Xie Yuan, the vice president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with H.E. Mr. Karl Hood, the New Grenada ambassador to China on September,17,2013. Vice President Xie welcomed Ambassador Hood to China to take his new post, and introduced the main work of CPAFFC and 4th China Latin American and Caribbean Region People-to-people Friendship Forum recently held in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. He hoped that the two countries would strengthen the communication and promote the cooperation in exchanges of culture and students. Ambassador Hood thanked vice president Xie for meeting him from his tight schedule. He said Grenada attached great importance to the relationship with China. The Embassy of Grenada in China hoped to strengthen the communication with CPAFFC, so as to jointly hold activities which could enhance the mutual understanding between the people of the two countries in the future.

In the evening of Sept. 12th, a reception celebrating 40th anniversary of establishment of China-Spain diplomatic relations was held in the CPAFFC. Mr. Ji Bingxuan, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People''s Congress (NPC), Mme. Uyunqimg, the former  Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of NPC and the Chinese Chairperson of China-Spain Forum, Mme. Li Xiaolin, the president of the CPAFFC, Mr. Xie Hangsheng, the vice foreign minister of China, Mr. Liu lihua, the vice minister of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, Mr. Jose Manuel Soria, the Spanish minister of industry, energy and tourism, Mr. Pedro Solbes Mira, the Spanish Chairman of China-Spain Forum and former vice prime minister of Spain, Mr. Gonzalo De Benito Secades, the first vice  foreign minister of Spain and Mr. Manuel Valencia Alonso, the Spanish Ambassador to China were present. President Li Xiaolin spoke highly of China-Spain relation in her address. She said, since the two countries established all-around strategic partnership relation in 2005, the cooperation of the both sides had been more mature, steady and forceful. By the time of 40th anniversary of the establishment of China-Spain diplomatic relations and 10th anniversary of China-Spain Forum, the 7th session of the forum was held today. The personages of all circles from the two countries developed in-depth discussions and provided suggestions on the pragmatic cooperation of the two countries at the session, which had achieved important results. At the reception, President Li Xiaolin exchanged first day covers of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Spanish side. More than 400 guests from the two countries were present at the event.

Feng Zuoku, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met Ali Al Amrani, the Minister of Information and the head of Yemen-China Parliamentary Friendship Group, and his delegation which was invited by the Information office of State Council of the People’s Republic of China.on September 11, 2013.  Vice president Feng Zuoku reviewed the friendly exchanges between the people of two countries and briefly introduced the CPAFFC, the mechanism of China-Arab Friendship Conference and the situation of the first forum on China-Arab cities which will be held next year in China.   Minister Ali Al Amrani spoke highly of the traditional friendship among China, Yemen and Arabic countries. He thanked China for the continual help to Yemen, especially in highway, hospital, universities and other construction of infrastructure. He expressed that China was different from western countries which had conflicts with Arabic countries. China had kept friendly relationship with Arabic countries since the ancient times. Prophet Muhammad said that people should come to China to acquired knowledge. Minister Ali Al Amrani also hoped that more and more students from Yemen would study in China in the new period, so as to strengthen and consolidate Yemen-China relationship. The President of the Yemen-China Friendship Association and the former Yemen Ambassador to China studied in China, they could all speak Chinese and learn about China very well, which set up a good example for us. Minister Ali Al Amrani pointed out that the Chinese people achieved great development and started a special development model by their wisdom, which demonstrated the eastern countries were capable of achieving development without colonial way. He also said Arab and China were eastern countries, but the Chinese people never treated Arabic countries with religious and racial discrimination. The experience of the China''s development was worth learning by Yemen and Arabic Countries.

At the invitation of the CPAFFC, Mr. Han Younghee, Vice President of the Korean Foundation, led a 120-member delegation of the Republic of Korea Young Friendship Envoys and paid a visit to China from 29 August to 6 September 2013.  The delegation consisted of students from around 50 universities and middle schools in Korea.  During the visit to Beijing, Guizhou Province and Zhejiang Province, the young delegates understood more about China’s history and culture and attended joint activities with Chinese students.  Mr. Feng Zuoku (Vice President of CPAFFC), Ms. Chen Guode (Executive Vice President of Guizhou Provincial People’s Friendship Association) and Mr. Ruan Zhongxun (Executive Vice President of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Friendship Association) respectively hosted welcome banquets for the ROK delegation. Korean students lived together with Chinese students in Guizhou Forerunner College and participated in Chinese cultural and sports programs. In Zhejiang, the Korean delegation learned Chinese calligraphy and folk craftsmanship in Shaoxing Unviersity and Zhejiang Yuexiu University of Foreign Languages. The visit exchange program of China and ROK young friendship envoys was initiated by the CPAFFC and the Korean Foundation in 2009. About 2000 students from both countries have participate in the exchange of visits up to now.  

On 29 August 2013, CPAFFC and the China-Korea Friendship Association hosted a welcoming ceremony for the 2013 Korean Young Friendship Envoys Delegation. CPAFFC Vice President Mr. Feng Zuoku, Mr. Liu Xinsheng (Advisor to the China-Korea Friendship Association) and Mr. Choi Youngsam (Minister Counsellor of ROK Embassy in Beijing) attended the ceremony. The Korean delegation consisted of 120 young students, headed by Mr. Han Younghee, Vice President of the Korean Foundation. Mr. Feng Zuoku, Mr. Han Younghee and Mr. Choi Youngsam respectively made speeches at the ceremony, followed by performances of Chinese and Korean students.

At the invitation of CPAFFC, a 5-member delegation headed by Nguyen Xuan Thang, President of Vietnam-China Friendship Association, paid a visit to Beijing and Harbin from 17 Aug to 23 Aug, 2013.  During their stay in China, the delegation met with Su Rong (Vice Chairman of CPPCC National Committee), Li Xiaolin (President of CPAFFC), Wang Weiguang (President of CASS) and Xu Zezhou (Standing Member of CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee and Director General of Organizing Department of CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee) The delegation had discussions with Feng Zuoku, Vice President of CPAFFC, exchanging ideas on future exchanges between the two associations and friendly cooperation between China and Vietnam . In addition, the delegation also visited China NGO Network for International Exchanges, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin Electric Corporation and Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall.  

Reinvent The Toilet Challenge (RTTC)---China Grant Launch Conference was held at the CPAFFC on 22th August. This conference is jointly hosted by CPAFFC, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation(BMGF), University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), and the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development (CFFPD). CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin spoke at the conference. She said that toilets not only affect our life quality, but decide the existence and development of the human being. Like other developing country in the world, China encounters such challenges as  the lack of sanitary facilities, environmental pollution, etc. It is imperative to innovate technologies, and invent sanitary systems which are easy to use and affordable to developing countries. She encouraged Chinese enterprises, research institutes, and NGOs to work together for his endeavor. Prof. Michael Hoffmann from California Institute of Technology, the top winner of the first RTTC, demonstrated his design on toilets. More than 120 people from businesses, academic institutes and media attended this conference. Representatives from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation introduced the rules and procedures of the contest. The winner will receive financial support from the BMGF on turning the design into real products.  

On August 16, CPAFFC Vice President Li Jianping met with Mr. Karl Heinz Gass, who was awarded the title of Friendship Ambassador. Mr. Gass was engaged in friendship-to-China work for 30 years. He has been to China over 260 times and made great efforts for the cultural, economic, educational cooperation between China and Germany, as well as established deep friendship with the Chinese people. This visit in China of Mr. Gass was to introduce his autobiography Between Donar and Dragon. This autobiography was published by World Knowledge Press and sponsored by BEIJING QL-ART PRINTING CO.,LTD.. Mr. Wang Haiying, the deputy general manger of BEIJING QL-ART PRINTING CO.,LTD. was present at the meeting. Vice President Li Jianping highly praised Mr. Gass’s insistent work on friendship to China and appreciated the generous sponsorship of BEIJING QL-ART PRINTING CO.,LTD..

Jointly sponsored by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Henan Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Anyang Municipal People’s Government, and the National Museum of Chinese Characters, the opening ceremony of Chinese Characters Exhibition in Beijing and launching of world tour was held on August 13, 2013, at the Capital Museum. The CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin, Vice President Xie Yuan, heads of relevant departments of Henan provincial government and Anyang municipal government, representatives from cultural and academic circles, ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Peru, and Uzbekistan, as well as diplomats from embassies of the U.S., Canada, France, ROK, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Nepal, totaling about 100 people, attended the event. Vice President Xie Yuan delivered a speech. President Li Xiaolin declared the opening of the exhibition after which she joined the ribbon cutting with guests, and visited the exhibition with ambassadors foreign diplomats. The Chinese Characters Exhibition aims to present a full view of the long history of Chinese characters, with comprehensive documents, photos and replicas of prescious historic relics. The exhibition provides multiple perspectives to understand the origin, the evolvement, and the spread of Chinese characters and the unique art based on it. It is expected that various cultural and art exchanges will be carried out with all different countries alongside the tour of exhibition, so as to introduce the traditional and vigourous Chinese culture to the world. On the occasion, Director General of the Cultural Exchange Departmeng of the CPAFFC Mr. Ma Xiaoming and Councilor of the Embassy of Uzbekistan Mr. Asadov Botirjon signed the letter of intent on exhibition cooperation. The Chinese Characters Exhibtion will go to Canada, Uzbekistan and Nepal by the end of this year, and a series of cultural exchange events including academic seminars will be held during the exhibition.

At the Invitation of Mr. Mambe, Governor of Abidjan District of Cote D’ivoire, Mr. Abo, President of Togo-China Friendship Association and Mr. Kojo Amoo-Gottfried, President of Ghana-China Friendship Association, the goodwill delegation led by Vice President Feng Zuoku paid a visit to the three countries from Aug. 1 to 11, 2013. In Cote D’ivoire, the delegation called upon Premier Daniel DUNCAN and Governor Mambe, and attended two meetings, one hosted by the Premier with the company of Minister of Commerce, Handicraft Industry and Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises and several other ministers; the other one with the local entrepreneurs. In Togo, the delegation called upon Former Premier Mr. Kojo, paid a visit to the Municipal Government of Lome, the Togolese Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Togolese National Council of Employers and the Lome Port, and undertook a work meet with Togo-China Friendship Association. In Ghana, the delegation met with 6 ministers of the cabinet, e.g. Minister of Trade and Industry Mr. Iddrisu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr. Opong-fosu, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Mme. Ofosu-Agyare. The delegation also attended a reception for celebrating the China-Ghana Friendship Day and took a field study on the market development project in Accra.