Deputy Director General Zhang Ruoning of European Department Met with Ms. Tarja Kangaskorte, Deputy Head of Mission from Finland Embassy on Feb 16th. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on the proposal to hold celebration event of the 100 Anniversary of the Independence of Finland this June at the Friendship Association.

CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu met with Mr. Hans VAN DUYSEN, President of Belgium-China Association (BCA), on February 16th. On behalf of CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin, Vice President Song first thanked President Hans VAN DUYSEN for writing a letter to CPAFFC as soon as the South China Sea arbitration occurred and standing up for China’s serious and just attitude towards this arbitration. Both sides also reviewed the experience of the friendly cooperation of the two organizations over the past years and had an in-depth discussion on how to give a lot of support for each other. Vice President Song again invited President Hans VAN DUYSEN to visit China this year. President Hans VAN DUYSEN also invited Vice President Song to visit Belgium on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the BCA and attended relevant activities. To carry out the cooperation programs among BCA and Chinese language Study Office of Beijing Foreign Studies University as well as China International Book Import & Export (Group) Corporation. President Hans VAN DUYSEN paid a special visit to China this time.

On February 15, CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu met with President of Serbian Far East Society Mr. Goran Vasiljevic and his wife. Song spoke highly of the couple’s contribution towards the mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and Serbian people. The two sides reviewed the previous cooperation and exchanged opinions on future work regarding people-to-people exchange between the two associations. Mr. Goran Vasiljevic invited Vice President Song Jingwu to lead a delegation to Serbia this year.

Invited by LaLiga and Amphictyony of Ancient Greek Cities, a CFFPD Delegation comprising 4 delegates led by the Secretary General of CPAFCC, Li Xikui, who is also the Chairman of CFFPD, visited Spain and Greece from February 6th to 12th. During the visit in Spain, the Delegation met with Olga de la Fuente，General Manager of the LaLiga Foundation, they in-depth exchanges and reached a preliminary consensus about holding the youth football exchange and training program. The delegation attended the Uraia Workshop 2017, visited the Secretary-General of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and exchanged views about the urban development and local government exchanges with the United Regions Organization/Forum of Regional Governments and Global Associations (ORU Fogar), Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia, CASA ASIA and other organizations. During the visit in Greece, the delegation visited the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Ioannis Amanatidis, and met with Llias Psinakis, the President of Amphictyony of Ancient Greek Cities, Mayor of Marathons, and President of Marathons Foundation, they in-depth discussed and reached a consensus about the cooperation of culture, sports and local government. The delegation also exchanged views on relevant cooperation with a number of international organizations such as the Global Found for Cities Development (FMDV) and UNHABITAT. Mr. Li Xikui attended the Uraia Workshop 2017 Mr. Li Xikui met with the Mayor of Marathons Mr. Li Xikui visited the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Mr. Li Xikui met with LaLiga Mr. Li Xikui visited UCLG

In order to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the normalization of the diplomatic relations between China and Japan, China and Japan New Year Concert sponsored by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and China-Japan Friendship Association (CJFA) was held in the evening of February 10th in National Center for the Performing Arts. Over 120 people including Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, President of CJFA, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. YOKOI YUTAKA, Japan’s Ambassador to China, were present.   During the concert, the Chinese and Japanese youth pianists performed classic music in superb skill, such as The Girl With the Flaxen Hair and Chopin Scherzo No.2, as well as other piano music reflected the two countries’ culture, such as Silver Cloud in A Moon Night and Sakura, which got praise. KAWAI Foundation for Musical Education and China-Japan Friendly Exchange also organized the concert together with CPAFFC and CJFA.

CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu met with Ukrainian Ambassador to China Dyomin on February 10th. Vice President Song Jingwu extended welcome to Ambassador Dyomin’s visit and made a brief introduction about the function of CPAFFC. Ambassador Dyomin conveyed greetings of Chinese New Year to Vice President Song and introduced the latest cooperative situation in the field of humanity and culture of the two countries. Both sides had an in-depth discussion on holding commemoration the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Ukraine, and strengthening the people-to-people exchange of the two countries. Mme. Hu Chunmei, Associated Counsel of Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.

On February 9th, Mr Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with Mr John Aquilina, Ambassador of Malta to China, and Mr Aldo Cutajar, Deputy Head of Mission. Vice President Song briefly introduced CPAFFC’s work in people-to-people diplomacy, local government cooperation, public diplomacy and public welfare affairs, and exchange views with him on co-hosting the reception to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malta. Ambassador John Aquilina said that Malta is eager to increase and improve contacts and relations with China, and expect to work with the CPAFFC to create more exchanges and cooperation with China in the areas of people-to-people, culture, local government, economy and trade, and tourism.

CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu attended youth video exchanges activity between China Peixian Experimental School and Lebanon Beirut City International School on February 8th. Students from Peixian Experimental School played traditional Chinese musical instruments Peizhu and Guzheng as well as performed papercutting and Chinese Martial Arts. Students from Lebanon Beirut City International School performed  traditional Lebanon songs and dances. They also introduced traditional Lebanon food and fruits to visitors. The students of the two countries also exchanged letters and conveyed greetings. When Vice President Song Jingwu accepted People cn’s interview, he said, Lebanon is an important place for the Belt and Road. The activity is a good experience, which would build a bridge of hearts between the two youths. In future, CPAFFC would continue to concern about and support the relevant activities. Former Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wu Zexian, Chargé  d' Affasiread Interim of the Lebanon Embassy in China Hatem Nasrallah, attended the activity.

This January marks the first anniversary of President Xi Jinping's historic visit to the Middle East, during which, on January 20th 2016, President Xi attended the Awarding Ceremony of the "China-Arab Friendship Outstanding Contribution Award” in Egypt organized by the CPAFFC, arousing wide echoes in the Arab world. As its follow-up. we have been in close coordination with the People's Daily. and published a full-page article and commentary based on the CPAFFC’s exclusive interviews with the 10 award winners on this special occasion, namely People-to-people Bonds to Water the Tree of China Arab Friendship and People-to-People Friendship to Fortify the Foundation of Cooperation, to promote people-to-people diplomacy and China Arab Friendship. This Special Report, published on this special occasion of the first anniversary of President Xi’s visit to the Middle East, fully demonstrates Arab people’s friendly affection towards China and the unique charm of people-to-people diplomacy, by reviewing Arab friends’ good impressions on President Xi.

On 18th Jan, Mr. Ji Yongjun, Deputy Director General of Department of American and Oceanian Affairs met with Mr. Ralph Latortue, Haitian Representative to China. Mr. Ji welcomed Mr. Latortue to visit CPAFFC’s compound and briefed him the general information about CPAFFC’s work  with Haitian part. Both sides exchanged opinions on the areas of local governments communications, commercial and economic exchanges and cultural cooperations.