience of the true China and the true Korea will be a great treasure in their life. I hereby warmly invite students present here to visit China and be guests of our Association. In our work, we give priority to the disadvantaged group of youth as they are also entitled to realize dreams and in a greater need for fair competition. I still remember my last visit to Korea in 2009, when I led a group of orphans who lost their parents and relatives in the devastating earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan province in 2008. The then Korean President Lee Myung Bak held a warm and heart-moving party at the Blue House, serving Korean cookies and encouraging the orphans to live on healthy and sound. In 2010, we in return invited Korean orphans to visit Zhongnanhai and all had a good time together with the then Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Such encouragement and support from abroad deeply rooted in the orphans’ hearts and became spiritual power inspiring them to realize dreams. With the help of Mr. Pak Sam Koo who also graduated from Yonsei University, we set up the “Future Belongs to Children” Foundation last year, providing assistance to children mentally retarded but gifted for arts. We brought their works here today so that more people can appreciate their artistic talent. We also set up “Harmony Foundation” with CJ Corporation, helping children of Chinese migrant workers to cultivate their artistic talent. During my current visit to Korea, together with Mr. Chang Wonkie,President & CEO of Greater China Samsung Group, also a graduate from Yonsei University, we will jointly establish the R.O.K-China Entrepreneurship foundation for University Students, which will support the two countries’ young people to realize their dreams by starting their own business. We also give support to the young people in other parts of the world. For example, we sent stationeries to children in Africa and conducted free operations for cataract patients in underdeveloped countries. In DPRK, a young girl saw the light for the first time in her life after a cataract operation, and the first person she saw was a Chinese doctor; and that day was just her 18th birthday. Dear students, all men and women have the desire and right to realize their dreams. What we shall do is to extend our hands and give our love to those in need.  Although our strength is limited, we hope this kind of cross-border activities would make more people understand gratefulness, mutual assistance and friendship in realizing dreams. And I believe such activities will bring the hearts of all peoples closer The Chinese people are happy today, because they not only have dreams, but also the conditions to realize their dreams. Many things which we even did not dare to dream of in the past have now come true. The Chinese people are fully aware that only when China is developed will their own dreams be realized.  The Chinese people also gradually understand that they share the same dream of seeking happiness with the people in the rest of the world, and that only when the world achieves common development, will the Chinese dream come true. Last month Korean President Park Geun-hye visited China. In her speech at Tsinghua University, she mentioned that the Korean dream and the Chinese dream are connected. And she said: “ Just like the rivers in Korea and China flow into the same sea, the Korean and the Chinese dreams are combined as a whole. At present, the China-ROK relationship is at its best period of development in history; and it’s the time that has closely linked our dreams together. We both have a dream of happiness, as people who experienced poverty and backwardness desire to live a happy life more eagerly; we both have a dream of reunification, as people suffering from the split of a nation desire reunification more ardently; we both have a dream of peace, as people who experienced the pains of war desire world peace more earnestly. The dream of peace is also the dream of the world.  American scholar Samuel Huntington put forward the idea of “Clash of Civilizations” in the 1990s; while China advocated the concept of “harmonious world” in the 21st century.  The current situation tells us that harmonious world is still only an ideal, while clash of civilizations is a bare fact. But we Chinese have the opinion that there is always a gap between dream and reality; and it’s just by constantly surpassing the reality for ideal goals that humankind has gained the driving force for progress. To transcend civilization differences and join hands to work together is the only choice for us to realize our dreams. The Chinese dream is also the dream of the world. Let us work together for our common dream. Thank you!
2013-07-24
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NZCFS Vice President David Bromwich‘s Speech on Signing Ceremony of RAFE Fund
Respected Mme. Li Xiaolin, Respected Mr. Li Jianping, Distinguished guests from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and New Zealand Embassy, Today I am very honored to represent NZCFS on this occasion to sign the MoU with China Oceania Friendship Association. This year,NZCFS celebrates 60 years of Friendship with China. In all this time, our relationship with CPAFFC has been of the greatest significance. From inception in 1952, the first twenty years of our existence, NZCFS played a very important role as a key link between NZ and China, and in 1972 one important objective was achieved with the formal  establishment of diplomatic relations, NZ being  one of the first Western Countries to recognise China. So this year we also celebrate 40 years of NZ-China relations. The foundation for all this recent history can be largely accredited to Rewi Alley. In the last 40 years, our activity has focused on promoting friendship through relationships throughout China, and in promoting understanding of China to New Zealanders through tours and delegations, and through activity in New Zealand to increase awareness of a what China is really about. In all this, Youxie has been an important partner. Now, after 60 years, we are at a crossroads. As a voluntary NGO, we do our best to reach our objectives. But we are in a new era, where relationships  with China are increasingly being developed by a broad range of players. NZCFS accept the need to regenerate,  encourage a new membership, and seek new ways to define our function in this changing era.  We can celebrate this new era with new players, but we in NZCFS feel that we retain a depth of  experience established through strong foundations that give us a unique role to play in the New Zealand-China relationship. So it is in 2012 that we deeply appreciate the opportunity that has been provided to us by the generous Rewi Alley Friendship and Exchange Fund offered to us by COFA.  This fund has criteria agreed upon that allow us to expand our current activity in broad areas that can meet the challenge to regenerate and provide a starting point for an important role for the next 60 year. The criteria cover commemoration of the legacy of Rewi Alley. It also encourages exchanges to promote friendship,  culture and the arts, education and youth. In our first round of the fund, we propose four projects that I believe fit readily into these categories.  I am proud of the proposals that have come forward from our branches and subcommittees, and believe that they respond with integrity to the  intent of the RAFE Fund. As a representative of NZCFS, I can say that we are committed to implementing these projects with great responsibility. I believe that this is the beginning of our re-generation period that will maintain an important role for NZCFS’ in the future. In particular, I feel certain that we can attract a younger membership with the exciting opportunities available through  these projects and through future proposals. The applications for the funds have been oversubscribed, but I am pleased to report that NZCFS will provide some supporting funds to allow all the proposals to happen. I am also pleased to report that there is already matching funds offered to NZCFS through a Chinese businessman in Auckland, who has a focus on culture and the arts. This is a significant development that would not have been achieved if it were not for the MoU we are signing today.  I am very pleased to sign the MoU today with Madam Li, and once again extend our very grateful thanks for the recognition this Fund extends to NZCFS, for the generosity of the fund, and for the opportunity the fund provides for NZCFS to move forward into the next 60 years.
2012-09-21
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Mr. Li Jianping’s Speech on the Welcoming Banquet for New Zealand-China Friendship Society Delegation and Signing of MOU of Rewi Alley Friendship and Exchange Fund
Sept. 21st, 2012 Honorable Vice President Mr. David Bromwich, Colleagues from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and New Zealand Embassy in China, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends, This year is the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and New Zealand, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of New Zealand - China Friendship Society, the 115th anniversary of Rewi Alley’s birthday, the 85th anniversary of his coming to China and the 25th anniversary of his passing away. It is the time with significance for New Zealand-China Friendship Society Delegation to visit the former residence where the old friend of Chinese people and respectful internationalist fighter Rewi Alley had lived and worked hard and commemorate him. Today, we have signed the “Memorandum of Understanding between China Oceania Friendship Association, New Zealand China Friendship Society Incorporated and China Friendship Foundation for Peace & Development for the Establishment of Rewi Alley Friendship and Exchange Fund”, which represents that new contents have been added to our cooperation. New Zealand had set up a model for western countries in developing ties with China, including first ending bilateral negotiation with China on her entry to World Trade Organization, first acknowledging China’s full market economy status and first completing the bilateral free trade agreement negotiation. Under the joint efforts of our two governments and peoples, the bilateral relationship between China and New Zealand will become a good example for seeking common ground while reserving differences, coexisting peacefully and benefiting mutually among state-to-state relationships. Friends may notice that the establishment of New Zealand-China Friendship Society is 20 years earlier than that of diplomatic relations. During the 20 years, people of all circles had devoted themselves on developing friendship between our two countries and created a favorable diplomatic environment among people for formal diplomatic relationship. Quite a few New Zealanders coming forth during that time deserve our praise. The most outstanding one is Rewi Alley, friendship bridge builder and envoy of friendship between Chinese people and people in the world at large. What he had done were not limited to devoting to Chinese revolution and construction but also extended to promoting friendship between China and New Zealand. His hometown Christchurch and second hometown Gansu Province of China had become the first pair of sister city. Bailie School and Gong-ho (Industrial Cooperatives) which he created had always been a focus to the New Zealand government and people. The support to both had been greatly regarded as a crucial action in enhancing friendship between China and New Zealand peoples. Today, to inherit and develop Rewi Alley’s spirit as well as his career, we get together and sign "A Memorandum of Understanding between China Oceania Friendship Association, New Zealand China Friendship Society Incorporated and China Friendship Foundation for Peace & Development for the Establishment of Rewi Alley Friendship and Exchange Fund". This is truly something we should celebrate. Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends, As the Mid Autumn Day is approaching, while the China-New Zealand relationship is developing steadily, we believe we will enjoy a even brighter future under our joint efforts. Thank you!
2012-09-21
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Speech by Salote Lupepauu Tuita at China International Friendship Cities Conference
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m very pleased to be invited to visit Chengdu, the city known as the hometown to panda, and to appreciate its beautiful natural scenery as well as its dynamic city development. It also gives me great pleasure and honor to speak at the 2012 China International Friendship Cities Conference, and to share my view on sister city relationship with all of you. As I understand it and you may all agree, many global issues we face with today, such as providing quality education and health services; ensuring adequate financial resources to enable national development; and assisting citizens to achieve their economic and social aspirations, are common challenges which require a collective solution. People across the borders need to share and communicate with, and learn from each others in tackling these problems. This makes today’s sister city relations all the more important, because it provides us with an effective tools and channel to build friendship and conduct cooperation in this increasingly competitive and shrinking world. Sister City arrangements can reach all parts of the community. It brings the opportunity of changing lives and making a better tomorrow for us all through sharing resources and knowledge. Through sister city links, cities or provinces around the world may find a practical means to strengthen economic cooperation, deepen cultural understanding, and to strive for long term sustainable partnership. Most importantly, it is a model for allowing individuals and communities to take active participation in deciding the development of their community and creating a brighter future for their children. As for the Kingdom of Tonga, a developing country in the South Pacific, we consider sister city relations an important bridge through which we can connect with other parts of the globe across the ocean  and conduct win-win cooperation with our counterparts and friends in tourism, agriculture and fishery, and attract more foreign investment to Tonga. Last but not least, I wish the conference a great success, and that all of us participating today may fully utilize this opportunity to exchange ideas and share views, and to make our own contribution to the development of sister cities movement. Thank you very much, our gracious host, Youxie, it is great to be here amongst our friends from around the world. Thank you.
2012-09-13
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China-Africa Forum on Local Government Cooperation: What Agenda for The Future?
Beijing, 27 August 2012 Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi Secretary General, UCLG Africa China and Africa has developed very important and diversified trends of cooperation in recent years. These are defined and adjusted during the bi-annual meetings of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), a high level dialogue platform of heads of state and governments of the two sides. So why is it felt necessary to set up a Forum on China-Africa local government cooperation besides the FOCAC? What aspects can one see as the niche and added value of this new forum? What would be its specific roadmap? These are some of the questions this introductory statement wishes to address. I was requested to deliver a keynote speech to  this Forum in my capacity as the secretary general of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG, Africa) which gathers all national associations of local governments of Africa and 2 000 main cities with a population above 100 000 inhabitants. Through its membership, UCLG Africa represents around 350 millions African people. Our organization has its headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, and has five regional offices in Cairo, Egypt, for North Africa; Abuja, Nigeria, for West Africa; Yaoundé, Cameroon, for Central Africa; Arusha, Tanzania, for East Africa; and Harare, Zimbabwe, for Southern Africa. Why a Forum on China-Africa local government cooperation? Local governments are the level of governments closest to the citizen. In the course of its institutional development, any national government has an advantage in having a closer link to the citizen so that they can be better associated to the management of their own business. Local governments have been set up to primarily serve this purpose. But they are also developing as an autonomous level of governments thanks to the dynamic of urbanization. The rise of cities in the demographic and economic scenes is the most important change affecting people’s life worldwide, including in both China and Africa. According to a study recently published by McKinsey Global Institute, China urbanization is happening at 100 times the scale of the world first country ever to urbanize in modern history (which is Britain) and 10 times the speed. Over the past decade China’s share of people living in large cities increased from 36 per cent to nearly 50 per cent.  If the current trend continues, the China’s urban population will expand from approximatively 570 million in 2005 to 1 billion in 2030. Africa follows more or less the same pace. According to UN Habitat figures (cf. 2010 State of African Cities Report), Africa is home to a huge growth of her urban population which rose from 205 million in 1990 to 412 million in 2010. It is estimated that the continent will have an urban population of 753 million by 2030, which means that it will have to accommodate an additional population of 341 millions city dwellers between now and 2030, more than the today’s total population of the USA.  By 2030 China will have 221 cities with more than 1 million inhabitants, and Africa 68 (compared to 22 in 1990). So China and Africa are witnessing the same momentum in urban dynamic, even if the pattern can be quite different at that horizon, with the number of cities with more than 5 million people amounting 25 in China, compared to 10 in Africa.  But China and Africa also share a common trend towards dispersed urbanization pattern with a great number of city dwellers living midsize and small cities. Anyway this common and shared urban momentum is leading to a situation whereby, in demographic terms, the future of cities in tomorrow’s world will be mainly written in China and Africa. Therefore a Forum on China-Africa local government cooperation makes a lot of sense, since the bulk of the urban world population in the coming years will be located in these two areas. One can even easily argue that debates held in such a Forum and the orientations chosen by China and Africa local leaders in their cooperation will ultimately have great impact on the way the world will be living its urban future.    But another reason why a Forum on China-Africa local government cooperation is useful stems from the role of cities in the growth of nations and of the world economy. According to the World Development Report published by the World Bank in 2009, there is a strong correlation between urbanization and economic growth. Whenever the level of urban population reaches 30 per cent of the total population of any given country of the world, the share of GDP produced in cities amounts at least 50 percent. According to a study published in June 2012 by the McKinsey Global Institute, in 2010, China Metropolitan Regions were home to 78 per cent of the country’s GDP. It is forecast that 90% of China GDP will be generated by cities by 2030. Of course the contribution of cities in Africa is less than in China because the level of economic growth is also less, but for sure, African cities will also become the lead contributors to the wealth of the continent by   2030. The McKinsey study also signals that the top 600 cities will generate 65 per cent of the world economic growth by 2030. Today these 600 cities are home to 20 per cent of the world population but generate more than half of the global GDP. Among the top 600 cities, a group of 440 cities from emerging markets will account close to half of expected global GDP growth from 2010 to 2030. China alone has 242 cities in that group, followed by Latin America, 57; South Asia including India, 36; Africa and the Middle East, 39. Globally this means that we are witnessing an economic shift of the contribution of cities in the world economic growth from developed to emerging markets, with the predominance of China. This means also that the growth and competitiveness of the national economies of China and Africa are more and more related to the way cities and local governments are resourced, equipped and managed. In fact managing urbanization is by in large primarily a local issue. This is true in China as well as in Africa. Most of the time the efficacy in the management of urbanization depends on the entrepreneurial nature of local leaders and their capacity to identify growth potentials and investments opportunities. But the efficacy of local policies depends also on the quality and robustness of national policy frameworks defining the scope and margins of local initiatives in such areas as land policy, strategic infrastructures location and building, investments attraction and approval authority, etc. If these national policies are considered powerful in China, it is not always the case in Africa; and here there is space for institutional cooperation for city enabling environment between China and Africa.  UCLG Africa endeavored to put in place a CEE Ratings aiming at waving a warning and call on national governments for them to assess the way cities and local authorities and administrations are given room for maneuver  and autonomy of decisions to address the urban challenge in the African context. The first report on CEE Ratings will be launched at the coming Africities Summit scheduled in Dakar, Senegal, from 4 to 8 December 2012. We wish that this report gives birth to an interesting debate on the role of cities in the management of urbanization, and that the Chinese experience will inspire some positive thoughts in that regard. Furthermore, the development of both China and Africa and their cooperation perspectives will translate into a trend of exchanges of good, services and people that will only grow as time goes on. This trend will in turn put at the fore the human dimension of the China-Africa cooperation. Obviously trade and business imply human relations and if the relations are continuous and strong, they favor mutual migrations in the respective cities of China and Africa. Despite the fact that local authorities are not responsible for foreign affairs, it appears clearly that the day to day relations between Chinese and African people at local level is critical for sound and peaceful relations between China and Africa. This is a dimension which should gain better attention since one should not underestimate the role of cities and local governments in humanizing the rather  cold international relations. For this reason as well, the Forum on China-Africa local government cooperation has its full justification. This being said, what could be the specific agenda for this Forum? Towards a tentative agenda for the Forum Because China and Africa are so important in the demographic and economic dynamic of the world urban future, their local leaders have the responsibility to contribute to the agenda setting of international cooperation involving cities and local governments. The Forum on China-Africa local government cooperation could therefore be used as a platform for exchanging views on the priorities to put forward in various international local governments arenas in order to get the concerns of China and Africa local governments duly taken on board.  But for this Forum to have a meaningful impact it should address the following threemain challenges facing Chinese and African cities and local governments: the challenge of integration and inclusion; the challenge of sustainability and resilience; and the challenge of economic growth, job creation and competitiveness.1. The challenge of integration and inclusion Despite a slowdown in the growth rate of cities in both China and Africa in the recent period, migrations from rural to urban areas and from poor regions to wealthier ones still characterize the urbanization dynamic. Managing migrations flows is becoming an integral part of local authorities mandate, and this will be more so not only for internal migrations within the country, but also for international and cross border migrations, which is new. Also as stated before, the development of cooperation between China and Africa will probably result in improved mobility of people between the two areas. Some of the migrants will become residents and the quality of their welcoming and integration locally will on the long run determine the quality and long lasting overall cooperation relations between China and Africa. In order to regulate how the respective migrants should be hosted at the local level in both Chinese and African cities it is recommendable to define a Code of Conduct that sets out the way to welcome and host respective citizen from both sides and their rights and responsibilities of the migrants. The discussion and adoption of such Code of Conduct should be one of the items on the Forum’s agenda, with the view, once it is adopted, to submit it to the FOCAC for consideration and inclusion among the instruments organizing China-Africa cooperation relations.Furthermore Chinese and African cities are both exposed to the threat of spatial and social divide and exclusion, with part of the city dwellers enduring poor urban conditions in informal settlements and slum areas. This threat is persistent in Africa where urban poverty is in the rise despite a decade long of economic growth. In China the issue of exclusion seems to have been better handled since the country succeeded to get more than 300 million people out of poverty over a period of 10 years (from 2000 to 2010), and to reduce poorly serviced urban neighborhoods. How did China managed to get such results in poverty alleviation and in addressing city integration and inclusion in a proactive manner? What has been the role of local governments in this success? What lessons can be learnt from the Chinese experience? Documenting the local governments’ contribution to inclusive urban policies in China and Africa followed by a series of related workshops for exchange of experiences on this topic should also be included in the work plan of the Forum.2. The challenge of sustainability and resilience. One of the daunting emerging issues at global level is whether cities and the economies they are the engine of, will be sustainable and resilient or not.  Given the share of China and Africa in the world urban population, one can say that the global battle for cities sustainability and resilience will be won or lost in Chinese and African cities. First of all these cities should resist the temptation to copy the unsustainable consumption pace of natural resources witnessed in cities of the developed world. This will not be easy since most of the technologies available in response to the needs and demands of cities are largely inspired by the approaches and solutions implemented in cities of the developed world. Although it is becoming obvious that the ecological footprint of cities of the developed world is not sustainable, the upper and middle classes of cities in the developing countries aspire to have the same unsustainable way of life than their counterparts in the developed world. In such context, for the local leaders, implementing more energy and carbon efficient urban models will not be easy, unless these leaders can form a global coalition in favor of sustainable and resilient cities. Chinese and African local governments might take the initiative to set up such a coalition, with a focus on secondary cities, and the objective to curve the unsustainable trend which is developing in a worrisome way throughout the world, including in China and Africa. The work of this coalition should be to gather expertise and intelligence that can help frame appropriate methodologies to urban planning and management in the context of rapidly growing cities, highlighting innovative approaches to land use aiming at increasing the city density and limit to the urban sprawl; to local housing policy which recognizes the diversity of the demands and responses, including for the poor;  to more efficient local mobility and transport management systems with a focus on non-motorized means of transport and the development public transport; to disasters and risks management with more attention to early warning and prevention, to cite but a few. Many weather-related risks are being exacerbated with climate change, hence the need to prepare cities to face those hazards. The idea of establishing post disaster China-Africa local government first help brigades could be one of the tangible outcomes of the Forum which would have visible direct impact on the ground. The formation of such brigades could benefit from the support of national governments and the sponsorship of the business sector in China and Africa. The secretariat of the Forum could be tasked to prepare a feasibility pilot project in order to implement this proposal if it has the buy-in of the Forum.A special mention should be made here to the pressing needs of cities in Africa which development is strongly linked to mining activities and which should be assisted by their counterparts in China and by the mining companies in their efforts to master tools and skills that will allow them to acquire the needed knowledge in order to manage their natural resources in a sustainable manner and start preparing the reconversion of the economic base of their city after the mining activities are over. It is strongly recommended that the Forum define a program involving African mining cities where Chinese mining companies are active, and devote one of its sessions to this very critical issue. The Forum could also take the lead in organizing the China-Africa mining cities network in order to initiate peer learning and mentoring processes among them at both political and professional levels. 3. The challenge of economic growth, job creation and competitiveness If there is an area where there seems to be a huge difference between Chinese and Africa cities, it is in the field of economic growth, job creation and competitiveness. China is rated the world champion in that regard, Africa, the looser.  Despite the increase in trade and investments flows in particular from China to Africa, the situation of the economic growth of the African cities and their capacity to create jobs and improve competitiveness remains a big challenge. China is investing massively in Africa, but this investment is concentrated in the field of oil and gaz, commodities, mines and big infrastructures and equipments. In fact 70% of the Chinese investments in Sub Saharan Africa are concentrated in four countries: Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Sudan. The attention to cities and their huge demands in roads, basic services, housing, public equipment… have not yet hit the radar of the China-Africa cooperation as it should. These demands of cities represent a huge business opportunity, taking into account that by 2030 there will be almost 300 million city dwellers in Africa that will be part of the world consuming class with per capita revenues of around $ 3 600 or 10 dollars a day.  It would be therefore interesting to focus attention of China-Africa cooperation also on African cities and to adjust the cooperation instruments accordingly. The empowerment paradigm should underline any approach to investment in African cities in that investments should not be implemented in the ignorance and at the expense of existing social capital, in particular in informal settlements and poor neighborhood. Instead they should be implemented using this social capital so as to ensure their full ownership by the citizen. But obviously there is a case of scaling up the level and quality of infrastructure and equipment in African cities, otherwise there is no way these cities can fully contribute to the economic growth. Another issue that is causing headaches to most of local and national leaders is the problem of youth unemployment. In principle Africa is experiencing what experts call the “demographic dividend” with a large number of young people entering the labor market and provoking a rise in investment levels, productivity and competitiveness. This is the virtuous circle Chinese cities have experienced. Unfortunately this is not happening in Africa because the youth labor force is not skilled enough to take advantage of the opportunities that are there, and there is a risk that these unemployed young people are enrolled in criminal activities or serve the political elite in the propaganda activities during elections, that might result in social crisis when promises made to them are not fulfilled.  Given the importance of a peaceful environment for any development endeavor, it is critical that African cities find credible solutions to youth unemployment before it is too late. Three avenues can be explored to this end as suggested by Edgar Pitersee from the African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town, South Africa: (1) create labor-intensive jobs to install, maintain and revitalize urban infrastructure and public facilities; (2) develop social jobs for home-based care needs; (3) create environmental services jobs including cleansing the city, collecting and recycling garbage, replenishing degraded city’s ecosystems, etc. it is highly desirable that the Forum on China-Africa local government cooperation pays attention to this very vital issue for African cities, but also to a certain extent for Chinese cities. Here also dedicated programs can be developed in the framework of China-Africa city to city cooperation that would include not only the three aforementioned areas for youth employment, but also other elements aiming at boosting local economic development using local entrepreneurs from both sides with the cities playing a brokerage role. At the end any sustainable management of African cities will be linked to the capacities of these cities to generate wealth and mobilize resources through taxation or user fees for local services. The Forum should also be a platform to exchange experiences on resources mobilization and local governance.
2012-08-28
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Beijing Declaration of the First Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation
28 August 2012 Local government representatives from 40 Chinese and African capital cities and other major cities met in Beijing from 27 to 28 August 2012 for the First Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation (CALGC Forum). Under the theme of "Enhance Local Cooperation, Promote Common Development", the delegates conducted a wide-range and in-depth discussion on further expanding exchanges and cooperation in various fields between Chinese and African local governments and promoting common development of Chinese and African cities. The Forum achieved the goals of fostering understanding and friendship, establishing more contacts and enhancing exchanges and cooperation in various fields between Chinese and African local governments. Agreements, friendly exchange agreements, and economic and trade cooperation contracts were signed. The delegates unanimously agree that the traditional China-Africa friendship has a long history and China-Africa cooperation enjoys a solid foundation. The relations between China and Africa have witnessed steady progress over the past five decades and more. Especially after the founding of the China-Africa Forum in 2000, political mutual trust has been strengthened, practical cooperation has achieved remarkable results, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges have developed vigorously. All these have brought concrete benefits to people in China and Africa. In the new situation, we shall further explore new ways and areas for exchanges and cooperation, energetically developing exchanges and practical cooperation between local governments, in an effort to deepen mutual understanding and friendship and contribute more to opening a new chapter in the new- type China-Africa strategic partnership. In this connection, we declare the following: --Within the framework of China-Africa Forum, we shall promote all-round exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and African local governments by observing the principles of equality, mutual benefit and common development. --We shall establish the Board of Directors under the CALGC Forum. The General Meeting of the Board of Directors shall be convened once every two years. The first General Meeting was held in Beijing on 28 August 2012. H. E. Mr. Edward Ssekandi, Vice President of Uganda and H. E. Mr. Abdul’ahat Abdurixit, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference were elected Chair of the Board of Directors. --We shall set up the Secretariat, a permanent body of the CALGC Forum, whose responsibility is to manage the day-to-day affairs of the CALGC Forum. The Secretariat shall be located in Beijing. --We shall work for the establishment of a mechanism of the CALGC Forum. The General Meeting of Members shall be convened once every two years. Meetings between Chinese and African governors and mayors, Chinese and African Municipal Development Forums, Chinese and African Friendship Cities Conferences, Training Courses for African local government officials and various types of seminars on specific topics shall be held on a regular basis. The first Meeting between Chinese and African Governors and Mayors will be held in Dakar, Senegal early December 2012. --The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the United Cities and Local Governments, Africa shall establish a strategic partnership. Both sides shall strengthen coordination in order to serve as an important bridge between Chinese and African local governments. --We shall promote the rapid development of China-Africa friendship city relations, with the aim of establishing 220 pairs of friendship cities (provinces), doubling the present number of 111 pairs. --The Chinese side is willing to make contributions to the development of cities in Africa by providing support and help in city planning, infrastructure, municipal management, environmental protection and public facilities. --We shall strengthen exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and African industrial and commercial sectors. China Africa Business Leaders’ Summit shall be convened during each General Meeting of the CALGC Forum. We shall encourage contacts and cooperation between Chinese and African industrial and commercial sectors and among chambers of commerce. --We shall carry out charity projects. The Chinese side shall launch Bring Light Tours, Caring Students Tours and other charity projects by using the Chinese Enterprises’ Charity Fund to Africa. We shall encourage all social sectors to participate in and support these projects so as to bring more care to those who need in Africa. --We shall set up China Africa Local Government Exchange Fund. Its initial funding is 10 million RMB. The fund shall be used to carry out the above-mentioned charity projects, aid the training of African local government officials and other personnel from various circles, provide scholarships to African students who come to study in China, and help Chinese and African industrial and commercial sectors seek business opportunities. Both the Chinese and African sides are resolved to make common efforts to implement the above decisions. We express congratulations on the fruitful results and full success of this Forum.
2012-08-28
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Announcement on CICC
 The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)  hereby announced that China International Cooperation Center was no longer subordinated to the  CPAFFC.
2012-07-09
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Conference of 10th National Council of CPAFFC Convened Successfully
                         Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping meeting with the representatives and delivering important speech The conference of the 10th National Council of CPAFFC was held on 15, May in Beijing.More than 300 council members and representatives from units directly under the central government,provinces(districts,cities), and all sectors of society attended the conference. Member of Standing Committee of Political Bureau, the CPC Central Committee,Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met with all representatives and delivered an important speech.Li Yuanchao,Ling Jihua, Uyunqimg, Jiang Shusheng, Chen Changzhi, Sang Guowei, Dai Bingguo, Bai Lichen, Abdul''''''''ahat Abdurixit, Zheng Wantong, Jiang Zhenghua, Gu Xiulian and other leaders were also present at the meeting. State Councilor Dai Bingguo addressed the opening ceremony. During the conference, the executive council members of the 10th National Council were elected; 11 honorary advisers and 12 advisers were appointed. The work report of the 9th National Council and revised report of statutes were approved after the deliberation. "People''''''''s Friendship Contribution Award" were conferred during the meeting. President Li Xiaolin deployed working tasks and objectives in the next five years of the CPAFFC. The representatives reviewed and summarized the work and had an explicit orientation of the people-to-people diplomacy development. The conference achieved complete success and won positive and enthusiastic response from council members. The press made a detailed report for the conference.                                          State Councilor Dai Bingguo addressing the opening ceremony                                  Li Xiaolin reporting to reveal the CPAFFC''''''''s development strategy,work pattern,                       main direction of progress,construction and scheme for internal resources                                       Former president of the CPAFFC Chen Haosu hosting selection for                                                new excutive council of the CPAFFC                                                  New Excutive Council members of the CPAFFC                   Vice President Jing Dunquan declaring the decision of  "People''''''''s Friendship Contribution Award"                                                    Vice President Feng Zuoku hosting the reception                                         Vice President Li Jianping making the report on the revised statutes of the CPAFFC                                                     Secretary General Lin Yi presiding the conference                                                                         Award-winning Group                                                                       Award-winning persons                                                                                conference site                
2012-07-05
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Exhibition on History of CPAFFC
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2012-07-04
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My Experience of 60 Years: Work for Promotion of Nepal-China Relations
Niranjan Bhattarai (Nepal) I joined the Chinese language class for the first time at Banaras Hindu University in 1951. The Government of Nepal sent me to Beijing University in 1958 for further studies. Former Prime Minister and distinguished Nepali leader Tanka Prasad Acharya had written a letter introducing me to Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala who became Prime Minister in May 1959 bid me farewell by making a brief speech at a gathering of students of Banaras Hindu University and wished success in my studies in China. Thus for nearly sixty years, I have been privileged to have actively participated in promoting Nepal-China relations.   Arrival in Beijing   When I arrived in Beijing in November 1958, there was a heavy snowfall with the temperature dropping to minus 20 degree Celsius. It was very cold for me, as I had not experienced such freezing temperature before. But the next day when I was going to my class I saw many teachers and students cleaning the snow in the street with brooms. Seeing teachers and students in simple dress working without feeling the cold encouraged me tremendously and inspired me to move ahead.  When I was studying Chinese language I felt it was necessary for Nepali Buddhist scholars to study modern China as well as the history of China. Dr. Chen Hansheng, the head of the world history research group of  the Philosophical and Social Sciences Department under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, helped me to study ancient and modern China and discover the biography of revered Budhabhadra. Professors Liu Danien and Ma Hong of the academy guided me to study history of Nepal-China relations. Due to their cooperation, I was able to write my first book on China China and Nepal’s Relations with Her to introduce China to Nepalese people. It was published by Nepal Academy in 1961 on the occasion of signing the Border Treaty between Nepal and China and included in the gifts presented to Chinese leaders on behalf of the Nepal delegations.    Foreign Students in Beijing University   Foreign Students who had come to study in China from different countries were given special attention for their convenience and opportunities, which were not extended to Chinese students in those days. The teachers and the other officials treated them like their own family members. Once I asked a boarding official whether I had any letter from my home. The official was so kind that he went to the post office himself to find out whether I had received any. The teachers were similarly very kind and always prepared to help us secure good results in our studies. Even the teacher’s family members extended their cooperation for enhancement of our studies on various occasions. The University organized tours of important places and cultural events to enrich our knowledge of China and Chinese culture.   Tenth Anniversary I arrived in Beijing on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The government decided to celebrate the anniversary in various ways from construction of ten large official buildings and roads to organizing cultural events. I was among the foreign students who participated in the 10th anniversary parade. I happily joined other foreign students in laying bricks in the construction of the Great Hall of the People; I was invited to participate in the grand reception to celebrate the anniversary after its completion. It was my honor to meet Premier Zhou Enlai as well as the great artist Mei Lanfang at the reception.   Other Activities When Studying in Beijing   I used to invite Nepalese visitors to Beijing and entertain them. Some, like the first table tennis team from Nepal. In 1959, I was happy to take around the Beijing Buddhist delegations led by Mahasthvira Bkikshu Amritanandha. I took them to the White Dagoba constructed by the great Nepali architect Arniko. President Zhao Puchu of the Buddhist Association of China presented a book to the delegation Chao Xiang Liang Tu Jing, a classical book of Chinese iconography. In 1960 Prime Minister Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala visited China and signed a preparatory agreement to appoint a joint commission of experts of both countries for border inspections and prepare a draft for signing the boundary treaty. I received him at the airport and I was invited to dinner hosted in his honour. I felt special gratitude to him when he gave me some cash to buy books on history of Nepal-China relations. I also had the honor of meeting Premier Zhou Enlai in Nepal at a lunch hosted by the Nepal Council of World Affairs when he paid a return visit to Nepal and signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship. The Chinese Premier still remembered me from my time as a student in Beijing. I have felt that he continued to give me attention when I was in Beijing working in the embassy.   Return after Studies and Founding Language School  I returned from Beijing after completion of my two-year studies of modern and ancient Chinese language. After returning to Nepal, I founded the School of International Languages in Kathmandu in 1961 to provide facilities and help Nepali students to have knowledge of the outside world. Chinese language was taught here from the very beginning. As the school grew, many more languages were added. Initially, all the teachers were unpaid volunteers who were employed by foreign organizations in Nepal. At the present time, the school has more then 6,000 students and is incorporated under the national Tribhuwan University as Bishwa Bhasha Campus. Participation in the Boundary Treaties I was included as an interpreter in the Nepali delegation to Beijing on the occasion of signing the Boundary Treaty between Nepal and China. Nepal and China sincerely wished to delineate the traditional border between the two countries in the spirit of give and take. Therefore there were no problems during the border negotiations. King Mahendra and President Liu Shaoqi signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.  This border has since remained one of peace and friendship. Assignment in the Embassy I was appointed First Secretary to the Nepali Embassy in Beijing in 1967. It was the time of “cultural revolution”. The “revolution” had created difficulties for the Chinese population and also the foreign embassies in Beijing with demonstrations against their respective countries. At that time, prompt representation of Nepali government and warm reception of them by the Chinese side averted the undesirable impact of the activities. In the year 1970, when Nepal’s crown prince was married, Premier Zhou was invited to Nepal. But because of busy schedule he could not go to Nepal, instead accepted an invitation to a banquet hosted by myself in his honour at the Nepali embassy in Beijing. He spent almost four hours in the embassy and that ceremony has been one of the most memorable events in my life. Second Assignment I was appointed a second time to the Nepali embassy in Beijing in 1976. Premier Zhou Enlai had passed away in January 1976. When I met my Chinese friends, I shared their grief, as Premier Zhou had been so kind and considerate to me. I have sent my book Nepal and China to the Memorial Hall constructed in his honor. In my second assignment to Beijing, I witnessed the succession of Chairman Mao’s government and establishment of Deng Xiaoping’s leadership for modernization of China. At this time I met Deputy Premier Deng Xiaoping many times in arrangements for visit to Nepal. I am very happy to note that after the modernization China could join the space race. In 1978 an air agreement was signed for air flights from Nepal to Shanghai. In Charge of the State Visit of King Birendra After completion of my tour of duties I returned to Nepal in early 1972. I went again to China with the foreign minister for preparation of the state visit of King Birendra at the invitation of President Dong Biwu in 1973.  I went to China as an in-charge of the programs of the visit. On this occasion Premier Zhou Enlai was leading the Chinese team for official talk and hosted an official dinner in honor of the Nepali guests. I also participated in the arrangement of the visit of King Birendra to Tibet. My Other Visits to China  I returned to Beijing in 1982 to inspect the administrative and economic aspects of the Embassy and again later in 2002 on the occasion of unveiling of life size bronze statue of the Nepali Architect Arniko. It was a significant occasion for remembering the long relationship between the two countries to have the great Nepali architect Arniko honored by high-ranking Chinese and Nepali officials who were gathered to attend the ceremony. I also visited long desired Wu Tai Shan and made prayers to Manjushri and also visited the Sharira and Ashoka stupas constructed by Arniko. Release of Chinese Language Book   My latest visit to Beijing was in 2007 to organize the ceremony to release my book Nepal and China in Chinese language. It was very gratifying to be among the distinguished scholars whom I had known and admired for many years, and to be honored by their presence. On that occasion Chen Haoshu, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries released this book. Thus in my humble way I have contributed for promotion of friendship between our two countries. It gives me great satisfaction that the trend line of our relations remained moving upward without any zigzag in between. My fourth book Nepal and China in English is already published and is going to be released soon. Since retirement I have continued to study new developments in China and give advice when asked by the government. I have written four books; two Nepali, one of them translated into Chinese, one in English and scores of articles in Nepali and English for issues relating to Nepal-China relations. It is my hope and belief that the publications are appreciated by most readers.   This was the  last manuscript of the author who passed away on August 29, 2010.                                           
2012-06-07
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