On July 17th, the 4th U.S.-China Sister Cities Mayors’ Summit, co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Sister Cities International (SCI), was held in Houston, Texas, with the theme of “40 Years Ahead: Stronger Friendship, Closer Cooperation”. Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Li Qiangmin, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Houston, Mr. Yin Chengwu, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States, Mr. Liu Jianyang, Mayor of Nanchang Municipal People’s Government, Mr. Peng Daiyuan, Vice Mayor of Guilin Municipal People’s Government, Mr. Luo Shijian, Vice Mayor of Baise Municipal People’s Government, Mr. Yang Wumin, Vice Mayor of Weinan Municipal People’s Government, Mr. Ron Nirenberg, Mayor of San Antonio, Mr. Alix DeSulme, Vice Mayor of North Miami, Ms. Helene Schneider, Former Mayor of Santa Barbara, Mr. Anise Parker, Former Mayor of Houston, Mr. Christopher Olsen, Director of Trade and International Affairs of Houston and around 200 representatives of local governments, enterprises, educational institutions and other organizations from 21 cities of 16 Chinese provinces and municipalities, as well as 21 cities of 11 states from the United States attended the Summit and had discussions over topics such as innovation and smart cities, Maritime Silk Road and impact, metroplex collaborations and the future for economic growth, and sino-foreign educational cooperation and exchanges, so as to reinforce relations of friendship cities, and to promote pragmatic sub-national cooperation between the United States and China. Vice President Xie Yuan delivered a speech on the opening ceremony of the Summit. He said, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. For 40 years, although weathering wind and rain, China-U.S. relations have firmly forged ahead. Till now, China and the United States have built 227 pairs of friendship cities and 50 pairs of friendship provinces and states. The complementarity and concerted cooperation between the friendship cities have effectively promoted regional economic and social development and deepened the understanding and friendship between the people. In accordance with the principles and direction set by the two heads of state on the G20 Osaka Summit, we should strengthen cooperation in various fields and maintain engaged at different levels, so as to jointly advance a China-U.S. relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability to bring more benefits to the two countries and people of the whole world. Minister Counselor Yin Chengwu of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States read the congratulatory letter from Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai. In the letter, he said, over the past 40 years, the China-U.S. relations have achieved historic development through ups and downs, which has brought great benefits to the two peoples, and promoted peace, prosperity and stability of the world. The history has fully proved that China and America stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Cooperation and dialogue is better than friction and confrontation, and this is also the fundamental principle that will underlie the China-U.S. relations in the future.  Mayor Ron Nirenberg said that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the United States. The summit would review the remarkable achievements and development of the bilateral relations in the past 4 decades, in order to promote bilateral cooperation and foster common prosperity. Director Christopher Olsen attended the Summit on behalf of the government of the City of Houston. In his speech, he said that with the increasingly closer relations between Houston and China in recent years, Houston attaches great importance to its relations with China. This Summit will surely further push forward the pragmatic cooperation between Houston and cities of China.  Mayor Liu Jianyang said in his speech that as the host city of last U.S.-China Sister Cities Mayors’ Summit, they sincerely hope that on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the United States and China, cities of both countries can further strengthen exchanges and cooperation through this platform so as to create a better future. Consul General Li Qiangmin said in the keynote speech that the sub-national exchanges between China and the United States, especially the friendship city cooperation, have always been a strong impetus for the development of bilateral relations and an important bond connecting people from different circles in the two countries. The Summit is the first important conference for bilateral sub-national cooperation after the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump at the G20 Osaka Summit, and it plays a significant role in promoting the relations and pragmatic cooperation of friendship cities between China and the United States. During the Summit, Shanghai held “Trans-Pacific Exchanges and Cooperation, Shanghai Commemorates the 40th Anniversary of China-US Diplomatic Relations” photo exhibition. The U.S.-China Sister Cities Mayors' Summit is an important mechanism for exchanges of local government between the two countries. Since its founding in 2014, the Summit had been successfully held for three times, with a total of over 800 attendees, including officials of local governments and representatives from all walks of life from both countries. The Summit has served as a platform for promoting the development of U.S.-China friendship cities and reinforcing practical cooperation between sub-national governments of both sides.   Photographed by Xinhua News Agency

On July 15, 2019, CPAFFC Vice President Hu Sishe met with Member of Swiss Federal Parliament and President of Swiss-China World Silk Road Association Mr. Claude Béglé. Vice President Hu Sishe welcomed Mr. Béglé’s visit and expressed gratitude for his warm hospitality for CPAFFC working unit and Yushu Prefecture Delegation during their visit to Switzerland as well as for his careful arrangement of events. Mr. Hu also said that CPAFFC would continue the friendly cooperation with Swiss-China World Silk Road Association and further the pragmatic cooperation between China and Switzerland in green sustainable development. Mr. Béglé thanked Vice President Hu Sishe for taking time to meet with them. He pointed out that the Chinese delegations’ visit has given Swiss people an opportunity to get to know the harmonious relations between Tibetan People and Han People as well as Tibetan culture’s philosophy of respecting nature. Both sides agreed that seeking a balance between economic development and environmental preservation would be an important agenda in the future sustainable economy. During the meeting, the two sides have also discussed future cooperation between the two countries in terms of eco-tourism, minority culture, wildlife protection, national parks and traditional medicine. Deputy Director General of Department of Cultural Exchanges Mr. Ji Wei and Executive President of Swiss-China World Silk Road Association Mr. Jing Yunchuan attended the meeting. photographed by Liu Jiayun

Vice president Xie Yuan met with delegation of the Faculty of Law and Political and Administrative Sciences, Lebanese University on July 15th , which is on a visit in China at the invitation of CPAFFC. Lebanese Ambassador in China Milia Jabbour attended the meeting. Vice president Xie introduced the work of CPAFFC and especially cultural and academic exchanges CPAFFC has done with Lebanese University in the recent years to the delegation. Members of delegation expressed that Lebanon has always been a bridge and a window of exchange between eastern and western cultures. Lebanese University expects eagerly to work together and to exchange with Chinese universities and think tanks. Lebanese University plans to establish the first major for master degree in the Middle East that focus on China issue research in the next academic year. The cooperation between China and other countries, especially in the One Belt, One Road Initiative emphasize the mutual benefit, win-win situation and teach people the means of production. The development of China provides the hope and opportunity for Arab world, especially for Lebanon. Ambassador Jabbour highly appreciated the bond-function of CPAFFC in terms of promoting cultural, academic and youth-exchange between China and Lebanon. Before the meeting, the delegation visited the history exhibition of CPAFFC and was able to learn in detail about history of Founding and development of CPAFFC as well as the people-to-people diplomacy work of CPAFFC. The visit of delegation is part of the 8th period of Golden Key Project implemented by Research Center for People-to-People Diplomacy, CPAFFC. Photographed by Xiong Liang

On July 12th, Vice President Ms. Lin Yi met with Mr. Andries Diener, new president of Swiss-China Association and Mr. Thomas Wagner, the honorary president. Both parties had a pleasant discussion on the cooperation and communication between CPAFFC and Swiss-China Association. Photographed by Sun Jiao

Led by Sectary General Li Xikui of CPAFFC, the young cadre delegation visited Tokyo, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Kanagawa etc. in Japan from 8th to 12th July. During the visit, the delegation paid an official visits to president of Japan International Cooperation Center Ms. Yamato Sachiko, mayor of Hitachinaka, Ibaraki County Oya Akira and Hitachinaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and had a friendly pragmatic exchange with young entrepreneur of the chamber. Delegation also paid a inspection visit to Ibaraki state-operated Hitachi Coastal Park, Kouta Shouten, Kurozawa Soy Sauce Store, Romantic Village of Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Isogo Coal-fired thermal Power Station of Yokohama, Kanagawa, in order to get a comprehensive understanding of Japanese local administration, special industries, modern agriculture, civil support toward economic development, use of state-owned land, energy conservation and environment protection etc. and to seek to establish contact with local administration and promote cooperation, thus accomplishing the planned goals of this visit. Delegation members said, they have gained a more visualized and deeper feeling about well-developed industry technologies, advanced management ideas, insistent artisan spirit and beautiful natural environment of Japan after the visit. Their international view has been broadened and developing idea is also innovatively upgraded. All members are willing to take this visit as a chance to contact with Japanese local administrations in relevant fields, strengthen dialogue, discuss cooperation, work hand in hand to create a bright future of mutual benefit and win-win situation and make new contributions to China-Japan friendliness. Photographed by Wang Lei

At the invitation of CPAFFC, Mr. KIM SEONG IN，Communication Director of Korea Foundation（KF）led a delegation of 120 Korean Youth Friendship Ambassadors to visit China from July 7 to 11. The delegation paid a successful visit to Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), where they went to universities and high-tech districts, got a better understanding of Chinese history and culture as well as the knowledge of the development and progress of modern technology. Mme. Tang Ruimin, Deputy Inspector of the Asian and African Affairs Department attended the welcome ceremony and made a speech. She said China and Korea are friendly neighbors and the two peoples enjoy time-honored friendly exchanges. The China-ROK friendship and the future of bilateral ties should be inherited and created by the youth from two countries.  Mr. KIM SEONG IN indicated that Korea and China have kept good communication relationship since the diplomatic ties was established in 1992. The two sides will build a more mature and future-oriented strategic cooperative partnership with expanding people-to-people exchanges at all levels and enhancing the youth communication. He hoped to continue to join hands with CPAFFC to co-organize the Korean Youth Friendship Ambassadors Program, so as to build a solider foundation Korea-China friendship.  The Korean Youth Friendship Ambassadors Program was co-hosted by CPAFFC and KF in 2009. So far, thousands of youth from two sides took part in the program. Group photo of guests at opening ceremony Deputy inspector Mme. Tang Ruimin made a speech at opening ceremony Group photo of delegation at opening ceremony Delegation attended the lecture of H.E. Jang Ha-Sung (Korean ambassador to China) at Guangxi University  Delegation visited Guangxi Normal University  Delegation visited Guilin School of Deaf-Mutes Korean youth experienced traditional Zhuang Medicine Photographed by Liu Lu

On July 10, co-hosted by CPAFFC, Chinese Embassy in Mongolia, Foreign Ministry of Mongolia and Mongolia-China Friendship Association, the Commemorative Conference on the 70th Anniversary of China-Mongolia Diplomatic Ties and Conferring Ceremony of China-Mongolia Friendship Award was held in Ulaanbaatar. H. E. Mr.Wang Qishan, Vice President of China, who was on a friendly visit to Mongolia, H. E. Mr. Enkhtuvshin, Vice Prime Minister of Mongolia attended the event and delivered the speech respectively. Vice President Wang Qishan conferred the medals and certificates of China-Mongolia Friendship Award to 4 Mongolian awardees. Over 200 guests in the fields of political, economic, cultural, media and public sectors from two countries were present. President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC hosted the event. In his speech, Vice President Wang firstly, on behalf of the Chinese government, paid tribute and sent gratitude to personages from both countries in all walks of life who have cared and supported the China-Mongolia relations development for a long time. Vice President Wang said that China and Mongolia are good neighbors, good friends and good partners connected by mountains and rivers. The bilateral relations development is benefited by the careful cultivation and strategic guidance by the two countries’ leaders from generations, the joint promotion by friends in each social sectors with good neighborhood and friendship in mind, and the mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation in each field. Vice President Wang said that on the new historic starting point of 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties, the two sides should make concerted efforts to continuously enhance the political trust, deepen the synergy of OBOR and “Developing Road”of Mongolia, strengthen the people-to-people exchanges and jointly build the China-Mongolia community of shared future. Vice Prime Minister Enkhtuvshin said in his speech that Mongolia and China are close neighbors with traditional friendship. Mongolia is one of the earliest countries to recognize and develop friendly and cooperative relations with the P.R.China. In the past 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, although there are different phases in history, the bilateral relations development have always been oriented to the friendly direction. Enkhtuvshin emphasized that to develop the friendly and cooperative relations with China is the priority of Mongolia’s foreign diplomacy and Mongolia is appreciated for the long-term support and aid from China. Enkhtuvshin said that Mongolia firmly support the OBOR initiative and would enhance the synergy of the Developing Road with OBOR, expand the cooperation in bilateral, multilateral fields as well as in the framework of UN, deepen the public exchanges thus to further the development of Mongolia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Relations. On the ceremony, Vice President Wang Qishan conferred the medals and certificates to the 4 awardees from Mongolia, namely, Mr. Batsukh, former Mongolian Ambassador to China and Chairman of Mongolia-China Friendship Association, Mr. Sukhbaatar, former Mongolian Ambassador to China and Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Democratic Party, Mr. Chimidtseye, Mongolian president of Confucius Institute in Mongolia National University and Executive Chairman of Mongolia-China Friendship Association, Mr. Baatarkhuu, president of Mongolia Research Association on Chinese History and Culture and famous Mongolian sinologist. The China-Mongolia Friendship Award is set up by CPAFFC to honor the personages who have made long-term contribution and outstanding achievements in developing the bilateral relations and promoting the exchanges and cooperation. photographed by Peoples' Daily in Mongolia

On July 8, Vice President Xie Yuan Meets with Mr. Igal Amedi, Chairman of the Israeli Council of Culture and Art. Ms. Efrat Perri, Press Officer of the Israeli Embassy in China and Ms. Han Xue, representative of Department of Culture & Academic Affairs of the Israeli Embassy in China attended the meeting. Mr. Ji Wei and Ms. Jia Ling, who are Deputy Director-Generals of the Cultural Exchange Department of CPAFFC were also present at the meeting.  Vice President Xie Yuan briefly introduced the work of CPAFFC and emphasized recent cultural exchanges and cooperation between CPAFFC and Israel. He mentioned that great similarity exits between CPAFFC and the Israeli Council of Culture and Arts since both have the function of promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation with foreign countries. In the near future, we can facilitate our cooperation in cultural exchanges by signing a MOU as soon as possible.  Mr. Amedi extended his thanks to the meetings with President Li Xiaolin and Vice President Xie Yuan. He expounded functions of the Israeli Council of Culture and Art and noted that China is one of the important partners to Israel. Cultural exchanges and cooperation can further deepen friendship between the 2 peoples as well as the two countries.     Before the visit, Mr. Amedi visited the exhibition on the history of CPAFFC for better understanding of CPAFFC’s history and the achievements of People-to-People Diplomacy.   Photographed by Sun Yajing

From 2nd to 6th July, the delegation of CPAFFC led by vice president Song Jingwu visited Tokyo, Sendai etc. in Japan on the invitation of Soka Gakkai. During the visit, vice president Song met with executive vice president of Soka Gakkai Ikeda Hiromasa, chairman of New Komeito  Yamaguchi Natsuo, former minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Kawanura Takeo, vice governor of Miyaqi Endo Shinya, president of Soka University Tashiro Yasunori, Curator of Tokyo Fuji Art Museum Gokita Akira and executive representative of Min-On Concert Association Ito Kazuto etc. and exchanged views about deepening cooperation relationship with Soka Gakkai and other Japanese organizations and promoting China-Japan friendliness. Vice president Song said, it is the first visit based on the Friendship Exchange Memorandum co-ratified by CPAFFC and Soka Gakkai last year, which has a significant meaning in terms of deepening the exchange and cooperation relationship between CPAFFC and Soka Gakkai. Under the lead of honorary president Ikeda Daisaku, Soka Gakkai has consistently stuck to China-Japan Friendliness and made unremitting efforts and positive contributions to normalization of diplomatic relations, improvement and development of China-Japan relations and exchanges and cooperation in culture and education etc. Leaders of both countries have lately met during the G20 Summit in Osaka and have reached ten consensus about further deepening China-Japan relations, which clears the developing direction of China-Japan relations in the future. With both countries standing at a new historical starting point, CPAFFC is willing to work together with Soka Gakkai and other organizations of friendliness in Japan and co-conduct more and more colorful exchange activities in the fields of culture, sport, teenager etc., thus consistently developing the China-Japan relations towards the right direction.  Vice president Ikeda Hiromasa said, his father, honorary president Ikeda Daisaku has issued an initiative to normalize the Japan-China diplomatic relation as early as 1968. After his first visit in China, Ikeda Daisaku has devoted himself to promoting exchange and cooperation in various fields between Japan and China. It is our mission to develop the tradition and to pass the belief of Japan-China Friendliness to the next generations on the basis of Japan-China Friendliness grounded by our last generation. Soka Gakkai will strengthen the cooperation with CPAFFC and consistently contribute to the deepening of exchanges in every fields between both countries and to greater development of Japan-China relations in the new era. Chairman of the New Komeito Yamaguchi Natsuo said, it has important meaning for consolidating the developing basis of Japan-China relations to keep the frequent high-level exchanges between Japan and China. New Komeito has always worked actively to improve and develop Japan-China relations when Japan-China relations were once in a serious situation. In the present time, there is a great chance to further develop the relations between both countries and New Komeito is willing to continue unremitting efforts to develop Japan-China relations. During the visit, CPAFFC has also signed an intent letter of friendly relations with Japan-China Friendship and Culture Exchange Promotion Association.  

On 4th July 2019, accompanied by Zheng Zeguang, vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, vice chairman of National Committee of CPPCC Mr Zheng Jianbang attended the reception celebrating 45th anniversary of China-Venezuela diplomatic ties in Beijing and met with ambassador of Venezuela Iván Zerpa and exchanged views about bilateral relation development. Vice president Xie Yuan of CPAFFC and ambassador of Venezuela Iván Zerpa made speeches respectively at the celebrating reception。   Vice president Xie Yuan said in his speech, the political mutual trust has continuously deepened since the diplomatic relations between China and Venezuela were established and both countries have consistently supported each other on issues of mutual key interests. It is hoped that both sides can take the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties as a new starting point and work hand in hand to further promote beneficial cooperation in different fields and to make new greater contributions to building a community of a shared future for human.  In the speech, Ambassador Iván Zerpa pointed out, China-Venezuela relations are a model of relations between nations and Venezuela sees China as a important partner and thanks for the resolute support of China on related issues. The cooperation of both sides in various fields has been continuously broadened in recent years and Venezuela will further enhance the all-round cooperation with China. The celebrating reception was co-hosted by CPAFFC, embassy of Venezuela in China, China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development and nearly 100 guests including representatives from Central Military Commission, the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, National Energy Administration, Peoples’ Bank of China, China Development Bank other Chinese relevant departments and venezuelan representatives from different fields in China attended this reception.     Photographed by Zhu Rui