On June 14, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) held a reception to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Georgia in Beijing. Mr. Wang Zhengwei, Vice Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr. Li Huilai, Assistant Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Jalaghania, Vice-Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Mr. Aptsiauri, Ambassador of Georgia Embassy in China, attended the reception. Vice President Lin Yi and Vice-Minister Jalaghania delivered speeches respectively. Vice Chairman Wang Zhengwei and Vice-Minister Jalaghania jointly unveiled the plaque for the commemorative envelop marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-Georgia diplomatic relations. Around 70 personages including the related leaders from International Department, Central Committee of CPC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Ministry of Commerce of China, and former Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, Georgia diplomats to China, representatives from Georgia students and all walks of life, attended the reception.   Vice Chairman Wang Zhengwei and Vice-Minister Jalaghania unveil the plaque for the commemorative envelop   CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi delivers a speech   Mr. Jalaghania, Vice-Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, delivers a speech 

A concert of celebrating the 25th anniversary of China and Georgia diplomatic relations & Independence Day was jointly organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Ministry of Culture of China, Georgia Embassy in China, in Concert Hall on June 14, 2017. Mr. Li Huilai, Assistant Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Xie Jinying, Director-General of Bureau for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries of Ministry of Culture of China, Mr. Jalaghania, Vice-Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Mr. Aptsiauri, Ambassador of Georgia Embassy in China, and many countries’ ambassadors in China and their wives attended the activity. The well-known Georgia dance troupe, chorus and instrumentalists jointly performed wonderful dances and played beautiful pieces of music, which won warm applause from the audience. After the performance, the guests of the two countries took photographs with performers.

Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai met with former German President Christian Wulff, who is also the Global Chairman of the Global Alliance of SMEs (GASME), in Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai on June 13. Both sides exchanged views on how to strengthen the cooperation of “Made in China, 2025” and   “Germany Industry 4.0”, and etc.. Mr. Song Jingwu ,Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Mr. Shen Xin, Director-General of Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.

Vice President Xie Yuan had a meeting with William Lie Zeckendorf, grandson of Trygve Halvdan Lie, the first Secretary-General of the UN, and co-chairman of Zeckendorf Development, LLC, on June 12. Both sides exchanged views on topics such as how to advance China-U.S. people-to-people friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.

On June 12th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with the U.S. State and Local Government Officials Delegation led by Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez from the state of New Mexico, along with him are 6 senators and local officials from different states. VP Xie briefed the guests on CPAFFC which aims at playing a role  bridge to promote the friendship and exchanges between China and other countries around the world. He said that China and the U.S. are inter-dependent on each other. Many cooperation opportunities are lying ahead. He hoped that through this China trip, the delegates could get a better understanding about China, bring about more sub-national cooperation and push forward China-U.S. relations from the sub-national level. Lt. Gov Sanchez expressed the appreciation to CPAFFC for arranging and supporting their trip. He also expressed the willingness to develop more opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, education, energy, etc. He believed that in this way, deeper understanding and mutual trust will be reached.

At the invitation of Cuba Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and National Governors Conference, Mr. Ma Peihua, Vice Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and President of China-Latin America and Caribbean Friendship Association (CLACFA), led a delegation to visit Cuba and Mexico from June 1 to 9. Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), accompanied the delegation. During in Cuba, Vice Chairman Ma Peihua met respectively with Mr. Ana María Mari Machado, Vice Chairman of National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba, Mr. Rogelio Sierra DIaz, Vice-Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Mr. Caridad Diego, Chairman of Cuba-China Friendship Association and others. Also, Vice Chairman Ma Peihua, delivered a speech at the ceremony commemorating the 170th anniversary of the first batch of Chinese people arriving in Cuba, which was held in Regla, municipality of Havana, Cuba. Moreover, Vice Chairman Ma Peihua, attended the opening ceremony of painting exhibition for painter SolIs, Chinese Cuban, and watched the performances commemorating the 170th anniversary of the first batch of Chinese people arriving in Cuba & the 17th Havana-China culture festival. During in Mexico, Vice Chairman Ma Peihua met respectively with Mme. Gloria Himelda Felix Niebla, the first Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies, Mr. Rolando Rodrigo Zapata Bello, Governor of Yucatan state. Mr. Miguel Angel Mancera, Mayor of Mexico City, awarded “Distinguished Visitor” medal to Vice Chairman Ma Peihua and Ma delivered a speech in the city hall of Mexico city. Moreover, Vice Chairman Ma Peihua also met with Mr. Graco Luis Ramirez Garrido Abreu, Governor of Morelos, Mr. Marco Antonio Mena Rodriguez, Governor of Tlaxcala and Mr. Jose Rosas Aispuro Torres, Governor of Durango, who paid a special visit to Mexico City to meet the delegation. Mr. Chen Xi, Ambassador of Chinese Embassy in Cuba and Mr. Qiu Xiaoqi, Ambassador of Chinese Embassy in Mexico, respectively accompanied the delegation and attended the above activities.         

In response to the Belt and Road Initiatives, which proposed by president Xi Jinping, to further promote the exchange of international culture, to strengthen the cooperation of culture and art between China and Russia, to enrich the culture of the two peoples, an opening ceremony of “Journey of Chinese Art -- Xu Peichen’s Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition in Russia” was held in Duma, Moscow on June 6 to 9, 2017. It was supported by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and China Artists Association, arranged by China Friendship Art Exchange Association, co-hosted by China Entrepreneurs Union, the Russian Asian union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and Nanjing Normal University. 88 creations of professor Xu Peichen were displayed this time in various forms and subjects including the Chinese flower-and -bird and landscape paintings. All of these were exquisite works created by professor Xu Peichen in 2017. Mr. Zyuganov, Vice Chairman of the Moscow Duma, Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Zhang Xiao, Minister of Chinese Embassy in Russia, Mr. Wang Heshan, Secretary-General of China Friendship Art Exchange Association，Mr. Ailan Wei, Secretary-General of Russia China Friendship Association, Mr.  Liu Lida, Vice Chairman of the Russian Asian union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and hundreds of guests were present at the opening ceremony. The works of Professor Xu were respectively collected by the Moscow Duma, the Russian Asian union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and the Moscow National Art University. Professor Xu was also awarded certifications from them.    Mr. Zhang Xiao, Minister of Chinese Embassy in Russia, who said that this exhibition not only shows Chinese’s traditional culture to Russia, but also is an effective implementation of the Belt and Road strategy, which is significant for enhancing the friendship and mutual understanding between China and Russia.

  On June 7th, the “Finnish Midsummer Goes Beijing”--Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Finland’s Independence, co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and Embassy of Finland in Beijing, was successfully held in the CPAFFC. About 300 people from the two countries attended the event. Vice President Lin Yi of CPAFFC, Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintil?, and Finish Ambassador to China Marja Rislakki attended the event and addressed the audience. Vice President Lin Yi conveyed her warm congratulations and best wishes to the Finnish people on the 100th anniversary of Finland’s Independence, and expressed CPAFFC’s willingness to facilitate the people-to-people friendship and local government cooperation with the Finnish side, and constantly inject new impetus into the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership between China and Finland. The Finnish famous YL Male Voice Choir made a special visit to the event and brought traditional Finnish music performance for the audience. The event also taught people Finnish traditional dances and displayed Finland’s folk activities, which showcased the authentic Finnish Midsummer Festival.    

On 6th June, Vice President Song Jingwu of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC) met with Mr Henk Kool, President of the Friendship Association Netherlands-China, and his delegation, which was invited by the CPAFFC to visit China. The two sides exchanged ideas on how to promote China-Netherlands local government cooperation, and signed a cooperation MOU on co-organizing Dutch China Friendship Conference for provinces and municipalities under the witness of Mr Henk Kamp, Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, and Mr Paul Menkveld, Charge d' Affaires a.i. of the Dutch Embassy in China.

On June 6, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Mr. Usenov, New Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan Embassy in China. Vice President Song extended warm welcome to Ambassador Usenov and congratulated him on taking the new post. Vice President Song also made a brief introduction about the function of CPAFFC and appreciated a lot of support given by Kyrgyzstan Embassy in China for many years. He is willing to work together with Ambassador Usenov to continue promoting the people-to-people exchanges and local cooperation of the two countries. Usenov spoke highly of the unique role CPAFFC played in the exchanges of sister-cities, local cooperation and the exchanges of people-to-people. He thanked CPAFFC for making positive contributions to promoting the bilateral relations, and expressed that during his tenure, Kyrgyzstan Embassy in China would continue keeping close collaborative relations with CPAFFC and playing the role of a bridge, so as to push bilateral relations for improvement. Mme. Hu Chunmei, Associated Counsel of Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.