On the afternoon of Aug. 15th, 2014, the CPAFFC held the reception celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. Mr. Wang Qinmin, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mr. Zhang Ming, Deputy Minister of Foreign Ministry of China, Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of CPAFFC, H.E. Mr. Valdemar Carneiro Leao, the Brazilian Ambassador to China attended the reception. In his address, Vice President Xie Yuan of the CPAFFC said, in recent years, the relations between China and Brazil had been developing fast in all fields. The political mutual trust was being strengthened constantly. The pragmatic cooperation was enlarging rapidly. Culture exchanges had received fruitful result. The friendship between the two peoples was enhancing day by day. Ambassador Leao spoke highly of China-Brazil relation and the pragmatic cooperation in all fields between the two countries. He said, Brazil would like to strengthen the communication with China, so as to further deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries.

  “South Africa in Beijing” Photo Exhibition, organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the South African Embassy in Beijing, was opened in Wangfujing Pedestrian Street on August 12, 2014. CPAFFC Vice President Feng Zuoku and South African Ambassador H.E. Dr. Bheki Langa attended and addressed the opening ceremony.     Mr. Feng Zuoku said, since the establishment of diplomatic ties 16 years ago, China-South Africa relations have experienced leapfrog development. President Xi Jinping and President Jacob Zuma reached important consensus during Xi’s state visit to South Africa last March. They designated 2014 as the Year of South Africa in China. The CPAFFC hopes that the photo exhibition held in this occasion can further enhance Chinese people’s understanding of South Africa, and consolidate the foundation of China-South Africa people-to-people friendship.     H.E. Dr. Bheki Langa said in his remarks, South African and Chinese people desire to continuously and sustainably narrow the distance that may exist between the two cultures. The photo exhibition is a manifestation of the various magnificent sites that South Africa has to offer, as well as a signal of South Africa’s commitment to working closely with Chinese partners to help bridge the divide that may exist at various levels and on various sectors for the mutual benefit of the two countries. During the past 3 weeks, the CPAFFC and the South African Embassy in China also held an online quiz on South Africa. The 2 winners were drawn and announce by Mr. Feng Zuoku and H.E. Dr. Bheki Langa at the opening ceremony. The “South Africa in Beijing” Photo Exhibition will last till August 18, 2014.      

On August 12, the school screening of China - UK Youth Exchange Project on Documentary Filmmaking: Ten Persons’ Stories took place in Edinburgh Napier University of Scotland, UK. Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal of Edinburgh Napier University and Vice President Li Jianping of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) delivered the speech on each behalf. Mr. Pan Xinchun, Consul General from Consulate General of PRC. in Edinburgh, Ms. Karen Watt, Director of External Affairs of Scottish Government attended the event and remarked highly on the project. Prof. Nolan valued Ten Persons’ Stories as an amazingly well-designed project, which provided the students with a good chance to practice their academic studies, and to view the similarities and differences between the two cultures from new perspectives. The project would ground the students for deeper understanding of culture and humanity from more inclusive view. Edinburgh Napier University would like to cooperate with CPAFFC for more projects like Ten Persons’ Stories. Vice President Li Jianping regarded the project as a wonderful opportunity to see how young people live in harmony with a different culture. He hoped that young friends, both from China and UK, will feel the power and potential in the people-to-people exchange between China and the UK on the platform of Ten Persons’ Stories. The school screening in Edinburgh Napier University marks the success of exchange and screening of Ten Persons’ Stories for 2014 season. It takes nine months from planning, film making to exchange of visits and screening. Ten qualified short documentary films have been screened in CPAFFC, China Central Academy of Fine Arts and Edinburgh Napier University. The project helps the youth of China and UK to gain more understanding of each other’s culture and society, and receives positive feedbacks from all walks of life in China and UK.

Vice President Xie Yuan meets with Laura Lane, President of Global Public Affairs of UPS, USA, on August 11th. Xie introduced the history of CPAFFC, the celebration events of the association’s 60th anniversary held not long ago and China-U.S. people-people friendly exchange activities in the coming months. He also expressed sincere thanks to the efforts that UPS had made for a long time to promote China-U.S. relationship.  Laura briefed about UPS’ business development in China, and their future development which aims to win the customers’ hearts by providing better services and satisfying Chinese customers’ demands. Moreover, she expressed the willingness to support, participate in the people-to-people friendship work of CPAFFC and make more positive contributions to strengthening the relationship between China and the United States. Laura presented a photo collection in commemoration for the 60th anniversary for CPAFFC, including a congratulatory letter from Scott Davis, CEO of UPS, in which he sent his warmest congratulation and expressed willingness to many more years of cooperation with CPAFFC.

 At the invitation of Turkey Space Summer Camp, CPAFFC sent 20 middle school student from Nanya Middle School of Changsha City, Hunan Province to Izmir, Turkey and attended the Space Summer Camp there from August 3-11, 2014.       During the camp, the Chinese students attended many kinds of cultural and sports activities together with other 100 students from Turkey, Russia, Israel and Palestine. The Chinese students learned more knowledge of the space, practised their English and improved their ability of self-independence and cooperating with others. They also showed the Chinese culture through their singing and dancing and make international friends during the whole camp.      

Vice President Feng Zuoku met with Mr. Song Jungsok, newly-appointed Director of Korea Foundation (KF) Beijing Office on August 5th , 2014. Mr. Feng expressed welcome to Mr. Song for his assumption of the new post in China and highly appreciated the youth exchange program jointly held by CPAFFC and KF in past years. Mr. Feng hoped that these activities achieve more success in the future, consolidating the basis of public opinion for China-ROK friendship. Mr. Song said that the state leaders of Korea and China attach importance to bilateral relations, which provides opportunity for the promotion of people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Korea Foundation is willing to enhance its cooperation with CPAFFC for carrying out more activities.

The CPAFFC, together with the China National Committee for the Care of Children (CNCCC), hosted the 2nd China-ASEAN Youth Cultural Exchange Festival (CAYCEF) in Beijing and Kangbao county of Hebei province from July 29th to August 4th , 2014. Altogether 300 young delegates participated in the this year’s CAYCEF from 5 provinces or cities in the Chinese mainland and Taiwan as well as from 10 ASEAN countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. H.E. Mme Gu Xiulian (President of China-ASEAN Association and Director of CNCCC), Mr. Feng Zuoku (Vice President of CPAFFC), Mrs. Liu Yazhi, Mr. Zu Shuqin(Executive Deputy Directors of CNCCC), H.E. Mr.U Thit Linn Ohn (Ambassador of Myanmar to China), H.E. Mr. Somdy Bounkhoum (Ambassador of the Laos to China), H.E. Mme. Erlinda Basilio (Ambassador of the Philippines to China) and other Chinese and international guests attended the major events of the Festival. As one of the celebration activities of 2014 ASEAN-China Cultural Exchange Year, the main program of the 2nd CAYCEF includes the followings: 1.The delegates visited the Kangbao county which was located in the grassland and attended the activities of Mini sports games, kite-making and flying, paper-cutting and oat food making.2. The participants visited the Tian’anmen square, the Summer Palace, the Great Wall, the National Stadium(Bird Nest), the National Aquatics Center(Water Cute) respectively. 3. The youth delegates made and signed the Kangbanoel Declaration which matched the theme of this year’s CAYCEF “Sharing the Culture,creating the future”. On the opening and closing ceremonies and especially the gala night of the Festival, the youngsters conducted series of colorful performances with their national traditions and ethnic features and exchanged their ideas and thoughts as well. This year’s festival further the understanding, respect and love to the traditional cultures between the youth of China and ASEAN countries, promoted the mutual affection and learning and injected young vigor to the cooperation, prosperity and development of the regional culture and people-to-people friendship in ASEAN and China.

The press conference of the 2nd CALGC Forum hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) was held on 1 August in Beijing. CPAFFC Vice President Feng Zuoku, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China Radio International Ma Weigong, and several African diplomats attended the press conference. Vice President Feng Zuoku briefed on the preparations of the 2nd CALGC Forum. He said, it is estimated that around 1500 people will participate in the Forum. More than 700 Chinese delegates from 61 cities of 22 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, have confirmed their participation. President of Guinea, president of Ghana and president of Somalia will attend the Forum. So far, around 200 delegates from 32 African countries have confirmed their participation, including 6 ministers and 39 governors and mayors. Vice President said, the leaders of provincial or municipal governments and entrepreneurs of China and Africa will further exchange opinions on the practical cooperation in fields of energy, finance, commerce and trade, as well as infrastructure construction. The CPAFFC will endeavor to make the forum serve as a practical platform for China-Africa local government cooperation, extending China-Africa friendship to the grassroots and people, and laying a more solid foundation for China-Africa friendship.

On July 30th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with Mr. K. K. Chua, President of Asia Pacific Market of Mary Kay, USA. Xie introduced the history of CPAFFC, and the celebration events of the association’s 60th anniversary held not long ago. Chua briefed about Mary Kay’s business development in China, and expressed the willingness to support, participate in the people-to-people friendship work of CPAFFC and promote mutual understanding between China and the United States.

The 4th Meeting of Standing Council of the 5th Council of  China-Russia Friendship Association (CRFA) was held in Peace Palace of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) on July 29th, 2014. Including Mr. Chen Yuan, Vice-Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and President of CRFA, Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC, Liu Limin, Vice-Minister of Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and Vice-President of CRFA, the leaders, executive council members and advisers of CRFA , over 50 participants attended the conference. At the meeting, new vice-president and executive council members and council members were elected. The representatives had an in-depth discussion on the people-to-people friendly contacts with Russia in the period ahead.