CPAFFC representatives participated in the Internet Public Welfare and Charity Forum of the 6th World Internet Conference in Wuzhen on October 21. With the theme of Inclusiveness and Common Development, the forum invited representatives from government divisions, international organizations, ngos, enterprises and think tanks from home and abroad to discuss on the best practices and future development of internet philanthropy. Mr. Ji Yongjun, Deputy Director General of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs of CPAFFC, spoke at the forum. He said that philanthropy has always been an important part of the work of CPAFFC. In 2015, we established Every Woman Every Child China Partnership Network, in support of the United Nations Every Woman Every Child project. Through programs such as sending overseas medical teams and training doctors and nurses in African countries, we played an active part in the global cooperation in improving women and children’s health. Next up, we plan to carry out online training for doctors and teachers in remote rural areas based on internet resources. In the meantime, we wish to share the Chinese models and experiences with developing countries and regions such as African countries, so that more people could benefit. Photographed by Zhang Yang

At the invitation of CPAFFC, Professor Alexander Hulshoff, Chairman and Artistic Director of Villa Musica of Germany, led a Trio to visit China from Oct. 12th-19th, holding chamber music concerts in Fuzhou, Nanchang and Chengdu. Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of CPAFFC, met the delegation on Oct. 18th. Mr. Hu Sishe firstly expressed warm welcome to the delegation and sincere congratulations on their successful concerts. Villa Musica and CPAFFC had maintained exchange of visits for many years, forging a deep friendship and enjoying steady relations. At the meeting, both sides had an in-depth discussion on further strengthening the exchange and cooperation between young musicians in China and Germany. The musicians of Villa Musica played Trio and Duo of Mozart and Beethoven and won warm applauds from the Chinese audiences. Attending Fuzhou Concert were Madame Malu Dreyer, Governor of Rheinland-Pfalz State, Germany and Ms. Guo Ningning, Vice Governor of Fujian Province, China; Nanchang Concert Mr. Zhen Xiang, Party Secretary of Jiangxi Pronvincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Mr. Yu Xiaoshe, Party Secretary of Nanchang University, and Mr. Li Yuqiang, Vice President of Jiangxi Provincial Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Chengdu concert Mr. Chen Min, Vice President of Sichuan Provincial Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Ms. Yun Wenying, Vice President of Sichuan Conservatory of Music. Fuzhou, Nanchang, Chengdu Concerts The delegation also held a Master Class in Art and Design Department of Nanchang University and Sichuan Conservatory of Music, having interactions with musical students. The delegation visited Chengdu Tianyashi Primary School and provided insights on art education and musical learning. Interactions with musical students Media coverage： Fujian TV  China News Service, Jiangxi branch Photographed by Wu Yuxuan

On October 19, the 2019 Tang Xianzu Theatre Festival & International Theater Exchange Month (Tang Xianzu Festival), jointly held by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), People’s Government of Jiangxi Province and the China Theatre Association, saw its grand opening in Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province. Mme. Li Bin, Vice Chairwoman of the CPPCC, Mr. Yao Zengke, Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC, Mr. Wang Xiaoying, Vice President of the China Theatre Association, Mr. Xiao Yi, Vice Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the CPPCC and Secretary of the Fuzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC, H.E. Mr. Teshome Toga, Ethiopian Ambassador to China, Mr. Eduardo Escribano, Counsellor of Spanish Embassy in China and Mme. Jo Hawley, British Consul General in Guangzhou attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. H.E. Mme. Winnie N. Chibesakunda, Zambian Ambassador to China, Mme. Ivana Grollová, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of Czech Embassy in China, Jamie Fouss, US Consul General in Wuhan and other foreign diplomats as well as delegations sent from Shakespeare's hometown of British Stratford District, Livingstone City of Zambia and U.S. Sister Cities International, along with more than 300 representatives from home and abroad, also attended the opening ceremony. Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province Mme. Wu Zhongqiong moderated the ceremony. Vice Chairwoman Mme. Li Bin delivered a speech on the opening ceremony Vice Chairwoman Mme. Li Bin stressed in her speech that from the joint commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the death of playwrights Tang Xianzu, Shakespeare as well as Cervantes, to the annual Tang Xianzu Festival, Tang Xianzu theatre culture has gradually expanded nationwide and worldwide, becoming one of hallmarks of Chinese traditional culture and a name card for foreign cultural exchanges of Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province and even of China. By this platform, which helps China open dialogues with the world by theatre and showcases Chinese culture’s aesthetics, we can continuously promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and foreign countries and enhance Chinese people’s friendship with foreign countries. Vice President Mme. Lin Yi delivered a speech on the opening ceremony Vice President Mme. Lin Yi pointed out that the CPAFFC will make efforts to further Fuzhou City’s exchanges with British Stratford Distrct and Spanish Alcala City so as to foster economic and cultural cooperation among the three theatre masters, Tang Xianzu, Shakespeare and Cervantes’ hometowns, to deepen exchanges and mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign people, and to embrace the bright prospect of a community with a shared future for mankind together. H.E. Mr. Teshome Toga delivered a speech on the opening ceremony H.E. Mr. Teshome Toga expressed that by exchanges and mutual learning, we can explore others’ cultures, traditions, customs and languages, opening our horizons and strengthening our understanding of different societies and tolerance of others’ cultures, which promotes inter-cultural dialogues among countries, world peace and common development. It is in my hope that Tang Xianzu Festival will continuously play the role as a window for culture promotion and cooperation and that friendship provinces and cities shall have more exchanges and cooperation. Opening ceremony and parade of Tang Xianzu Festival The opening ceremony consisted of cultural and art performance and Chinese and foreign theatre parade, which included U.K. and Spain’s performances as well as domestic ones with strong local or national characteristics. It is also the first time for Tang Xianzu Festival’s opening ceremony that it connected to the Peony Pavilion in British Stratford and in Russian Perm City by converged media on site. This year witnesses the fourth year of Tang Xianzu Festival, starting from October 19th to the end of November. It organizes eleven main events this year, among which are Tang Xianzu International Academic Symposium, Chinese and Foreign Classic Theatre Performances, Jiangxi Tour for Foreign Diplomats and Experts in China, China and U.K. Week of Culture and Tourism. Excerpt of Media Coverage: CCTV1 (XINWEN LIANBO), CCTV13 (MIDNIGHT NEWS), CCTV4 (CHINESE NEWS) and other reports XINHUA NEWS GUANGMING ONLINE CHINA NEWS CHINA DAILY TENCENT  Photographed by Li Yong

On Oct 18, H.E. Arken Imirbaki, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress (NPC) , met with H.E. Mohamed Al-Dehaimi, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the PRC, at CPAFFC. H.E. Arken Imirbaki expressed warm welcome to H.E. Mohamed Al-Dehaimi for his assumption of office in China and thanked him for his congratulation letter on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. Nowadays, Chinese people are closely uniting around the CPC Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core and striving to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. China attaches great importance to developing strategic partnership with Qatar. We are willing to work jointly with the Qatari side to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields within the framework of co-construction of the “Belt and Road”. H.E. Arken Imirbaki hoped the new ambassador could continue to support China-Qatar friendly relations and push our strategic partnership to a new level. H.E. Mohamed Al-Dehaimi thanked H.E. Arken Imirbaki for taking time to meet him. He said that Qatar values its relations with China and supports the “Belt and Road” Initiatives proposed by China. Qatar would like to carry out all-round cooperation in various areas with China, including to increase investment in China and enhance personnel exchanges. Qatar Embassy in China will continue to support all friendly activities and make concerted effort with the  Chinese side as always to make positive contribution to bilateral  friendly exchanges. CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi also attended the meeting. Photographed by Gong Xu

Vice president Xie Yuan met with Asha Varghese, president of Caterpillar Foundation on October 16, 2019. Vice president Xie congratulated President Varghese for her new position, and gave a brief introduction on the major work of CPAFFC. As Caterpillar Foundation and CPAFFC share similar goals, Xie hoped that the two organizations could further deepen cooperation so as to make joint efforts in driving forward the global sustainable development. President Varghese expressed sincere gratitude to CPAFFC for the support given to the work of Caterpillar Foundation in China. In order to better facilitate China’s poverty alleviation strategy, the Foundation plans to adjust their future work prioties, by investing more on projects such as poverty elimination through education and natural infrastructure construction, so as to build more resilient communities to help with China’s poverty alleviation goal. Photographed by Zhang Yang

On October 14, at the invitation of the Tanzanian Embassy in China, the CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi attended the commemoration of "Nyerere Day in China" and addressed the opening ceremony. The event was hosted by the Tanzanian Embassy in China and co-organized by Center for African Studies at Peking University. Hon. Mizengo Pinda, former Prime Minister of Tanzania, H.E. Mbelwa Kairuki, the Tanzanian Ambassador to China, and H.E. Hao Ping, President of Peking University were present.  In her speech, Mme. Lin Yi pointed out that Nyerere is both a good and old friend familiar to the Chinese people. He is also the founder and pioneer of China-Tanzania relations. Based on the solid foundation of the traditional friendship, which was laid by Nyerere and the older generation of the Chinese leaders, the CPAFFC has worked actively, through mechanism like China-Africa Friendship Award, Forum on China Africa Local Governmet Cooperation and China Africa Friendship Organizations Leaders Meeting, to deepen and expand people-to-people friendship with Tanzania and Africa at large in areas of culture, youth, vocational training and charity etc,. It is hoped that the youth will actively engage in the cause of people-to-people diplomacy, so as to rejuvenate the traditional friendship between China and Tanzania, China and Africa, and also make new contributions to building an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future. photographed by Peking University

From Sep. 22 to 30, the 4th China-Germany-India Young Leaders’ Exchange Program, sponsored by Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC) and organized by Sichuan Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(SIFA), was successfully held in Chengdu. Participants of this program included 7 Chinese students from Chengdu University，7 people from Germany State Sport Association in North Rhine Westphalia and an observer delegation of 2 members from National Youth Development Agency of South Africa (NYDA).(Delegation from India was unable to join the program due to some emergencies.) In the program, young people from China, Germany and South Africa learned about China's economic and social development, experienced local customs, and shared their thoughts about values on society, family and friends. They enhanced mutual understanding and developed friendship through topic discussions, Chinese traditional culture lessons, collective investigation tasks and sports activities.  The China-Germany-India Young Leaders’ Exchange Program is co-sponsored by CPAFFC, State Sport Association in North Rhine Westphalia from Germany and Friends of China Association from India. It has been successfully held for 3 terms since 2009. Each term lasts for 3 years, within which relative exchange activities are organized once in China, Germany and India respectively. Photographed by Liu Lu

On September 27th, Vice President Hu Sishe Meets with Mr. Zhi Fai Guan, president of Norwegian Association of Overseas Cantonese who came to China for celebration activities relevant with the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC.  President Hu extended welcome to Mr. Guan’s visit to CPAFFC. He appreciated the deeds made by Norwegian Association of Overseas Cantonese for friendly exchanges between China and Norway and hoped for further strengthened cooperation.  Mr. Guan thanked President Hu for his arrangement of this meeting. He applauded great changes in the past 70 years since the founding of PRC and promised more efforts in the cause of China-Norway friendship. Ms. Jia Ling, Deputy Director-General of the Cultural Exchange Department, CPAFFC was also present at the meeting.  Photographed by Sun Yajing

Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC, met with H.E. Mr. Mbelwa Kairuki, Ambassador of Tanzania to China on September 24, 2019. Mme. Lin Yi said that on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tanzania, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, President of Tanzania-China Friendship Promotion Association and former Prime Minister of Tanzania, was awarded “Friendship Medal”, China’s highest medal of honor for foreigners. It will greatly promote and carry forward China-Tanzania traditional friendship, and also bring new vitality to it in the new era. The CPAFFC will continue to maintain close cooperation with the Embassy and jointly promote the continuous development of China-Tanzania friendly relations. Ambassador Kairuki said that Dr. Salim’s “Friendship Medal” is not only his own honor, but also the best example of Tanzania-China all-weather friendship. He would like to express gratitude to the Chinese side on behalf of the Tanzanian government. Also, he emphasized that the CPAFFC has played an important role in promoting Tanzania-China friendly relations, and the embassy will continue to support the CPAFFC’s work. The two sides also discussed on the forthcoming cooperation programs.  Photographed by Pei Xingchen

On September 10, Vice President Lin Yi met with Ms. Kenneh Jobe, Charge D'affaires a.i.of the Gambian Embassy in China. Mme. Lin Yi started by expressing her welcome to Ms. Jobe and her delegation on behalf of the CPAFFC and President Li Xiaolin. She made a detailed introduction to the functions of the CPAFFC and its work with Africa as well, in particular the  exchanges in the areas of local governments and friendship-with-China organizations. She said that since the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Gambia, bilateral relations have enjoyed all-round and fast development and also fruitful and remarkable results in cooperation. The friendship between China and Gambia has win more support among the peoples. Mme. Lin said that the CPAFFC will keep further contact with the Gambian Embassy in China, comprehensively strengthen exchanges  in the field of local governments, twinning of friendship cities, culture and youth, so as to bring more benefit to the two peoples. Ms. Jobe thanked Mme. Lin for taking time from her busy schedule for meeting her and highly praised the CPAFFC’s work in promoting people-to-people diplomacy. She said that Gambia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and its government and people are grateful to China for its valuable help in Gambia’s economic development and improvement of people's livelihood. The Gambian Embassy in China is willing to strengthen coordination with the CPAFFC, to deepen the people-to-people friendship between the two countries through local government cooperation and cultural exchanges etc,. Photographed by Pei Xingchen