The Opening Ceremony of Peruvian Gastronomy Festival jointly organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Peru-China Culture Association (PCCA), Peruvian Embassy in China and Comisión de Promoción del Perú para la Exportación y el Turismo (PROMPERú) was held in Beijing on November 1st, 2017. Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of CPAFFC, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Over 150 Chinese and Foreign guests including Mr. Juan Carlos Capunay Chavez, Ambassador of Peruvian Embassy in China, Mme. Teresa Hoo, Secretary General of PCCA and General Manager of Peru-China Chamber Commerce (PCCC), attended the dinner. Vice President Xie Yuan said in his speech that, the bilateral relations had maintained long-term stable and healthy development, and also the people-to-people and culture exchanges had grown increasingly since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Peru 46 years before. The opening ceremony of Peruvian Gastronomy Festival today is another good example to indicate the friendly cooperation and closely exchange between the two countries. Peruvian culture is diversification and compatibility. In particular, Peruvian food culture is more famous in the world. From year 2012 to 2016, Peru had been selected as “Best Gastronomy Destination of the World” from “Travel Award of the World” for five consecutive years. The wisdom of Peruvian people was opened by gastronomy, which also make people across the world learn more about the compatibility of multi-culture. Ambassador Juan Carlos Capunay Chavez and Secretary General Teresa Hoo expressed their appreciations respectively in their speeches for great support CPAFFC had given in organizing this activity and contributions it had made to promote the cultural exchange between the two countries for a long time. This Gastronomy Festival would be held in Hilton in Beijing and in Sofitel in Xi’an for two weeks. Mr. Flavio Solorzano Alvarez, the famous chef from Peru, would provide Peruvian unique food for Chinese people who could experience a bite of Peru at close range.

On October 30, 2017, Vice President Hu Sishe met with delegation of EU-China Friendship Group of European Parliament led by Chairman Mr. Nirj Deva. Hu extended warm welcome to the delegation. The two sides exchanged views on the development of China-EU relations and people-to-people friendship. Hu also briefed the delegation on the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. After the meeting, Mr. Deva delivered a special report on Brexit in CPAFFC. Ms. Zhang Ruoning, Deputy Director General of Department of European and Asian Affairs, attended the meeting.  

Opening ceremony of “ Mr. Xiao Han Art Museum”was held in Wuhu, Anhui province on October 29.  More than 300 artists from all over China including Mr. Li Xikui, Secretary General of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Mr. He Maoxie,  Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Mayor of Wuhu, Anhui province, Mr. He Xian, former vice minister of Human Resources and Social Security Ministry, Mr. Yuan Hua, Director General of Culture Department of Anhui province, Mr. Duan Yujia, Director General of Publicity Department of Wuhu, Anhui province, Mr. Wu Xiangming, President of Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese in Anhui province, attended the opening ceremony and visited the exhibition. Secretary General Li Xikui said in his speech that Mr. Xiao Han is the third generation of painters toured Germany after Xu Beihong, Lin Fengmian, Zhang Daqian, Fu Baoshi and other older artists. Mr. Xiao Han created the painting technique of "Putting color in Chinese traditional painting", which enjoyed reputation in foreign and domestic. He imports the western painting technique and style into Chinese traditional painting, which shows the Chinese people’s desires for arts. It can be described as "the lights of endless color, the spirits of ink fusion, the feelings of modern calligraphy". Mr. Xiao Han is the founder of "product colored in Chinese traditional painting", who lived in Germany in 1989. His works were exhibited at several art museums and galleries in Germany. After he came back to China in 2002, He committed himself to promote Western painting skills into traditional Eastern painting works, and devoted himself to the art innovation, the people’s diplomacy and the art cultural exchanges. He also held his personal art exhibitions and academic seminars in some famous China Art Museums, such as National Art Museum of China, Art Museum of Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. At present he is the president of the China professionals Research Institute Art specialists Association and the deputy dean of China Friendship Art Exchange Association. The excellent paintings of Xiao Han from the youth until now are collected in Xiao Han Art Museum. The museum is the first art museum in Wuhu, and will be opened to the public for free. It is a local cultural event, which has great and significant meaning. After the opening ceremony, the guests and artists visit the paintings in Museum.  

On October 26th, jointly held by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Delegation Office of Alliance fran?aise in China and Mongolia and Alliance fran?aise of Beijing, the Fourth “Autumn of Romance” French Culture Season Opening Ceremony & Press Conference was opened in the CPAFFC. Vice President of the CPAFFC Hu Sishe, Ambassador of Algeria to China Ahcene Boukhelfa, Delegation General of Alliance fran?aise in China and Mongolia Thierry Lasserre, and many other diplomats in China from France, Belgium, Tunisia and Algeria, along with more than a hundred of guests from culture, education, business fields and news media attended the event.  Vice President Hu Sishe met with honoured guests Vice President Hu Sishe delivered a speech at the press conference Mr. Hu noted in his speech that as one of the important bridges of people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries around the world, the CPAFFC cordially welcomes western cultures, as a goodwill envoy, come to China, to meet Chinese culture, to cement a deep friendship with Chinese people and to create a panorama of pluralistic interaction of human exchanges. After the press conference, Mr. Hu took an exclusive interview with NETEASE..  Thierry Lasserre, Delegation General of Alliance fran?aise in China and Mongolia, delivered a speech Mr. Thierry Lasserre pointed out in his speech that in 1883, three founders together set three major goals of Alliance fran?aise. The first goal is to promote French, the second is to get more people to understand French culture and the third is to further dialogue between civilizations. It is through this idea that we can better know each other, just like the slogan goes, “Culture is the best weapon for mass education”.  Opening Ceremony The opening ceremony consisted of press conference and Q&A, introducing events that this year’s culture season has to domestic and foreign media. At the ceremony, two French teachers from Alliance fran?aise brought romantic Kizomba dance to the audience. Besides, it also held an exclusive performance brought by Hot Club of Beijing at the cocktail party. Q&A between journalists and event organizers  French teachers gave a Kizomba dance   Jazz performance at the cocktail party  NETEASE interviewed Mr. Hu, Vice President of the CPAFFC This year’s “Autumn of Romance” French Culture Season continues till December, whose events include classical concerts, master classes, master meet-and-greet, workshops, lectures and French Christmas fair and so on, bringing to Chinese audience multi-experience of French countries’ art and romantic feelings. Among classic concert events, the CPAFFC and Alliance fran?aise will together hold a piano recital with the theme of “To Love-My Heart among Your Fingers” at the theater of National Museum of China on November 12th, which is given by the world-renowned Belgian pianist, Olivier De Spiegeleir, who will redefine the infinite charm of music and poems.  

On October 26th, Vice President Hu Sishe met with Canadian delegates from Culture Shawinigan. He talked with Mr. Bryan Pérreault, Director General of the organization, about promoting the exchanges of performing arts and literature between China and Canada. Culture Shawinigan is a non-profit cultural organization established by the city of Shawinigan, Quebec,and committed to presenting shows and exhibitions to the general public. In March 2017, it invited the CPAFFC to send a shadow play troupe to participate in Passporte Pour la Chine, an annual event hosted by the organization, which was highly praised by local audience and media. Invited by the CPAFFC, representatives from Culture Shawinigan visited Beijing, Xi’an, Qingyang city of Gansu Province, and Fuzhou city of Jiangxi Province on their exploration of art forms of Daoqing shadow puppetry, Nuo Opera, Kunqu Opera, and contemporary dance. They also visited Xi’an Broadcasting and TV station, discussing cooperative programs. Bryan Pérreault is a Canadian author of Amos Daragon, fantasy fiction series popular in North America and widely translated around the globe. He is also engaged in stage show production.

On the afternoon of October 26th, Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), accepted NETEASE’s exclusive interview. Vice President Hu answered questions asked by the host Cao Dandan about the CPAFFC’s major work, cultural events, culture propagation and language among others. The video view of the program reached 920 thousand on its first transmission, with a total view volume being nearly 1.14 million. NETEASE live broadcast is NETEASE’s primary strategy program of this year, and many of its live broadcast shows in the past have reached the top level in the trade, widely enjoying a rather favorable reputation. To watch the interview, please visit the website: http://live.163.com/room/158931.html

Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Mr. Zeynalli, new Azerbaijan Ambassador to China on October 23rd, 2017. Vice President Song welcomed Ambassador Zeynalli to  CPAFFC and to his new post in China. Vice President Song also made a brief introduction about the function of CPAFFC and appreciated the Azerbaijan Embassy in China for giving CPAFFC a lot of support for a long time. He is willing to work together with Ambassador Zeynalli to continue promoting the exchanges of the two peoples and the local cooperation of the two countries. Ambassador Zeynalli thanked Vice President Song for taking his time to meet them and spoke highly of the unique role CPAFFC had played in the exchanges of the friendly cities, the local cooperation and the exchanges of the two peoples. Ambassador Zeynalli also appreciated CPAFFC for making actively contributions to the holding of the reception on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Azerbaijan, and to the development of the bilateral ties. He said that during his tenure, the Azerbaijan Embassy in China will play its role as a bridge to continue keeping close cooperation with CPAFFC to push forward the development of Azerbaijan and China friendship. Mme. Hu Chunmei, Associated Counsel of the Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.

Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), accepted the interview in CPAFFC made by a journalist , Mr. Vadim KAMENKA, from French L’ HUMANITE on the afternoon of October 23rd. Vice President Song answered the questions about the function, and the main duties in the new situation of CPAFFC, Sino-French relations, the cooperative achievements attaining between CPAFFC and Secours Populaire Fran?ais (SPF) for the ten years, how to continue developing the cooperation in the field of poverty alleviation between the two organizations in future and etc.. Vice President Song also interpreted in detail the relevant content of the 19th CPC National Congress report made by General Secretary Xi Jinping to Journalist Vadim KAMENKA. L’HUMANITE is the third largest newspaper in France. Mr. Vadim KAMENKA paid a special visit to China this time to interview and report the 19th CPC National Congress.  

Mr. Zhang Heqiang, Director General of Department of American and Oceanian Affairs, met with Mr. Eric Adams, President of Brooklyn Borough, New York City in Beijing on October 19th, 2017. Director General Zhang welcomed Mr. Adams’ visit to China. He briefly introduced the function of CPAFFC and the achievement we had made in promoting the friendly exchanges between peoples of China and the United States. Mr. Admas said that this was his 6th visit to China.In the future he would like to make more efforts to further the cooperation between Brooklyn Borough and China in the fields of youth exchange, culture, business and trade, etc.

Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Mr. Johannes Regenbrecht, new minister of the German Embassy in China on October 18th. Vice President Song Jingwu made an introduction to Minister Johannes Regenbrecht about cooperative situation between CPAFFC and Germany over the past years. Both sides also had an in-depth exchange on people-to-people and cultural exchanges of the two countries, and local governments cooperation and other fields. Johannes Regenbrecht said that the Germany Embassy in China had regarded CPAFFC as an important cooperative institution and would like to actively enhance people-to-people exchange between the two countries during his tenure. Mr. Lv Hongwei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.