On May 23rd, Madam Lin Yi, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with Mr. Abdelghani Kabara, Consultant of Lebanese Prime Minister for Northern Affairs. Madam Lin Yi welcomed Mr. Kabara to the CPAFFC and introduced the people-to-people exchanges between the CPAFFC and Lebanon, she said the CPAFFC is willing to actively promote the Chinese local governments, academic institutions and enterprises to establish sister cities and carry out the exchanges in culture, trade and other areas with their counterparts in Lebanon to further consolidate the people-to-people friendly cooperation relations between China and Lebanon. Mr. Kabara thanked Madam Lin for meeting with him and introduced the basic situation of Tripoli city and projects in progress in the city including port, airport, railway and knowledge city and welcomed the Chinese side to visit and invest in Tripoli city and the northern area. Mr. Kabara said Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri highly appreciates and supports the “Belt and Road Initiative" raised by China, Lebanon is willing to give full play to its unique geographical advantages to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields. The northern area of Lebanon is located beside Syria. As the capital of the Northern Province, Tripoli is the second largest city of Lebanon.

Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Mr. Aminov, Vice Mayor of Bukhara City of Uzbekistan and President of the Financial Affairs Bureau of Government, and his delegation on May 18th. Vice President Song extended warm welcome to the delegation. Both sides exchanged their views on further strengthening the exchanges between Bukhara City and Chinese cities, and developing the cooperation in the fields of the economy, trade, humanity, medical science, tourism and others of the two countries under the framework of the Belt and Road.  At the invitation of Luoyang Municipal Government, Henan Province, Vice Mayor Aminov and his delegation visited China. With the efforts of CPAFFC, on the afternoon of May 12th, Secretary of Communist Party of China Luoyang Municipal Committee and Mayor of Bukhara City of Uzbekistan signed a memorandum under the witness of the two state heads during the Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev paying the first state visit to China. Mme. Hu Chunmei, Associated Counsel of the Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.  

At the invitation of CPAFFC, H. E. Narson Rafidimanana, Minister of State for Presidential Projects, Land Management and Equipment of Madagascar, paid a visit to China from May 13 to 18 of 2017 with his delegation. During the visit, Mr. Rafidimanana attended the concerning activities of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and a luncheon held by President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC. Vice President of CPAFFC Mme. Lin Yi, Director-General of Guangdong Provincial Foreign Affairs Office Mr. Chen Qiuyan, Mayor of Wenzhou Mr. Zhang Geng and his deputy Mr. Miao Weilun met with or dinned with the delegation respectively. The delegation also held a business meeting with China-Africa Chamber of Commerce of Wenzhou, and took study tours to Chint Group, Gold Emperor Group and Kangle Pharmaceutical.  

Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, President of China-Japan Friendship Association (CJFA), met in Beijing with Mr. SHIMIZU TETSUTARO, President of Japanese Matsuyama Ballet Troupe, and Mme. MORISHITA YOKO,Team leader of the delegation on May 17th. President Tang extended warm welcome to the Japanese Matsuyama Ballet Troupe. He spoke highly of the cherish spirits and unremitting efforts that the two generations have been insisting in for many years promoting the development of China-Japan friendship by the way of the exchanges of culture and art. President Tang said, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations, Japanese Matsuyama Ballet Troupe is going to have its 15th performance in China, which is of the important and special significance. He hoped that the Japanese Matsuyama Ballet Troupe would continue carry forward the tradition and produce more works with innovation and enterprising as well as make more contributions to promoting the cultural exchange of the two countries and enhancing the friendly feeling of the two people. He wished the performance in China a complete success. SHIMIZU TETSUTARO thanked all walks of life in China for giving support and concern to the Japanese Matsuyama Ballet Troupe for many years. Adhering to the Japan-China friendly spirit carried by Mr. SHIMIZU MASAO and Mme. MATSUYAMA MIKIKO, the founders of Matsuyama Ballet Troupe, we would continue to make contributions to promote the cultural exchange of the two countries and the friendship for generations. Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), attended the meeting.

May 18th, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the CPAFFC met with Mr. Lars Bo Larsen, Deputy Head of Mission of Danish Embassy to China and exchanged in-depth views on co-promoting China-Denmark local cooperation and Danish Crown Prince’s visit to China.

On May 17th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with student delegation from Harvard Kennedy School. Xie introduced the leading and bridging role the CPAFFC has played in the China-US sub-national exchanges and cooperation. He pointed out that mutual visits between youth is an essential part of the sub-national exchanges and an effective channel to enhance mutual understanding and friendship. He encouraged the students to make further contributions to youth exchanges and sub-national cooperation between the two countries. Student representative Wilson Tong expressed sincere appreciation to the CPAFFC for receiving the delegation. He said that this was the first visit to China for most delegation members. The informative trip helped them understand more about China’s education, public policy, foreign affairs and culture, which changed some rigid perception they held towards China.

National Consultation on ‘Building Cognitive Capital for Children’ for Sustainable Development, jointly hosted by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) was held on May 16th in Beijing. Madame Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC and Mr. Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director attended the consultation and delivered welcome addresses. Martin Burt, International Public Policy Expert and Prof. Dong Qi, President of Beijing Normal University and famous neurologist, gave keynote speeches on cognitive capital for children from different perspectives. Over 180 people from several government departments, relevant academic institutes and research centers and non-governmental organizations attended the consultation. Madame Li Xiaolin pointed out in her welcome address that Chinese government had been placing much emphasis on children’s survival, protection and development and actively participated in the global and regional cooperation and exchanges in these fields, while carrying on works on children within China. Ever since the establishment of the United Nations Every Woman Every Child China Partnership Network in 2015, we had set up a comprehensive cross-sector platform for international collaboration and coordinated the member organizations to participate in the international cooperations in the fields of children’s health and development. UNICEF, as the practitioner in China of Every Woman Every Child affiliated to United Nations, had provided vigorous support to our association. After the implementation of the two-child policy, this consultation was held at the right time to help the young parents to establish the appropriate philosophy for child rearing and early education and resolve questions and confusions in this area so that the whole population could benefit from it. Madam Li Xiaolin delivers welcome address Mr. Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director, emphasized that the first 1000 days after the birth of a baby was the most crucial time period for his whole life. Therefore, investment in the child’s early education could influence the future quality of human resource and social and economic development at large. In the long run, children’s early education investment could yield abundant returns in social, economic and environmental aspects, as well as greatly reduce the negative effects caused by lack of education, health issues and criminal behavior towards family and society. Through this consultation, UNICEF, jointly with CPAFFC, would like to raise the awareness towards cognitive capital for children among all sectors of society, from policy-making level to common people, and exert a positive effects for our future generations.  Mr. Anthony Burt, UNICEF Executive Director delivers welcome address Attendees held penal discussions on various sub-topics as well. Group photo  

A reception of celebrating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Argentina was jointly held by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and Argentinean Embassy in China on May 16th, 2017. 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), and Mr. Mauricio Macri, President of Argentina, attended the reception and delivered speeches respectively. Over 500 foreign and domestic guests including CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin, Mr. Qin Gang, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs , CPAFFC Vice President Xie Yuan, attended the reception. Vice Chairman Ma Peihua said in his speech that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-Argentina diplomatic relations. President Mauricio Macri paid the special visit to China to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and also paid a state visit to China. With common efforts, the two countries had become mutual trust friends and mutual benefit good partners. In the future, China is willing to work together with the Argentina to continue bringing together the wisdom of the two countries and invariably promote all-direction, multi-level and broad-area friendly exchanges and cooperation of the two countries, so as to continuously deepen the bilateral relations and friendship.  President Mauricio Macri thanked the Chinese side for warm reception. He expressed, the rapidly development of China will bring a broad prospect for the cooperation of the two countries, which will endeavor to push bilateral ties for improvement from the new starting point.    

On May 15th, the CPAFFC and the Embassy of Timor-Leste to China jointly held the reception in celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Timor-Leste and the 15th Anniversary of the Restoration of Independence of Timor-Leste. Vice Chairman Qi Xuchun of CPPCC National Committee and Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, Founding President, Former Prime Minister and current Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment of Timor-Leste attended the reception and delivered speeches. Qi Xuchun said that China and Timor-Leste enjoyed time-honored exchanges and people-to-people friendship. The bilateral relations had made substantial development in the past 15 years and brought pragmatic relations to the two peoples. China was willing to provide continuous assistance and support to the Timor-Leste’s development and push forward the further development of Comprehensive Partnership Relations of the two countries. Xanna said that Timor-Leste thanked the China for the firm support to Timor-Leste’s national independence and development, and would join with the Chinese side to enhance the exchange and cooperation and strengthen the friendship and understanding. Mme. Zhang Qiujian, Deputy Secretary General of CPPCC National Committee, Vice President Lin Yi of CPAFFC, Ambassador Benedicto of Timor-Leste to China and guests from all walks of life of the two countries, foreign diplomats and envoys in total of 300 people attended the reception.

  On May 15, Madame Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC, met with, Minister of State for Presidential Projects, Land management and Equipment of Madagascar, who was in Beijing attending the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Vice President Lin expressed welcome to Minister Rafidimanana’s second visit to China at the invitation of CPAFFC. She said that Madagascar is an important linchpin in the construction of the Belt and Road, which is highly valued by the Chinese side.  CPAFFC will give full play to its advantages in promoting bilateral cooperation and awareness of relevant policies and jointly build the bridge of people-to-people bond between our two peoples through field survey by young entrepreneurs, cooperation of production capacity, etc. Mr. Rafidimanana expressed gratitude for CPAFFC’s invitation and sang a high praise on CPAFFC’s contribution in people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries.  He said that Madagascar and China will always be good friends.  As an old friend of CPAFFC, he himself will spare no effort in supporting CPAFFC’s activities. The Belt and Road Initiative bears historic significance.  It opened a gate of hope for the world and an opportunity to learn each other’s experience of development.  Madagascar will give active response in this regard.