On November 1st, Vice President Hu Sishe met with California Bay Area Council delegation headed by  Keith Carson, supervisor of Alameda County. VP Hu introduced the role by CPAFFC and its efforts in promoting subnational exchanges between China and the U.S.He stressed that cooperation is the only right option for both sides. China has huge market potential and China-U.S.cooperation serves the common aspiration between the two peoples. CPAFFC would like to be a bridge helping facilitating more practical cooperation that will benefit the two peoples. VP Hu also elaborated China’s investment environment and policies, which are to the concerns of the delegation, including IPR protection, market access and market fairness. He welcomed the delegation members to make efforts to strengthen communication and cooperation with China in economy, trade, science and technology and Bay Area’s development, and push forward China-U.S. sub-national exchanges. Supervisor Carson appreciated the strong support by CPAFFC in promoting U.S.-China relations, especially in California’s cooperation with China. He said that the current tensions between U.S. and China had not affected the enthusiasm at the U.S. subnational level including California for the cooperation with China. This delegation is composed of elected officials and representatives from economic, trade, science and technology, health, tourism and other fields from California. All of them are looking forward to making contributions to the U.S.-China sub-national cooperation and the bilateral relations at large.        

On October 29, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Othman Almekhlafi, Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen paid a visit to the CPAFFC . Ambassador Almekhlafi briefed on the situation of the Al Mahrah province stricken by the Tropic Storm Luban. According to him, infrastructure of the afflicted area was severely damaged and people’s life was seriously affected, hence is now in urgent need of tents, pharmaceuticals and food. Ambassador Almekhlafi therefore hoped that the CPAFFC could help to provide some humanitarian aid to the stricken area. Mr. Li Hai, Deputy Director General of the Department of Asian and African Affairs, expressed his sympathy to the storm-stricken people. He said that the CPAFFC will try its best to coordinate relevant parties for aids to the stricken area. The project manager of the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development also attended the meeting.         Photographed by Gong Xu

On the evening of Oct.25, Vice president Hu Sishe Attended the Opening Ceremony of concert in Commemoration of the 25th anniversary of cooperation between CPAFFC and Villa Musica. State Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Lifelong Learning and Culture of Rhineland-Palatinate Dr.Salvatore Barbaro, Managing Director of Rhineland-Palatinate Villa Musica Foundation Dr. Karl Boeman,  President of Federation of German-Chinese Friendship Association (German: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher China-gesellschaften, or ADCG) Mr.Kurt Karst, deputy Consul-General of the Chinese Consulate General in Frankfurt Ms.Sun Ruiying. Mr. Hu noted in his speech that the cooperation between CPAFFC and Villa Musica dates back to the year of 1993. The past 25 years witnessed establishment and growth of the Exchange Program between Chinese and German Young Musicians, which enjoyed great popularity and applause among Chinese and German audience. All the cultural exchanges drew nearer the distance of the two peoples and increased their fondness toward each other. Vice President Hu Sishe delivered a Speech Dr.Salvatore Barbaro, State Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Lifelong Learning and Culture of Rhineland-Palatinate extended his thanks to CPAFFC for its great support for all the exchanges and cooperation between CPAFFC and Villa Musica. He mentioned that in the past 25 years, it is music that links our two organizations, musicians and people of the two countries together. In this commemoration concert,the audience will have the opportunity to appreciate the charm of traditional Chinese instruments. He believes that the co-performance of musicians from the two countries will serve as the best proof of Sino-German friendship as well as friendship between our two organizations.   Dr.Salvatore Barbaro, State Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Lifelong Learning and Culture of Rhineland-Palatinate Delievered A Speech Mr.Kurt Karst, president of Federation of ADCG said in his speech emotively that he was fortunate enough to witness the beginning of the bilateral cooperation 25 years ago. As abundant achievements have been made in the past 25 years, he extended gratitude to the guests including Mr. Hu Sishe present at the opening ceremony for their continuous cooperation with ADCG and Wiesbaden-Mainz Germany-China Friendship Association. He said that it was the unremitting cooperation that further increased mutual trust and understanding and deepened Sino-German friendship. Mr.Kurt Karst, president of ADCG Delivered a Speech After speeches, five musicians from Shaanxi Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra performed Quintet, Pipa Solo, Erhu Solo and co-performed classic pieces of music like Butterfly Lovers and Gardenia with the German musicians from Villa Musica. The audience appreciated the concert highly.  During the visit of the Chinese Orchestra to Germany, they will also host concerts in Schloss Engers, Herdorf, Schloss Hambach and so on.        

Director General Zhang Heqiang met with the delegation of the Children of the Doolittle Raiders (CDR) from the United States on October 23rd. Director General Zhang regarded the Doolittle Raiders as a symbol of Chinese and American people fighting together against fascist aggressors. He hoped that CPAFFC and CDR could make joint efforts in promoting China-US friendship and cooperation, so as to further enhance world peace and prosperity. Jeff Thatcher, President of CDR, thanked CPAFFC for the great hospitality and expressed the willingness to pass on the Doolittle legacy and help increasing mutual understanding and friendship between the people of our two countries.        

On 23rd October, co-organized by CPAFFC and Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, the 6th Sino-German Urbanization Symposium was held in Xuchang, Henan. Present at the Symposium were Mr. Zhang Yazhong, Vice Chairman of Henan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Bernhard Kaster, former senior member of Germany's Bundestag, Mr. Torsten Schweiger, member of Germany's Bundestag, Mr. Gunther Schartz, Chief Executive of the Trier-Saarburg Region, Germany, etc. Experts and scholars from the City and Small Town Reform and Development Center of National Development and Reform Commission, and Institute of Intelligent Transportation and Traffic Model of China Institute of Urban Planning and Design, together with business community representative exchanged experiences with German experts on “Challenges and Opportunities for Smart Cities”. Mr. Song Jingwu said in his speech, that the Sino-German Urbanization Symposium is a brand mechanized project between CPAFFC and Konrad-Adenauer Foundation. Germany’s smart city construction based on local conditions and synergistic opening guarantees efficient and sustainable urbanization. Mr. Schweiger said that China’s application of advanced technologies such as big data, wireless networks and Internet of Things is in the forefront of the world and is worth learning from Germany.          

  On October 22, the CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi met with Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II, the traditional leader in Nigeria. Mme. Lin Yi extended her warm welcome to His Highness Emir for visiting China again. She said that last year, Emir visited China at the invitation of the CPAFFC, during which the two sides had made useful attempts in promoting China-Nigeria exchanges in areas like local government, trade and education. She expects that the CPAFFC will maintain contact with Emir to jointly deepen the pragmatic cooperation in all areas between China and Nigeria. Emir of Kano recalled with delight his visit to China last year. He expressed his willingness to actively exert his influence as a traditional leader, in order to enhance Nigeria-China cooperation in trade, agriculture, production capacity, vocational training etc,. The two sides also exchanged views on hotspot issues such as China-US trade conflicts. H.E. Mr. Baba Ahmad Jidda, the Nigerian Ambassador to China, and Mr. Li Hai, Deputy Director General of the Department of Asian and African Affairs, was present at the meeting.         Photographed by Zhang Yujun  

On October 20, 2018, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), attended 2018 Optics Valley Sino-International Enterpreneurs Summit and delivered a speech. With the theme of Openness, Innoviation, Win-Win Cooperation---To Build Optics Valley into A Global Innoviation & Enterpreneurship Center, the Summit invited Sino-International enterpreneurs to come together to discuss innoviation cooperation, so as to boost and upgrade the development of China high-tech industry. Prominent politicians and CEOs from world top-500 companies including Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Former Prime Minister of France, Mr. Andrew Robb, Minister for Trade and Investment and others, attended the Summit. Vice President Song Jingwu said, we must adhere to international cooperation and develp multilateral trade to build a global innoviation and enterpreneurship center. CPAFFC would keep up with the times, continuously innovate the working method, promote international cooperation and actively exert the role as a bridge so as to provide support for the people-to-people exchanges including the Sino-International enterpreneurs, establish exchange mechanism and build a platform for cooperation.      

On October 20, 2018, Vice President Mr. Hu Sishe met with the delegation of the Japan-China Friendship Association of the Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture and the Friendship Delegation of the Nanao City Council. Mr. Husishe first thanked Okada Jo, the President of Japan-China Friendship Association of the Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, for his contributions to the China-Japan friendship over the years, especially the efforts made in recent years to promote friendly exchanges between local cities in China and Japan. At the same time, Mr. Husishe welcomed the Friendship Delegation of the Nanao City Council, headed by Vice-President Sato Yoshinori, for their first visit to China. Mr. Hu Sishe mentioned his visit to Japan in 2016 during which he recommend the western city Qingyang of China to President Okada Jo. In the past few years, under the promotion of President Okada Jo, the city of Nanao and Qingyang have exchanged smoothly in various fields such as culture, education, Chinese medicine, and pension. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of the China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit China after seven years. With the joint efforts of both sides, the friendly exchanges between China and Japan will surely flourish. The delegation will also visit Qingyang City to hold a discussion with the local people's congress, inspect the intentional cooperation organizations, provide free guidance in terms of technique, medical treatment, installation to the newly built old-age facilities in Qingyang City, and hold lectures and exchanges to discuss the next steps of cooperation.       Photographed by Gao Hui

Vice President Xie Yuan met with the delegation of Honolulu Chapter of U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association (USCPFA) on October 19th. Vice President Xie spoke highly of the great efforts made by USCPFA in promoting mutual understand and friendship between the people of China and the United States over the past years. He hoped that CPAFFC and USCPFA could step up cooperation in the future so as to make further contribution to the cause of people-to-people friendship between our two countries. Frances Goo, President of USCPFA Western Region, expressed the willingness to continue the cooperative relationship with CPAFFC, and help lay the foundation for the sound and steady development of the bilateral relations at people-to-people level.

Vice President Xie Yuan met with the delegation of Honolulu Chapter of U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association (USCPFA) on October 19th. Vice President Xie spoke highly of the great efforts made by USCPFA in promoting mutual understand and friendship between the people of China and the United States over the past years. He hoped that CPAFFC and USCPFA could step up cooperation in the future so as to make further contribution to the cause of people-to-people friendship between our two countries. Frances Goo, President of USCPFA Western Region, expressed the willingness to continue the cooperative relationship with CPAFFC, and help lay the foundation for the sound and steady development of the bilateral relations at people-to-people level.