Vice President Lin Yi met with Mr. Sayed Makhdoom Rahhen and the Afghanistan China Friendship Association (ACFA) Delegation on 14 August 2015. Mr. Rahhen is also the former Minister of Information and Culture of Afghanistan. Madam Lin Yi welcomed President Rahhen and his delegation to visit China. Lin spoke highly of Rahhen’s efforts in promoting Afghani-China people-to-people friendship. She briefed about the China-South Asian people-to-people friendly exchange programs of the CPAFFC, and encouraged the ACFA to cooperate with us in the fields of local governments, youth, culture and media exchange programs. Madam Lin also invited the ACFA to attend the 4th China South Asia Friendship Organizations Forum to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka this October. President Rahhen expressed his gratitude for the CPAFFC for inviting the ACFA delegation to visit China, and said he was willing to work closely with the CPAFFC for the development of China-Afghan friendship. Afghanistan Ambassador Farahi was also present at the meeting.

At the invitation of Space Camp Turkey, CPAFFC sent a 19-member delegation including middle school students and a teacher from Hubei Province to attend the Space Summer Camp in Izmir of Turkey from August 2 to 10, 2015. During the camp, 17 Chinese students attended a variety of cultural and sports activities together with other 155 students from Turkey, Russia, Bulgaria, Greece, USA and UAE. The Chinese students acquired knowledge of the space, practiced their English and improved their ability of self-independence and cooperating with others. They also displayed the Chinese culture through their singing, and dancing and made international friends during the whole camp.

At the invitation of the Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan, delegation of celebrities of we-media and media journalists from Kazakhstan visited Chengdu, Lhasa, Kunming and Beijing from July 28 to August 6. The delegation met with Party secretary of Tibet Autonomous Region Chen Quanguo,Vice chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region He Wenhao and Vice President Song Jingwu of CPAFFC.  

From 5th to 6th August, the 4th Canada-China Cultural Dialogue was convened in Toronto, Capital City of Ontario, Canada. Mr. Li Xikui, General Secretary of CPAFFC attended the Dialogue. General Secretary Li pointed out in his remarks for closing ceremony that, affinity between the people holds the key to state-to-state relations while mutual understanding holds the key to people-to-people relations. Moreover, culture serves as the bridge to connect people’s hearts from two countries. Culture diversity is the common wealth of all humans and also the stimulus for development and innovation. Mutual understanding, mutual learning among difference cultures and progress upon that is the only way for all countries to achieve win-win result under the background of globalized economy. What is more, it is also the crucial foundation to enhance friendship between the two peoples. The Dialogue was co-hosted by CPAFFC, Canadian Fund for International Understanding through Culture (Can4Culture) and Canada-China Economic Growth Alliance (CCEGA) as well. His Excellency Luo Zhaohui, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Canada, The Honorable Michael Chan, Ontario Minister of Citizenship, Immigration & International Trade, Mr. John Tory, Mayor of Toronto, Dr. Nelly Ng, Chair of Can4Culture, Mr. William Cheng, Chair of CCEGA and around 300 representatives from government, business circle and cultural circle of the two countries were present at the Dialogue. In support of this Cultural Dialogue, Friendship Art Exchange Association of CPAFFC organized a delegation of renowned Chinese artists for the Dialogue and Mr. Fan Dian, President of Chinese Academy of Fine Arts acted as Head of Delegation. He delivered a keynote speech on the welcoming Luncheon with the topic of Global Perspective of Contemporary Chinese Art.   Dr. Nelly Ng and His Excellency Luo Zhaohui declaring the opening of 4th Canada-China Cultural Dialogue Mr. Li Xikui, Secretary General of CPAFFC addressing the closing ceremony Mr.Fan Dian presenting his work of calligraphy to Dr. Nelly Ng

  On August 5th, CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi met with H.E. Mr. Charles Namondwe, Ambassador of Malawi to China. Mme. Lin welcomed H.E. Mr. Namondwe to serve his second term in China, and appreciated his efforts to promote China-Malawi friendship as CPAFFC’s old friend. She said that the CPAFFC hopes to enhance exchanges with the local governments of Malawi to further promote the pragmatic cooperation in areas of local governments and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. H.E. Mr. Namondwe thanked Mme. Lin Yi for sparing the time to meet him. He said the embassy will maintain close cooperation with CPAFFC to promote the in-depth development of China-Malawi friendship.

  On Aug 5th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with Samuel T. Mok, Treasurer of the National China Garden Foundation (NCGF) of the United States. Vice President Xie Yuan briefed Mok on CPAFFC’s work and functions. He said that the Friendship Association would support the China Garden project and stand ready to enhance cooperation with NCGF for further exchanges in various areas. Mok introduced the progress of the China Garden project and expressed gratitude for CPAFFC’s long-time support. Mok is the former Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Labor and Department of the Treasury, one of the highest ranking Asian Americans in George W. Bush’s Administration.

Sponsored by CPAFFC and the National Committee for the Well-being of the Youth (NCWY), the Third ASEAN-China Youth Cultural Exchange Festival (ACYCEF) was held in Changzhou of Jiangsu Province from 31 July to 5 August 2015. More than 100 young delegates from China and ASEAN countries attended the Festival. President Gu Xiulian of China-ASEAN Association and NCWY, Vice President Lin Yi of CPAFFC, Vice President Liu Yazhi of NCWY, Executive Vice President Wang Xialin of NCWY(Jiangsu), Secretary Yan Li of CPC Changzhou Committee, and Counsellor Cho Cho Soe of Myanmar Embassy in China representing ASEAN diplomatic missions were also present at major activities of the Festival. In her speech, Madame Gu Xiulian said China and ASEAN are linked by rivers and mountains, with cultural affinity and close ties of blood. Both China and ASEAN countries are important along the maritime silk road. The Chinese side initiated the ACYCEF aimed at establishing relationship, deepening friendship, increasing exchanges and building common dream between the youth of China and ASEAN countries. Madame Lin Yi said that all foreign young delegates left their home and parents behind, disregarding intensive heat, and travelled to China from thousand miles away to collect friendship and display the beautiful music to all.  The Chinese side will continue to host the ACYCEF, for the purpose of having frequent gatherings and keeping our friendship fresh ! During the Third ACYCEF, both Chinese and ASEAN delegates planted together 11 trees symbolizing their ever-lasting friendship. They also experienced sinology and Chinese traditional culture, visited Yancheng ruins with 2500 years of history, and watched dragon boat race. On 3 August, the ACYCEF Gala Night was held, at which delegates gave performances with their national features. Launching ceremony Madame Gu Xiulian delivering a speech Madame Lin Yi delivering a speech Performance by foreign delegates   Performance by Chinese delegates  

At the invitation of National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Qing Boming, secretary general of China International Friendship Cities Association, led a delegation to attend the NCSL annual summit at Seattle, Washington State of the U.S. The summit drew a wide participation of about 1000 U.S. state legislators and legislative staff, and over 300 international representatives from 23 countries and regions such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany and Kenya. During the summit, the CPAFFC delegation attended several events including the reception of NCSL newly-elected president Senator Curtis Bramble, the reunion with the state legislators hosted by CPAFFC on their China trip, as well as international program agenda. In addition, Qing Boming communicated with national or state legislature organizations from Brazil, Canada, Kenya, Turkey and others, to establish or consolidate friendly relations. Qing invited President Curtis Bramble to lead a delegation to visit China in November, which the other side readily accepted, and hoped to further promote exchange and cooperation between the U.S. states and Chinese provinces in the fields of economic and trade, investment, education and culture.  

On August 4th, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) hosted a welcome reception for the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS), together with the Scottish office of the British Embassy in China. Vice President Song Jingwu of the CPAFFC and Chief Executive and Artistic Director Joan Gibson of the NYOS addressed the audience. Ms. Zhang Ruoning, Deputy Director General of the European and Asian Department of CPAFFC emceed the event which was attended by over 200 people from the NYOS and CPAFFC. Vice President Song Jingwu said that the CPAFFC enjoys close contacts with Scotland, and has hosted Scottish delegations from various fields for many times. He expressed his hope of further promoting exchanges and cooperation in all fields between China and Scotland through music, the universal language.Joan Gibson conveyed her gratitude to the CPAFFC for holding the reception, and she believed the young musicians of the NYOS are truly ambassadors of Scotland. Members of NYOS performed String Quartet, Flute Duo, and Wind Quintet during the reception. The NYOS was established in 1979. This year marks the full symphony orchestra’s first China tour, during which they will perform in Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin.        

  CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu met with Ueli Merz, Vice President of Swiss-Chinese Association on August 3rd,2015. Vice President Song Jingwu spoke highly of the positive contribution made by Swiss-Chinese Association for promoting the development of the relationship between the two countries since its establishment 70 years ago. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations of China and Switzerland, the CPAFFC will hold reception and seminar on China and Switzerland relationship .