On 10th January, Mme Lin Yi, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with H.E. Mr. Ahmad Berwari, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to China in Beijing. Vice President Lin Yi sent New Year greetings to Ambassador Berwari and said since this year is the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Iraq, the CPAFFC is willing to take this opportunity to strengthen friendly exchanges and cooperation with the Iraqi side. Ambassador Berwari thanked Vice President Lin for meeting with him. He said the embassy is willing to strengthen cooperation with the CPAFFC to further promote pragmatic exchanges between the two countries in various fields. The two sides also exchanged views on the work of 2018.

On January 8, Vice President Xie Yuan met with the Mayor Esko Lotvonen, together with his delegation of Rovaniemi Municipal Government of Finland at the CPAFFC. Vice President Xie Yuan firstly introduced CPAFFC’s efforts to promote cooperation and exchanges between local governments from China and other countries in recent years. The friendship ties between Rovaniemi and Ha’erbin, and Beijing’s host of 2022 Winter Olympics, provide huge potential in ice sports cooperation between Rovaniemi, the Santa Claus hometown at the Arctic Circle, and its counterparts in China.   Mayor Esko Lotvonen responded that we have witnessed the long lasting friendship between Finland and China. In this context, Rovaniemi enjoys abundant cooperation opportunities with Chinese cities in similar features. For example, Rovaniemi will play a key role in advancing ice sports development in Ha’erbin which attaches great importance to it. Moreover, the kick-off of direct flight between Rovaniemi and Beijing in 2019 will bring an increasing number of Chinese tourists to our destination. I am still impressed by the joint singing of Ode to Peace by our Santa Claus and Beijing Philharmonic Choir led by CPAFFC at our traditional Christmas Lighting Ceremony in Rovaniemi, on November 18, 2017. In short, we look forward to enhancing our cooperation and exchanges with CPAFFC in the future.

On January 5, Vice President Xie Yuan met with the student delegation from the School of International and Public Affairs of Columbia University. Vice President Xie regarded the youth as the future of the world. It is an important task for CPAFFC to promote youth exchange between China and other countries. He hoped that the delegation could gain a better understanding on China through this visit, and contribute to the sound development of China-US relations in the future. Delegation members recognized the growing global influence of China in recent years, which caused great attention in the US. They wished to have extensive communication with Chinese government divisions, enterprises and academic institutions during the visit, so as to help foster closer ties between the two countries.

Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met in Beijing with Mr. Victor Sikonina, Madagascar Ambassador to China on January 3rd. On behalf of the Madagascar Embassy in China, Ambassador Victor Sikonina expressed New Year’s greeting to CPAFFC. He also said that Madagascar would like to actively take part in the construction of the Belt and Road since it locates in the Belt and Road and to work together with the Chinese side to promote the friendly exchanges of the two countries. Vice President Lin Yi thanked Ambassador Victor Sikonina and the Madagascar Embassy in China for giving support to CPAFFC for several years and sent best wishes to them. Both sides exchanged their views on deepening the cooperation of the two countries. Mr. Li Hai, Deputy Director General of Department of Asian and African Affairs of CPAFFC, Mme. Manitra Rakotoarivony and Mr. Josoa eric Zonia, Counsellors of the Madagascar Embassy in China, attended the meeting.

The donation ceremony that Poly International Holdings Company Limited (Hereinafter referred to as “Poly International”) donated money to “Help Hearing-Impaired Patients Recover Their Hearing Foundation” was held in Beijing on December 27th. Mr. Li Xikui, Secretary General of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and Director of China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development (CFFPD), Mr. Wang Xingye， Assistant General Manager of Poly Group and Deputy General Manager of Poly International, Mme. Jia Ling, Secretary General of CFFPD, Mr. Cao Wensu, Secretary of Commission for Discipline Inspection of Poly International, Mr. Wang Yang, the Chairman of Board of Directors and CEO of Shen Yang Hong Ding Kang Medical Instruments Co., Ltd.，attended the activity. Secretary General Li Xikui expressed welcome to Poly International and  Shen Yang Hong Ding Kang Medical Instruments Co., Ltd. delegation and thanked Poly International for making contributions to donating money to “Help Hearing-Impaired Patients Recover Their Hearing Foundation” . He also made an introduction about the main function and duties of CPAFFC and CFFPD, and hoped that both sides could develop the cooperation and exchanges in more various fields and help the hearing-impaired patients in more poor areas to recover their hearing. Moreover, each party could play all advantages to make the public brand more better. Mr. Wang Xingye, Deputy General Manager of Poly International, hopes that this public project could develop in the countries along the Belt and Road to help the hearing-impaired patients in foreign countries to recover their hearing, which could enhance the image of the Chinese enterprises and that the Chinese enterprises could fulfill their social responsibilities in the locals. During the activity, Mr. Li Xikui, Secretary General of CPAFFC and Director of CFFPD, issued the donation certificate to Mr. Wang Xingye， Assistant General Manager of Poly Group and Deputy General Manager of Poly International. Mme. Jia Ling, Secretary General of CFFPD, and Mr. Cao Wensu, Secretary of Commission for Discipline Inspection of Poly International, signed 《Donation Agreement 》.

The reception in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malawi, co-hosted by the CPAFFC and the Embassy of Malawi in China, was held in Beijing on December 22, 2017. H.E. Mr. Luo Fuhe, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC, Mr. Chen Xiaodong, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and H.E. Mr. Charles Namondwe, Ambassador of Malawi to China, representatives of African diplomatic corps and other 120 guests from all walks of life attended the reception. Mme. Lin Yi said in her speech that over the past decade, China and Malawi have always been guided by the principle of enhancing sincere friendship and cooperation, treating each other as equals, and promoting win-win progress and common development. Bilateral political trust has been continuously deepened and economic cooperation has yielded fruitful results as well, which has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. Under the guidelines of the 19th CPC National Congress, China will adhere to the principle of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests, as well as the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith, in order to strengthen solidarity and cooperation between China and Malawi. Ambassador Charles Namondwe said in his speech that the 10th anniversary of Malawi-China diplomatic relations will provide an opportunity to renew the partnership and cooperation between the two countries. Malawi will continue to remain China’s strategic and longstanding partner so as to benefit the two peoples.

The signing ceremony of the Strategic Cooperation between China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development (CFFPD) and Beijing Enlai Foundation was held in Beijing on December 22th. Mr. Li Xikui, the Secretary General of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Director of CFFPD, Mme. Zhou Bingde, the founder and President of Beijing Enlai Foundation and nephew of the former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, Mme. Jia Ling, Secretary General of CFFPD, Mme. Wan Xuanrong, Supervisor of CFFPD, Mr. Shen Qing, Director of Beijing Enlai Foundation, Mr. Liu Youping, Deputy Secretary General of CHINA CHARITY ALLIANCE (CCA), attended the meeting. Secretary General Li Xikui expressed welcome to Beijing Enlai Foundation delegation for its visiting and made an introduction about the main functions and duties of CPAFFC and CFFPD. He said that the signing of the agreement promoted the establishment of the close and deepen strategic cooperation partnership between CFFPD and Beijing Enlai Foundation concerning carrying forward and inheriting the spirit of Premier Zhou Enlai as well as pushing the cause of the charity for development in domestic and foreign countries. CPAFFC and CFFPD would provide more resources and opportunities for Beijing Enlai Foundation and make common efforts to develop the cooperation and exchanges between domestic and foreign countries in the field of charity. Mme. Zhou Bingde said that the strategic cooperation between the two organizations should inherit the late wishes of the older generation of revolutionaries and carry forward the spirit of Zhou Enlai to develop the cooperation in the field of charity so as to promote the people-to-people diplomacy of China. During the meeting, CFFPD Secretary General Jia Ling and Beijing Enlai Foundation Director Shen Qing signed 《Strategic Cooperation Agreement》.

  December 16th, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the British Embassy to China co-hosted the Reception on the 45th Anniversary of Ambassadorial Diplomatic Relations between China and the UK in Beijing. Vice Premier Ma Kai and Philip Hammond Chancellor of the Exchequer of the UK attended the Reception and addressed the audience.  

December 12th, 2017 marked the 200th public performance of the dance drama SOARING WINGS, co-produced by the CPAFFC, the Publicity Department of Shanghai Municipal Committee of CCP, and the Shanghai Dance Theatre. Mr.Hu Sishe, Vice President of the CPAFCC, Mr.Wang Yayuan, Deputy Director-General of the Publicity Department of Shanghai Municipal Committee of CCP and other high officials of Shanghai Municipal, experts and officials in the field of dance, main production crew of SOARING WINGS had attended the commemorative performance. In the evening, the Shanghai International Dance Center was fulled with audience from various parts of China, including Guangdong, Liaoning, Guizhou, and some from Japan.     Since the premiere in 2014, the SOARING WINGS had successfully held performances in Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, Nanjing, Changsha, Chengdu and so on, covering over 30 cities and regions in China. Organized and coordinated by the CPAFFC, it held 80 performances in Japan and 4 in Hongkong as well. The association also organized an special performance in National Center for the Performing Arts, for diplomatic envoys and foreign experts.The dance drama served as a friendship bridge for international art exchanges between China and the word, through an artistic presentation of China. On December 13th, the seminar for commemorating the 200th performance was held in Shanghai for current analysis and future development, participated by field experts, critics, main production crew and staff members. Mr.Hu Sishe made a keynote speech regarding the creative exploration, artistic presentation, dissemination of Chinese values, extension of classic and modern art, as well as successful working mechanism of Chinese cultural exchanges, which was highly appreciated by participants. 200 performances of the dance drama SOARING WINGS within 3 years reflected the audience’s well reception for reality-based theme and the artistic creation angle, as well as the strength generated through joint efforts.

On December 7, CPAFFC and the Carter Center co-hosted the 6th Forum on China-U.S. Relations with the theme of “Working Together to Anchor Global Peace & Prosperity” in Atlanta in the U.S. Ambassador Li Qiangmin, China’s Consul General to Huston, Zhang Heqiang, Director General of American and Oceanian Affairs of CPAFFC, Ambassador Mary Ann Peters, CEO of the Carter Center, and Hanscom Smith, Director of China Desk of the U.S. State Department, as well as nearly 50 representatives from political, academic and business sectors of the two countries attended the forum.