On January 21st, the China-Cambodia Friendly Personages’ Meeting hosted by CPAFFC was held in Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, who’s on a formal visit to China, attended the meeting with Mme.Gu Xiulian, President of China-Cambodia Friendship Association (CCFA), CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi and other 20 Chinese representatives from all fields. Hun Sen said that it’s pleasure to meet each Chinese friends who had witnessed and promoted the Cambodia-China Friendship. At present, with the strategic guidance by the leaders from two countries, the Cambodia-China relations got strong  momentum. This visit was of special meaning to promote the bilateral cooperation which would benefit Cambodia’s development. Hun Sen said that the people-to-people friendship contributed to the government-to-government relations and hoped that the two countries’ friendship associations would made continuous communications and cooperation to enhance the friendship and understanding between the two peoples. Gu Xiulian thanked Hun Sen for meeting the Chinese delegates and congratulated him for leading the Cambodian People’s Party to win the election last year and re-electing the Prime Minister. Gu Xiulian said that the China-Cambodia traditional friendship cultivated by Chairman Mao Zedong, Primer Zhou Enlai and King Father Sihanouk was deeply rooted and the two countries witnessed frequent high-level exchanges in recently years. It is with strong belief that Prime Minister’s visit would boost the bilateral relations. Gu Xiulian said that CPAFFC and CCFA would keep the exchanges and cooperation with Cambodia-China Friendship Association led by President EK Sam OL thus to further strengthen the bilateral relations. Mr. Pan Guangxue, Former Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, Mr.Gu Jun, Senior Engineer of China Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Mr.Cao Xunchang, team leader of the 2016 Chinese volunteers service team to Cambodia delivered the speech during the meeting respectively. Mr.Wang Wentian, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia was present at the meeting.             Photographed by Ren Xin 

2019 China-Japan Friendship New Year Concert organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) was held in Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center on the afternoon of January 19th. Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. YOKOI Yutaka, Japanese Ambassador to China, and his wife, Mr. KAWAI HIROTAKA, General Manager of KAWAI Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd., attended the concert. Sino-Japanese young pianists, Xu Gehui and Shino Hidaka, played classic tracks from Franz Liszt, Johann Sebastian Bach, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and two pieces of featured music, Chinese Rhapsody-overture and dance music, Piano Folio. Young violinists and singers from Central Conservatory of Music performed wonderful ensemble played by piano and violin, and sang songs. The famous song, Nessun Dorma, chose from opera, Turandot, pushed the atmosphere of the concert to the climax. The concert won the warm applause and achieved a complete success. Nearly 400 Chinese and Japanese personages from all walks of life including leaders from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Ministry of Commerce of the PRC and other related ministries, council members of China-Japan Friendship Association and representatives from Japanese enterprises in Beijing and media, attended the concert. KAWAI Music Education· China and Japan Friendly Exchange Foundation was also sponsor. This Foundation was established in 2014, which was used to develop charitable activities for Sino-Japanese friendly exchanges with the aims of music talents training and music education. China-Japan Friendship New Year Concert had been held five consecutive sessions since 2015 and had received positive response.              

Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met in Beijing with Mr. KIHARA SEIJI, Member of Japanese House of Representatives, Vice Chairperson of Policy Research Council for Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Former Vice Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and his delegation on January, 17. Vice President Song extended welcome to KIHARA SEIJI and WATANABE TAKASHI, Mayor of Higashimurayama City, and conveyed the cordial greetings from CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin. Vice President Song said, last year marked the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. The bilateral relations returned to the track of normal development with the common efforts of the two governments and various sectors. Both sides should value the hard-won situation to improve the bilateral relations. Since this year marks the Sino-Japanese Youth Exchange Year, we would organize thirty thousand teenagers from China and Japan to exchange in five years. Both sides would hold Olympic Games Successively, which brought new opportunities for the people-to-people and cultural exchanges like the youth and sports of the two countries. The delegation had a discussion with General Administration of Sport of China about Games of the Tokyo Olympic this time, which achieved active results and signed a memorandum. CPAFFC and CJFA (China–Japan Friendship Association ) would like to strengthen the friendly relationship with Higashimurayama City and give a lot support in it. KIHARA SEIJI thanked Vice President Song for taking time to meet them and conveyed cordial greetings to CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin. KIHARA SEIJI said, it is very gratifying to see the recovery of Japan-China relations. During the visiting this time, Higashimurayama City and General Administration of Sport of China signed a memorandum, which could make more citizens in Higashimurayama City to learn about China. Japanese side would also like to give Chinese Olympic delegation a lot support in the training before the game and wished Chinese Olympic delegation a complete success in the Games of the Tokyo Olympic. KIHARA SEIJI also expressed that they are willing to promote the exchange and cooperation of the two countries in the field of youth, people-to-people and culture, and make their efforts on further improving the bilateral relations. The delegation visiting China was at the invitation of CPAFFC.

Vice President Xie Yuan met with Dan Stephenson, Executive Director of Overseas Partnerships for Golden Spike 150th Anniversary (Spike 150) and the Executive Director of Economic Bridge International on January 17th.  Stephenson introduced that Spike 150,initiated by Governor Gary Herbert and the State Legislature of Utah, will be held in May this year in Utah. This project aims to commemorate the meritorious contributions made by early Chinese immigrants on constructing the Central Pacific railroad 150 years ago as well as recognizing the efforts of contemporary Chinese immigrants in the growth of U.S. economy. He extended invitations to CPAFFC and Chinese government officials and business leaders.  Vice President Xie spoke highly of the Utah State government and legislature in commemoration of efforts and contribution made by early Chinese immigrants. CPAFFC would like to provide full support to Spike 150 and help promote the event to Chinese local governments and companies. He hoped that Utah could use Spike 150 as a platform to enhance the pragmatic cooperation at sub-national level between China and the U.S. so as to facilitate the sound development of the bilateral relationship.           Photographed by Jin Hanghang

Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Mr. Zeynalli, Azerbaijan Ambassador to China on January 17th. Vice President Song Jingwu extended welcome to ambassador Zeynalli and conveyed new year greeting to him from CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin. Vice President Song spoke highly of the high-level cooperation developed with Azerbaijan Embassy in China last year and said CPAFFC would like to further strengthen the cooperation and promote the cultural exchange between China and Azerbaijan, and the mutual understanding of the people of the two countries in future, so as to make contributions to the bilateral relations. Ambassador Zeynalli thanked Vice President Song Jingwu for giving a lot support in the work of Azerbaijan Embassy in China, and made a brief introduction about the plans of developing cooperation with China recently and establishing friendship-cities between China and Azerbaijan. Both sides also had a discussion on the cooperation this year. Mme. Hu Chunmei, Associated Counsel of Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.         Photographed by Cai Yunzhe

Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Mr. Archil Kalandia, Georgian Ambassador to China on January, 17th. Vice President Song Jingwu extended welcome to Ambassador Archil Kalandia and congratulated him on taking his new post in China. Vice President Song made a brief introduction about the basic functions of CPAFFC and the work CPAFFC had developed with Georgia in recent years. He said, CPAFFC would like to work together with Georgian Embassy in China and Georgian friendship organizations to increasingly enhance the mutual understanding and traditional friendship between the people of the two countries through developing cooperation programs. Ambassador Archil Kalandia thanked Vice President Song Jingwu for taking time to meet him. He said, during his tenure, Georgian Embassy in China would continue keeping close cooperation with CPAFFC as before and pushing forward the level of the cultural exchange and the local cooperation of the two countries to a new height. Mme. Hu Chunmei, Associated Counsel of Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.         Photographed by Cai Yunzhe

Co-organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and China Urban-townization Promotion Council (CUPC), Nordic Council of Ministers as partner, Green Sustainable Development Conference was held in Beijing on January 17th, 2019. Nearly 300 personages including Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Zheng Xinli, Executive Vice Chairman of CUPC, Mr. Laurent Fabius, President of the Constitutional Council，Former Foreign Minister and Former Prime Minister of France, Mr. Svein Berg, Managing Director of Nordic Innovation, and representatives from think tank, research institutions and well-known enterprises in the leading regions for sustainable development in France, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and etc., and representatives from Chinese governments, think tank and enterprises, attended the opening ceremony. Vice President Hu said in his speech that the current phenomenon of “de-globalization” has occurred in the major developed economies of the world, requiring us to establish a green, shared and sustainable development mechanism under the guidance of the new technological revolution. He also expected to work together with the countries in the world including Nordic countries to discuss about green development, to build sustainable development consensus and to advance international exchange and pragmatic cooperation in the field of green sustainable development, so as to contribute China’s wisdom and method to building a global ecological civilization and a community with a shared future for mankind. Laurent Fabius said in his speech, green sustainable development is one of the two challenges the world confronts with. He hoped that the countries in the world could take actions immediately to realize and to promote commonly the global green sustainable development. Green Sustainable Development Conference is aim to practice new development vision, to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With the theme of green urbanization sustainable development and international cooperation, the representatives had a discussion about technological and educational sustainable development and innovation, energy environmental protection symbiosis city, Social humanities and sustainable development, financial supporting mechanism and sustainable development and other themes. Moreover, they also discussed how to develop the international cooperation on green sustainable development, to explore a collaborative governance trust mechanism among government, market, and social sustainable development.           Photographed by Shao Shuai

At the invitation of the CPAFFC, a 6-member delegation of Ethio-China People's Friendship Association, headed by H.E. Mr. Hailekiros Gessesse, Former Ambassador of Ethiopia to China, visited Beijing and Chengdu from January 7 to 11, 2019. In Beijing, the CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi met with the delegation and signed the Memorandum Of Understanding between Ethio-China People’s Friendship Association (ECPFA) and Chinese People Association For Friendship With Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) with Mr. Hailekiros. The delegation also paid a visit to the Ethiopian Embassy in China, the China-Africa Development Fund and the major exhibition in celebration of the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. In Chengdu, the delegation paid a visit to the Sichuan People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and had a discussion with the Ethiopian students studying in the University of Electronic Science and Technology.                   Photographed by Zhang Yujun

On January 10th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with old friends from the State of Iowa, US, in Beijing. The delegation is consisted of Madam Sarah Lande, the Friendship Ambassador, H.E. Kenneth Quinn, president of World Food Prize Foundation and former U.S. ambassador to Cambodia as well as Mr. Dan Stein, chairman of Muscatine-China Friendship Initiative Committee. Vice President Xie made an introduction of China’s economic and social development. He said that people-to-people exchanges are the important cornerstone of our bilateral relations, encouraging all fields to strengthen cooperation with American friends in the future to further develop the China-U.S. relationship. Madam Lande and the other friends said that the sister state-province relationship between Iowa and Hebei Province had become a model between the two countries. The healthy development of U.S.-China relations were the common aspiration of the two peoples. They would continue to contribute to the development of bilateral friendly relations in the future.        

The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs jointly held the reception commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of People in Beijing on January 10, 2019. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan attended the reception and delivered a speech. Xu Kuangdi, former vice chairman of the CPPCC and president of China-US People’s Friendship Association, US Ambassador Terry Branstad to China and around 300 representatives from all walks of life from China and the US, who support the development of China-US relationship, attended the event. Vice President Wang Qishan said, 40 years ago, for the basic interests of both peoples and with strategic views and political courage, leaders from both countries have made the historic decision to establish diplomatic relations between China and the US, starting a new chapter in China-US relations. Reviewing those 40 years, China-US relations have progressed through ups and downs, achieving significant results that no one could have imagined then. These achievements have not only brought about enormous benefits to both peoples, but also boosted world peace, stability and prosperity. He also said, one can only accomplish his mission when he never forgets why he started. 40 years ago, China and the US established diplomatic relations to expand the common interests of both peoples, and strengthen world peace, stability and development. 40 years now, with our bilateral relations on a new course, both sides should remember our original goals and keep coordination, cooperation and stability as basic principals, creating greater dividends for both countries and the world. Invited by the CPAFFC, Chip Carter, special representative and son of former US President Jimmy Carter, Neil Bush, third son of former US President George H.W. Bush, Chris Cox, grandson of Former US President Richard Nixon, and Sarah Lande, old friend from the State of Iowa, visited China and attended the reception. Chip Carter read the congratulatory letter from his father at the reception.