On Dec.5th, Vice President Hu Sishe met with Presidents from the U.S. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), including President David Wilson from Morgan State University, President Kevin D. Rome from Fisk University, Acting President Lester A. McCorn of Clinton College and Provost Karl S. Wright from Claflin University. VP Hu expressed warm welcome to the delegations’ visit to China. He said, China-U.S. educational cooperation is an important platform for mutual learning and better understanding between the youth of our two countries. It is also an essential part of China-U.S. social and cultural exchanges. He introduced the big role that CPAFFC plays in pushing forward China-U.S. sub-national relations and said that CPAFFC will always support the pragmatic cooperation between schools. He hoped that the U.S. school presidents could build up good relationship with Chinese counterparts, broaden the cooperation aspects, reach a successive, active and efficient model of exchanges and communications, and make positive efforts to the bilateral educational cooperation. President Wilson from Morgan University introduced the HBCU schools and spoke highly of CPAFFC’s long-term support to them. Delegates from different schools talked about the current and future cooperation with Chinese schools. All of them extended their willingness to build up connection and to enhance cooperation with Chinese higher learning education institutions, thus making more benefits to students and faculties from both countries.

The Second World Philanthropy Forum, jointly launched by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and Tsinghua University, was held from November 29 to 30, 2017 in Beijing. Li Haifeng, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attended the opening ceremony. Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC; Chen Xu, Chairperson of Tsinghua University Council and Gao Xiaobing, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs, delivered speeches respectively at the forum. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also sent a congratulatory letter to the forum and the upcoming “Community of shared future: a network of synergetic cooperation between charities and social services”. President Li Xiaolin pointed out that: “The World Philanthropy Forum is an open platform for participation, dedication and sharing in charity and social services. It originates from China and serves the world. We welcome insightful people to join the forum and carry out collaboration, so that we work towards the great goal of building a community of shared future for humanity.” We hope that we will promote the sharing of experience, academic exchange, policy advocacy and practical promotion of charities around the world, implement the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and advance the building of a community of shared future through the forum, said Chen Xu, Chairperson of Tsinghua University Council in her speech. The opening ceremony was attended by over 40 heads of international organizations including Nicholas Rosellini, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China and UNDP Resident Representative; Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative to China; as well as heads of Ford Foundation, World Vision International, Asia Foundation, Give2Asia and Right To Play. Upwards of 500 guests from over 400 institutions attended the forum. In addition, the heads of eight world-renowned organizations including Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation sent congratulatory letters for the opening of the World Philanthropy Forum. The theme of this forum is “Synergetic Cooperation”. Centering on the theme, the forum explores and supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), gives boost to the Belt and Road Initiative and the joint discussion and building mechanism and measures in the promotion of building a community of shared future; focuses on the four topics of anti-poverty, social impact investment, environmental protection and youth development; gives full play to the role of social work, experts and scholars, overseas Chinese people, Chinese and foreign enterprises, foundations and international organizations regarding disciplines, specialties, advantages and strengths; holds seven high-level dialogues, four roundtable dialogues and four parallel forums. At the opening ceremony, the CPAFFC and World Vision International signed the Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation on ‘Every Women Every Child’ of the United Nations. In the next three years, World Vision International will invest close to 1 billion U.S. dollars in countries along the Belt and Road, and work together and unite all sectors of society to carry out livelihood projects and social services. The forum has set up a high-end advisor and partnership mechanism. Julia Eileen Gillard, President of the Global Partnership for Education and former Australian Prime Minister; Helle Thorning-Schmidt, CEO of Save the Children International and former Prime Minister of Denmark; Li Wei, President of Development Research Center of the State Council; and Li Jiajie, a famous entrepreneur and philanthropist and Vice Chairman of Henderson Land Development Company Group, serve as the first group of advisors of the forum. Ford Foundation and the Committee of 100 respectively serve as the global strategic partner and strategic partner of this forum. At the closing ceremony, the forum launched the World Philanthropy Forum: Chinese Social Services Cooperation Mechanism and Community of Shared Future for Mankind: Collaborative Network for Philanthropy and Social Services. Dr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of CPAFFC, read out the World Philanthropy Forum: Declaration of Friendship and announced the plan for the third forum in 2018.  

On Nov. 28, the 8th annual conference of the friendship associations between China and Iran and Symposiums on bilateral relations was convened in Beijing. The theme of the conference is “China and Iran join Hands for the Belt and Road Construction”. Vice President Lin Yi of the CPAFFC, President Ahad Mohammadi of the Iran-China Friendship Association, and Ambassador Ali Asghar Khaji of Iran to China delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. More than 100 other guests from the economic and cultural fields also attended the conference. Status quo and policies regarding bilateral cooperation in economic and cultural sectors under the framework of the Belt and Road were discussed at the conference, providing an efficient platform for people-to-people cooperation between China and Iran.  

The large-scale stage play 《Silk Road·Youth》, supported by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Education Department of Liaoning Province and jointly organized by China Friendship Institute for International Art Exchanges ( CFIIAE), Publicity Department of Dalian Committee of Communist Party of China, Working Committee of the Party of Dalian Jin pu New Area, Dalian Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Dalian Art College, was grandly performed in Great Hall of the People in November, 24th. A total of 6000 personages from all walks of life including Mme. Chen Zhili, former Vice-Chairperson of Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Mr. Li Yi, Party Secretary of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Zheng Fuzhi, Assistant Minister of Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Akram Zeynalli, Azerbaijan Ambassador to China, Mr. Namondwe, Malawi Ambassador to China, Mr. Miao Kwong Lee Hon Chong, Mauritius Ambassador to China and envoys from eighteen countries including Vietnam, Tajikistan, Japan, Cameroon, Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore and Equatorial Guinea as well as relevant ministries, the teachers and the students of some universities in Beijing, attended and watched the performance. This play was a new performance work that was created to celebrate the convening of 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and eulogized the Belt and Road Initiatives and magnificent cause. Through the perspective of the youth, making use of different stage performance forms including the interaction of people and screen, scenarios show, multi-layer interspersed, taking culture and art elements with vitality from different areas, countries and ethnic, this play was to show the spiritual essence of the Belt and Road Initiatives in the form of an artistic performance. The play also displayed the history, ideal and future in the perspective of the youth, expressed their vitality and the belief of adhering to the Belt and Road Initiatives and encouraged the youth to contribute to the great cause of the Belt and Road Initiatives with ambitions and hard-working.      

On Nov.23, Vice President Mr. Hu Sishe led a delegation to Sri Lanka and met with the Speaker of Sri Lanka, Mr. Karu Jayasuriya. Mr. Karu Jayasuriya welcomed the visit of the Chinese delegation and introduced the representative programs of cooperation and exchanges between China and Sri Lanka that he took part in in the past years.  Mr. Hu extended his gratitude for Mr. Speaker’s efforts in advancing bilateral relations. He gave a brief introduction to China’s 19th National Party’s Congress and the new round of political and economic reforms in China after that. He hoped that the two countries can take the new situation as an opportunity for deeper cooperation. Besides, Mr. Hu also invited Mr. Speaker to attend the International Friendship City Conference held in Wuhan, China next year and to deliver a keynote speech on the conference. 

On November 22, Vice president Mr. Hu Sishe attended the reception hosted by Persatuan Muafakat One Belt One Road (PMOBOR) . Mr. Hu had a deep discussion over the possible exchanges programs with the president and council members of PMOBOR.  Group photo with the president and council members of PMOBOR Mr.Hu said in his speech that on Nov.21, the First Silk Road NGO Cooperation Network Forum opened in Beijing. Chinese president Xi Jinping said in his congratulating message that NGOs play an important role in promoting economic and social development, international cooperation and global governance. His words reflected that the Central Committee of CPC and our national leaders have placeed emphasis on NGO’s importance in OBOR Initiative. Mr. Hu held that the founding of PMOBOR kept up with trend of the times, and seized good opportunity. We should enhance cultural exchanges so as to extend our cooperation.  Vice President, Mr. Hu Sishe delivered a speech President of PMOBOR, Mr. Datuk Iskandar Sarudin extended warm welcome to Mr. Hu and the delegation’s visit to Malaysia. He then gave a brief introduction to PMOBOR and its members. He believed that Malaysia is one of the best platforms for Chinese entrepreneurs to go global. With a good foundation of bilateral exchanges, he believed that there is vast space and great potential for further cooperation. Mr. Datuk Iskandar Sarudin, who once served as Malaysian Ambassador to China,  has been actively pushing forward Malaysia’s engagement in China’s OBOR Initiative and signed the AIIB key framework agreement on behalf of Malaysia in 2015.  Mr. Hu Sishe exchanged gifts with President of PMOBOR Mr. Hu also had talks with Mr. Dato Jefridin, chairman of TAB Foundation which was founded by Tun Abdullah Badawi, the former Malaysian Prime Minister, and met with his brother Mr. Dato Seri Ibrahim Badawi. They agreed to cohost a seminar on Tun Abdullah Badawi’s diplomatic philosophy.  Meeting with Chairman of TAB Foundation and Former Prime Minister’s Brother

On November 22nd, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China jointly held a reception for the 45th anniversary of China-Netherlands diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level in Beijing. Ms Lin Wenyi, Vice Chairperson of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC), Mr Ed Kronenburg, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to China, Mr Tian Jie, Deputy Director General of the Committee for Handling Proposals of the CPPCC, Mr Wang Chao, Vice Foreign Minister, Mr Song Jingwu, Vice President of the CPAFFC, together with around 120 guests from the International Liaison Department of the CCCPC, the CPPCC, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Academy of Military Sciences of the PLA, diplomats from the Netherlands and representatives from all sectors attended the reception. Vice President Song Jingwu and Ambassador Ed Kronenburg delivered speeches.   Vice President Song Jingwu said in his speech that since China and the Netherlands established diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level, bilateral relations has enjoyed steady progress with concrete fruits in the fields of economics and trade, science and technology, and people to people exchanges. China is willing to, on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, further strengthen substantive cooperation in all fields and facilitate a steady development of the open and pragmatic comprehensive partnership between China and the Netherlands in the high level.   Ambassador Ed Kronenburg reviewed the development of Netherlands-China relations in the 45 years and said that Netherlands is ready to work with China to forge a closer relationship under the framework of the “Belt and Road” Initiative. On the reception, Vice Chairperson Lin Wenyi Ambassador Ed Kronenburg, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao,Vice President Song Jingwu and Deputy Head of Mission of Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Bas Pulles unveiled the commemorative envelop and jointly cut the cake for the 45th anniversary. Artists from the Netherlands brought Guqin and Piano performances for the audience.

Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met in Sydney with Mr. Wayne Swan, the former Australian Deputy Prime Minister and the Treasurer of Australia in November, 17th. During the meeting, Vice President Hu Sishe made an introduction about the aim and function of CPAFFC. Vice President Hu thanked Mr. Wayne Swan for specially attending the opening ceremony of “Journey of Chinese Art--Xu Peichen’s Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition in Australia”. He said, culture plays an important role as a bridge in communicating among different countries and people. Culture also is regarded as the common wealth owned by the human race. Zheng He went on an expedition to the 'Western Ocean' in Ming Dynasty when Chinese fleet had arrived in Australia. After that, the exchanges between China and Australia were launched. On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-Australia diplomatic relations, the main purpose of holding Chinese traditional painting exhibition in Sydney this time was to enrich the cultural life of the two peoples, promote the feeling of the two peoples and further enhance the exchanges of the two countries in the fields of culture and art. and also it was expected to exert far-reaching influence on the innovation and development of the culture and art of the two countries through this exhibition. Meantime, it was hoped that the nongovernmental organizations could continue making contributions on promoting the friendship of the two countries. Mr. Wayne Swan said that during his tenure as the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and the Treasurer of Australia, he visited China for many times and realized that the important role the cultural exchange played in the Australia and China relations. At present, more and more Australian people begin to learn about Chinese long and splendid history and culture. Chinese art provides a new perspective that could not reflect from economic data and political report for Australian people to learn about China. This exhibition could inspire us to think about the important role the cultural ambassadors of the two countries (including artist, singer, poet and dancer) play in promoting the exchanges between the two countries. Cultural exchange could help us to understand the neighboring countries’ culture, which contributes to the prosperity and peace of the world. He thanked CPAFFC for making efforts on enhancing the cultural exchange of the two countries. Mr. Wang Heshan, Secretary General of China Friendship Institute for International Art Exchanges of CPAFFC, Professor Xu Peichen and other personages, attended the meeting.  

On the morning of November 16th, 2017, Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), accompanied by Mr. Chen Dong, Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Belgium, paid special visit to the mansion of the late Henri Lederhandler who was one of the founders of Belgium-China Association and the first Chairman of Belgium-China Economic and Trade Committee, and awarded posthumously “Friendship Ambassador” to him. This Prize was the first time to confer to Belgian friendly personage. His wife was moved deeply and expressed that her husband devoted all his life to promoting the friendship between Belgium and China, and that all her family members felt honorable for this award. At the early period of the exchanges between Belgium and China, a group of people with lofty ideals broke through the resistances and dedicated to establishing and developing the friendly exchanges with China. Henri Lederhandler was one of the outstanding representatives among them and one of the founders of Belgium-China Association as well as the pioneer of the friendly exchanges and the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. In 1960s, He assisted and promoted Belgian Queen Elizabeth to visit China, which became the icebreaker trip for the exchanges between China and Belgium. In 2012, Mr. Li Keqiang, then Vice Premier of the State Council of China, paid special visit to Henri Lederhandler during his official visit to Belgium and kindly called him as “ a friend of Chinese people forever”.

The reception commemorating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Belgium-China Association & the award ceremony jointly organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Chinese Embassy in Belgium, Belgium-China Association was held in Chinese Embassy in Belgium in November 16th, 2017. Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Qu Xing，Chinese Ambassador to Belgium and Mr. Hans Van Duysen, Chairman of Belgium-China Association and etc., attended and delivered speeches. On behalf of President Li Xiaolin, Vice President Xie Yuan expressed warm congratulations on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Belgium-China Association. He also issued “China-Belgium Friendship Award” to six Belgian friendly personages including Ms. An Tengrootenhuysen, Ms. Caroline Tengrootenhuysen, Ms. Lale Yuvali, Ms. Yvonne Mainguet, Mr. Hans Van Duysen and Mr. Philip Vanhaelemeersch. Vice President Xie Yuan said in his speech that, An Tengrootenhuysen, her sister Caroline Tengrootenhuysen, Lale Yuvali and Yvonne Mainguet actively spread and promoted Chinese culture for decades, so as to enhance Belgian people’s understanding of China. Chairman Hans Van Duysen, Mr. Philip Vanhaelemeersch and representatives of new generation took over the baton from the predecessors to actively develop the economic and trade cooperation, the humanity and cultural exchanges with China, and to continue making unremitting efforts on the cause of China-Belgium friendship. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of Belgium-China Association, CPAFFC issued “China-Belgium Friendship Award ” to Belgian friendly personages in order to commend them for the outstanding contributions they had made to developing the China-Belgium friendship. Adhering to the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind raised on the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, CPAFFC would continue to consolidate and develop the exchanges and cooperation with Belgium-China Association, the Belgian friendly personages and organizations with China from all walks of life so as to push the bilateral relations to a new level.