The Second China-Latin America and Caribbean Local Governments Cooperation Forum was held in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province on November 14, 2018. Nearly 200 local governments officials from 24 provinces and cities in 14 foreign countries including the Republic of Argentina, the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, the Republic of El Salvador, the United States of Mexico, Plurinational State of Bolivia, the Republic of Chile, the Republic of Haiti, the Republic of Suriname, Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Republic of Panama, the Republic of Costa Rica, the Republic of Peru, and local governments leaders from 14 Chinese provinces, municipalities directly under the Central government, autonomous regions (25 cities), attended the forum. Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Mme. Xu Honglan, Vice Mayor of Wuhan Municipal People's Government, Mr. Dong Xiaojun, Ambassador of Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Mr. Marne Yohn Osorio Lima, President of Uruguay Mayors Association, Mr. Ana María Silva Gutierrez, Vice President of Chilean City Association, Mr.  Edde Cuellar Alegría, co-President of Peruvian City Association and etc., delivered speeches respectively and emphasized the importance and urgency of strengthening the exchanges and cooperation of the local governments. With the theme of win-win cooperation for common development, representatives actively made speeches on the topics, such as, city management, unique industry development, friendly cities (provinces and states) exchanges and etc. so as to promote the cooperation among the parties in the field of trade, tourism, people-to-people and culture. The forum was embodied the achievements document of Second Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (China-CELAC Forum )  in order to build the platform to exchange for the local governments between China and Latin America and Caribbean.         Photographed by Sun Tao 

On Nov.13, Vice President Hu Sishe Meets with Dr. Claude Begle, Member of Swiss Federal Parliament and President of Swiss-China World Silk Road Association. Mr.Hu first extended his welcome to Dr.Begle for his third visit to CPAFFC this year and expressed sincere congratulations to the official launch of Swiss-China World Silk Road Association in Swiss Embassy in China tomorrow (Nov.14). He suggested that the two associations can seize the opportunities rising in the process of deepening reform and opening-up to deepen cooperation and establish the mechanism of high-level Dialogue with topics of inter-parliament exchanges, ecological protection, innovation of science and technology, tourism and culture all included in the mechanism.  Dr.Begle extended his gratitude to his visit to Sanjianggyuan region in Qinghai owing to the arrangement of CPAFFC. He said that he experienced for himself the improvement of local life in Sanjiangyuan Region and the unity and mutual assistance between Han people and Tibetans. He also hopes that the two associations together with Qinghai province can have more cooperation in inter-parliament exchanges, wild life protection, integrated water resources  management and Tibetan medicine. Mr. Jing Yunchuan, Executive president of Swiss-China World Silk Road Association, Mr.Guo Qingzhu,councilor of Swiss-China World Silk Road Association, and Mr. Ji Wei, Deputy Director-General of Cultural Exchange Department of CPAFFC also attended the meeting.          

On Novenmber. 13th ,Vice President Song Jingwu met with Mr. Thorkell Arnason, the newly elected president of Icelandic Chinese Cultural Society and Gunnar Gunnarson,  Ambassador of Iceland to China. Vice president Song Jingwu congratulated Mr.Arnason on his election as new president of ICCS and asked him to convey his greetings to his predecessors, especially old friend of  CPAFFC , Mr Arnthor Helgason. President Arnason said that he hmself is engaged in high-tech coorperation with China, and while was elected president of ICCS this October, he will make new contributions to promoting Iceland-China friendship and cooperation.Ambassodor Gunnarson invited president Song Jingwu to attend the reception celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Independency of Iceland, which will be held this month.  The two sides exchanged views widely on enhancement of people-to-people friendship and furthering cooperation on high-tech, cultural exchange, geothermy and arctic affairs.        

Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress & President of the Chinese-Arab Friendship Association (CAFA), Arken Imirbaki met with Habib El Malki, President of the House of Representatives on November 9th, during his visit to Morocco. Arken first conveyed Chairman Li Zhanshu's cordial greetings. Noting that China and Morocco enjoyed profound traditional friendship, and this year marks the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties, he said that China is willing to work with Morocco to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, and elevate the China-Morocco strategic partnership to a new level. Arken also briefed Mr. Malki on the Second Chinese and Arab Cities Forum and its achievements. Stressing that Morocco greatly values its friendly relationship with China, Mr. Malki said that Morocco appreciates China’s contribution to its social and economic development and called on both sides to deepen bilateral cooperation in all fields. Chinese Ambassador to Morocco Li Li and CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi were present at the meeting.         Photographed by Fang Ying

On Nov. 8th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with an Iowa trade mission headed by Tiffany Tauscheck, chief strategy officer of the Greater Des Moines Partnership (CDME). VP Xie welcomed the delegation to participate the first China International Import Expo. He spoke highly of the achievements made by Iowa in cooperation with China in various fields, and the vision and strong belief that it has shown in building a stronger tie with China. VP Xie briefed a series of programs that the CPAFFC has initiated in enhancing China-U.S. subnational exchanges and cooperation. He said that CPAFFC would like to work jointly with American friends to promote the healthy development of bilateral relations. Ms. Tauschck thanked the CPAFFC for the support and assistance in Iowa’s cooperation with China over the past years. On behalf of the CDME, she wished to strengthen the ties with China in a wide range of areas such as economy, trade, agriculture and education and make active efforts in U.S-China relations.        

On 8 November, H.E. Arken Imirbaki, Vice Chairman of NPC Standing Committee & President of the Chinese-Arab Friendship Association, attended and addressed the Opening Ceremony of the Second Chinese Arab Cities Forum, jointly hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Arab Towns Organization (ATO) and Ministry of Interior of Morocco in Marrakesh of Morocco. Aziz Rabbah, Minister of Energy, Mines, Water & Sustainable of Morocco, Ahmed Hamad Al Subih, Secretary General of ATO, and President of the Moroccan Association of Regions, President of the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Communal Councils, as well as President of Marrakesh-Safi Region also attended and delivered respective speeches. Over 250 participants representing non-governmental organizations, academicians, local governments and private sectors both from China and from Arab countries were present at the forum as well.         Photographed by Tu Lili

As one of the offical side events of the first China International Import Expo (CIIE), Belt & Road Eco-Agriculture and Food Safety Forum (BREAFSF) was held in National Exhibition and Convention Center( Shanghai ) on Novermber 6, 2018. The forum, with the aims of expanding food import, furthering international cooperation, was jointly hosted by State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and co-organized by Shanghai Municipal Food and Drug Administration (SMFDA) and Grand World Investment Holding Group (GWIHG). Mr. Zhang Mao, Minister of SAMR, Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC, Mr. Xu Kunlin, Vice Mayor of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Former Prime Minister of France, Mr. Shahin Mustafayev, Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Mr. Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety of European Commission, Mr. Andrew Doyle, Minister of State of Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine of Ireland, delivered speeches respectively. President Li Xiaolin said, this year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. In the past 40 years, China has developed into a country with a huge supply of food and even a moderately prosperous society in all respects from a country with barely basic livelihood. As relying on the rule-based international free trade regime and open market, China and other countries become increasingly affluent. Countries need to pursue an open policy, explicitly oppose protectionism and unilateralism, and strive to enhance the level of opening-up at both multilateral and bialteral levels, so that we could make our economies interconnected and build an open world economy. Mr. Zhang Mao, Minister of SAMR, said, the cooperation between eco-agriculture and food safety had become indispensable parts to the Belt and Road Initiative and also become an important chance to build community of shared interests and community of a shared future for participating countries along the trade routes of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Strengthening the international cooperation of food safety provides an important underpinning for the work of food safety. The fully cooperation among the particpating countries along the trade routes of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is indispensable to the development of food trade, science and the supervision of food safety. Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Former Prime Minister of France, expressed, CIIE is a great initiative, which fully shows to the world China’s determination for further reform and opening-up and strengthening international cooperation and common prosperity. He also said, as food safety is related to the people all over the world, it needs countries in the world to cooperate. After the opening ceremony, the officals, enterprise executives and researchers from China and overseas had an in-depth discussion on three themes, including International Cooperation on the Supervision of Agricultural Products and Food, Eco-Agriculture Ensuring Food Safety, and Standards, Certification and Accreditation Promoting the Import Trade of Agricultural Products and Food. 300 representatives presented at the CIIE also attended the forum.      

The opening ceremony of the first touring exhibition in China mainland One Piece, the world-class animation work, was held in Sea World Culture and Arts Center in Shenzhen on Novermber 2. Leaders and guests, including Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)，Mr. ONO SINNYA, former Vice Minister of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Mr. Liuwei, Deputy Director-General of China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co., Ltd., Mr. Jiang Hong, Secretary General of ShenZhen Overseas Exchanges Association, Mr. Chen Jianzhong, Chairman of the Board of KOUZAN Fine-arts Company, Mr. HIRONO SHINICHI, Managing Director of Shueisha Inc., Mr. Wang Zhiyuan, Chairman of the Board of YONGHENGSHENG Group, Mr. YAMADA KIICHIROU, Director of TOEI ANIMATION CO., LTD., Mr. Wang Hao, General Manager of Chongqing Dongling Art Co., Ltd., attended the opening ceremony. Vice President Hu Sishe said, Japanese people have similar aesthetics standard to Chinese people, which make manga popular with Chinese readers. For over 20 years, One Piece has been conveying a spirit of optimism, courage, hard working and perseverance to the readers, which has an active effect on the Chinese young generations, and carries forward the values of positive energy, therefore, it is a influential work. Last week, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said at the reception to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the bilateral relations suffered twists in the past four decades, but keeping peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations was still the mainstream of the development of the two countries. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up, as a new  emerging industry, China’s animation industry shows a trend of rapid growth. Since Japan’s animation has a long history, it is worth learning. He hoped that both countries could make more contributions to the improvement of the bilateral relations through strengthening the exchange of the two countries in the field of animation. ONO SINNYA said, the current culture is a combination of various culture, art, ideas and fashion, which belongs to every- one in this time. He sincerely hoped that the two countries could enhance the friendship of the people of our two countries, train more successors to the friendship cause, and strengthen the exchanges of the two peoples through this activity. He also expected to foster an active and great event for Sino-Japanese young people on cultural exchange. One Piece was created by Eiichiro Oda, Japanese manga artist. It began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine in 1997 and was popular with the animation fans all over the world.  One Piece had been published over 440 million until July, 2018. The touring exhibition was co-hosted by CPAFFC and KOUZAN Fine-arts Company, assisted by China Friendship Institute for International Art Exchanges, and organized by Chongqing Dongling Art Co., Ltd. and YONGHENGSHENG Group. Japan "Hello ONE PIECE" Executive Committee have legitimate right to hold touring exhibitions. The touring exhibition in ShenZhen will last for 75 days.           Photographed by Xiu Yilin

A reception to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Macedonia was held by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) in Beijing on Novermber 2, 2018. Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC and Mr. Zorica Tashkovska, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of Macedonia Embassy in China, attended the activity and delivered speeches respectively. After addressing, Vice President Song Jingwu and Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Zorica Tashkovska jointly unveiled the commemorative envelope marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties of the two countries. Vice President Song Jingwu also presented the portrait of Gjorge IVANOV, Macedonia President, which was paited by painter Miao Jianzhong, to Macedonia Embassy in China. Friendly personages from all walks of life of the two countries, departments and representatives from medias attended the reception.     Photographed by Feng Miao

On November 1st, invited by Volgograd Administration, Vice President Xie Yuan of CIFCA led a delegation to attend the International People’s Diplomacy Forum held in Volgograd, Russia and delivered a speech at the theme forum of Mechanisms of the International Municipal Partnership. Xie said that our association has founded quite a few bilateral and multilateral cooperation platforms for promoting exchanges between Chinese and foreign local governments, which have greatly promoted the opening up of Chinese local governments and their result-oriented cooperation with their counterparts from other countries. Russia has established 140 affiliations of friendship cities (provinces and states) with China. Through the friendship-city channel, local governments of the two sides have carried out many fruitful cooperation under the framework of BRICS and“Belt and Road” initiative. China and Russia will hold years of  local cooperation and exchange in 2018 and 2019. Our association will continue to seek more ways to cooperate for the benefit of the two peoples. For several years in a row, Volgograd has held the International People’s Diplomacy Forum. The aim of this event is to strengthen cooperation and expand international civil links, thus enabling the international community to resolve with a greater efficacy the local and regional problems they currently have to face, and promoting the safe and peaceful development of nations and peoples. The theme of the forum is Peace and Mutual Understanding in the 21st Century. Nearly 200 participants from 20 countries were invited to present. During the forum, Xie met with Andrey Kosolapov, Chair of Volgograd City Council and exchanged views on promoting the cooperation between the Chinese and Russian parliaments and friendship cities.