On the evening of 24th February, Vice President Song Jingwu of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) attended 2017 China-Denmark Tourism Year Opening Ceremony in Beijing. He exchanged ideas on promoting local government cooperation and enhancing people to people and cultural exchanges between China and Denmark with Danish Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Mr Brian Mikkelsen, Danish Ambassador to China Mr A.Carsten Damsgaard, and Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Lars Bo Larsen.

On February 22nd, Mme Lin Yi, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with H.E. Mr. Ahmad Berwari, the new Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to China. Vice President Lin Yi welcomed Ahmad for taking his new post in China and introduced the work of the CPAFFC and China-Arab Friendship Association. She expressed her willingness to maintain communication and coordination with the embassy to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the fields of non-governmental organizations, think tanks and local governments, so as to jointly enhance the people-to-people friendship between the two countries.  Ambassador Ahmad thanked Vice President Lin for meeting with him. He said, the friendship between Iraq and China has a long history and China is Iraqi’s largest trading partner. Iraq supports China’s "Belt and Road Initiative" and hopes to continue to promote the bilateral cooperation in petroleum, infrastructure and other fields. Both countries are ancient civilizations with a long history. Iraq is willing to strengthen cultural cooperation with China to contribute to the development of human civilization.

Deputy Director General LYU Hongwei of European Department met with Mrs. Szonja Andrea Buslig, Director and Counsellor of Balassi Institute & Hungarian Cultural Institute Beijing, on Feb 22nd. Mrs. Szonja introduced the cultural exchange project between China and Hungary in 2017 and 2018. She also expressed the wish to cooperate with CPAFFC in the fields of culture and youth exchange between both sides.

On February 22, CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu met with French delegation of Agency for Development of International Relations and Cultural and Economic Cooperation. Mr. Gausserand, Mayor of Gaillac City and head of delegation, inquired in detail the Friendship Cities mechanism between China and foreign countries, and expressed his wish for Gaillac and Zigong to become Friendship Cities. The two sides also discussed the French presidential election and trading of local products between Chinese and French regions. After the meeting, witnessed by Vice President Song Jingwu, Agency for Development of International Relations and Cultural and Economic Cooperation and Museum of Gaillac City signed cooperation memorandum for cultural exchanges with Beijing Art Museum respectively. Mr. Lv Hongwei, Deputy Director General of CPAFFC European and Asian Department, was present at the previous events.

CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu met with Slovenia Ambassador to China Janez Premoze on Feb 20th. Vice President Song introduced the basic function of CPAFFC to Ambassador Janez Premoze. Ambassador Janez Premoze also described the good development situation of the two countries in recent years. After that, both sides exchanged their views on holding activities this year to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations of China and Slovenia.  Mr. Lv Hongwei, Deputy Director-general of the Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, Mme. Andreja Naraks, the Deputy Head and Minister of Slovenia Embassy in China, attended the meeting.

CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu met in Beijing with JAPIT President KASAI YAKUO and his delegation on Feb 20th. Vice President Song extended warm welcome to President KASAI YAKUO and spoke highly of the important contributions JAPIT had made for a long time to promoting the economic and trade development between the two countries. Vice President Song also said, this year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of the diplomatic relations of the two countries. CPAFFC and CJFA will hold a series of commemorative activities this year which will play an active role in improving the bilateral ties.  President KASAI YAKUO made a brief introduction about the activities JAPIT plans to hold this year. He would like to take the 45th anniversary of the normalization of the diplomatic relations as an opportunity to strengthen the cooperation with China and promote the exchanges and cooperation in fields of the economics, trade and tourism, so as to enhance people’s friendship. Mme. Zhu Dan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Japanese Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.

CPAFFC Vice President SONG Jingwu met with Mr. Jaroslv Tvrdik,Chairman of the Committee of Czech-China Chamber of Collaboration, on Feb. 19th. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on the european refugee problem, the french election and Brexit etc. Mr. SHEN Xin and Mr. Lue Hongwei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, and Vice-president of the Committee of Czech-China Chamber of Collaboration Mr. Petr Mrhalek attended the meeting.

On February 17, CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu met with Mr. Vasilescu, Deputy Secretary of Romanian Social Democratic Party, Executive President of Romania-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Policy Adviser towards China for Romania Prime Minister. Both sides spoke highly of the traditional friendship between China and Romania, and the progress under the “16+1” cooperative mechanism. The two also discussed this year’s China-CEEC Mayors Summit to be held by CPAFFC and the Europe China Friendship Association Conference to be held by Romania-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Brussels this year. Mr. Wang Tieshan, Standing Vice President of China-Romania Friendship Association, and Mr. Lv Hongwei, Deputy Director General of CPAFFC European and Asian Department were present during the meeting.

On February 16th, Vice President Song Jingwu attended the Reception on the 45th Anniversary of UK-China Ambassadorial Relations at British Embassy Residence. During the reception, Vice President Song exchanged ideas with Alok Sharma MP, Parliament Under Secretary of State of FCO, on the Ceremony of the 45th Anniversary of China-UK Ambassadorial Relations and the 3rd China-UK Local Leaders’ Summit. Song emphasized that people-to-people exchanges and local cooperation serve as the foundation for the “Golden Age” of China-UK relations. The CPAFFC is committed to the preparation of the Ceremony of the 45th Anniversary of China-UK Ambassadorial Relations and the 3rd China-UK Local Leaders’ Summit with the British side, together contribute to the 45th anniversary of China-UK ambassadorial relations and the“Golden Age”of the bilateral relations. Sharma highly valued the CPAFFC’s contribution in promoting UK-China relations and the China-UK Local Leaders’ Summit as a branding of UK-China local cooperation. The British side will further strengthen comprehensive cooperation with the CPAFFC, together lay the foundation for the“Golden Age”of the bilateral relations.

On 16th February Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met in Beijing with Henry Keswick, Chairman of Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd., who visited China at the invitation of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). Vice President of CPAFFC Song Jingwu and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Haixing attended the meeting. Li Yuanchao said that in 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister May reaffirmed that the bilateral relationship is heading to a golden era. As 2017 marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations between China and the UK, he hoped the two sides make joints efforts to develop the global comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK for the 21st century. “Belt and Road Initiative” created huge potential for cooperation between the two countries, and he expected the Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. keep expanding their cooperation with China. Henry Keswick expressed full confidence in China’s economy, saying that he would like to grasp the opportunities brought by the “Belt and Road Initiative” and increase investment in and cooperation with China.