Mr. Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met in the Great Hall of the People with Mr. KAWAMURA TAKEO, Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the House of Representatives on August 19th. Chairman Yu Zhengsheng said that the Chinese side pays high attention to the Sino-Japanese relations and has always been adhering to the spirit of reviewing the history and looking into the future. It develops Sino-Japanese good-neighborly and friendly relations on the basis of the four political documents between China and Japan. In the past few years, the general direction of the bilateral ties was improved, but it was still fragile and was confronted with several sensitive issues, which required the both sides to pay more attention to and properly handle them. Both China and Japan should work together toward the same direction, firmly keep to the correct direction of bilateral relations, get rid of the disturbances and push bilateral ties for improvement. KAWAMURA TAKEO said that the Japanese government has a completely understanding about the importance of the Sino-Japanese strategic beneficial relations. They hope to make great efforts to improve the friendly cooperation of the two countries. Mr. Zhang Qingli, the Vice-Chairman and Secretary-General of CPPCC, Mr. Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC, Mr. hang Qiujian, Deputy Secretary-General of CPPCC, Mr. Liu Haixing，Assistant Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, attended the meeting. At the invitation of CPAFFC, KAWAMURA TAKEO and his delegation visited Beijing from August 17 to 20.

On 19th August, Mr Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with Mr. Marten Kokk, the new Ambassador of Estonia. Vice President Song welcomed H.E. Mr. Marten Kokk to visit the CPAFFC soon after taking his office in China, and presented the latest progress of the Celebration Reception. Mr.Kokk spoke highly of the CPAFFC’s commitment and he pleased working together with CPAFFC on people-to-people diplomacy in the following years. The two sides make agreement on the issue of the Celebration of 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Baltic Countries and China on 13th September. Ms. Aire Kork, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of The Republic of Estonia, Mr. Lv Hongwei Deputy Director General of the Department of European Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting. 

Vice President Xie Yuan met with the outgoing Cuba ambassador to China Alberto Blanco Silva on August 19th, 2016. Vice President Xie expressed appreciation and gratitude to Alberto Blanco Silva for his positive contributions to pushing the friendly relations of the two peoples during his tenure as Cuba Ambassador to China, and hoped that he will continue keeping contact with CPAFFC, caring about and supporting the development of the friendship cause of the people-to-people between China and Cuba after his tenure. Ambassador Alberto Blanco Silva made a brief introduction of the economy development results achieved recently and the current relations between America and Cuba. He especially thanked CPAFFC for giving precious supports for them during his tenure and hoped that CPAFFC will further promote the exchanges and cooperation between China and Cuba in the fields of culture, trade, new energy and etc. in future.

  Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, met with Mr. ARAI KATSUYUKI, New President of Japan-China Friendship Center (JCFC) on August 18th. Vice President Song conveyed President Li Xiaolin’s cordial greetings to President EDA SATSUKI and congratulated Mr.  ARAI KATSUYUKI on being elected as new President of JCFC. Vice President Song said that JCFC is one of seven Japan-China friendship organizations. It is commonly organized by the organizations of two countries and makes great contributions to promoting the friendly exchanges of the people-to-people of the two counties. The Chinese youth delegations visited Japan not long ago. JCFC provided thoughtful arrangements and held a warm reception for them. After visiting Japan, the Chinese youth learned more about Japan and the importance of friendship between China and Japan. The exchanges of the youth between the two countries are important to improve the feelings of the two peoples. CPAFFC pays high attention to the relations of cooperation with JCFC and is willing to work together with it to make unremitting efforts to further promote the friendly exchanges and the feelings of the two peoples. President ARAI KATSUYUKI thanked Vice President Song for taking the time to meet with them. President ARAI KATSUYUKI also said that JCFC is the latest organization established in the seven Japan- China friendship organizations, but it is willing to enhance the exchanges and cooperation in various fields , especially the youth exchanges of the two countries, so as to  make new contributions to the development of the friendship cause of the two countries.

Vice President Xie Yuan met with James Maughan, Director of Dubai Business Internships of Dubai Falcon and Associates and representatives from University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Columbia University, London Imperial College and The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE )on August 15th. These representatives are in China for the Beijing Careers Fair 2016. Vice President Xie briefed to the representatives about the aims and history of CPAFFC. He pointed out that education and youth exchanges had always been the main tasks of our work. He wished that CPAFFC and these famous universities could carry out cooperation in diversified forms in the future, to further the understanding and friendship between our peoples through youth exchanges.

The 5th Beijing Cup International Schools Football Tournament opened grandly in Beijing in the morning of August 15th. Along with Hu Sishe, Vice President of the CPAFFC, Zhang Yanjun, the full-time vice president of the Chinese Middle School Sports Association attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Liu Pengzhi, headmaster of the allied general school of Renmin University’s attached middle school declared the opening. A total of 8 middle school students delegation teams from Australia, Russia, Indonesia and South Korea, Taipei China, the attached middle school of Renmin University of China, the Chinese Middle School Students Football League and the Henan Province’s Experimental Middle School took part in the tournament. Leaders of the National General Sports Administration, the Chinese Football Association, the Education Commission of Beijing City, the Municipal Sports Bureau, Municipal Football Association and from the relevant departments of Haidian District attended the opening ceremony. Embassy officials in China from Russia, Indonesia, and South Korea also attended the opening ceremony and met with their own nation’s players. The 5th Beijing Cup International Schools Football Tournament is sponsored by our association, and the Chinese Middle School Students’ Sports Association, and it is jointly undertaken by the football branch of China’s Middle School Students’ Sports Association, Beijing Yi Cheng BTV Sangao Football Club, and the Affiliated Middle School of Renmin University of China. Currently, after going through constant development, the tournament has become a high-level international football match for middle school students around campuses in China, and it has already enjoyed a reputation internationally.  Vice President Hu Sishe said in his speech that sports, the bridge and bond among world nations, offer an important platform to facilitate cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Football, in particular, is a worldly sport popular among people especially the teenager population for its unique charms. Today, the extraordinary power of football games has brought us together—teenage football lovers of different nationalities, languages, cultures and colors to share football skills and wonderful matches.  We are ready to work closely with all walks of the society and create a platform of exchanges for the development of world teenage football games, where worldwide teenage football lovers can exhibit their passion, wisdom and strength. We hope that through these games people can meet friends and learn from each other and that we can showcase and share the wonders and beauty of football games; in this way we aim to promote the development of teenage football sport and boost understanding and friendship among teenagers from different countries.

From Aug 6 to 11, the 4th ASEAN-China Youth Cultural Exchange Festival (ACYCEF), co-hosted by CPAFFC, China-ASEAN Association (CAA) and the China National Committee for the Well-being of Youth (CNCWBY), was held at Xi’an, Shaanxi. H.E. Madam Gu Xiulian, President of CAA and President of CNCWBY, Vice President Lin Yi of CPAFFC, Vice President Liu Yazhi of the Standing Committee of CNCWBY and Vice President Zhang Jianguo of Shaanxi Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries attended the festival. About 230 young representatives from Chinese mainland, Taiwan as well as ASEAN countries took part in the activity. Mme. Gu Xiulian made a speech on the  Gala Nightu This Festival is one of the celebration activities marking the 25th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. Through the visits and exchanges, the Chinese and ASEAN teenagers enhanced their mutual understanding and built their friendship. A traditional style welcome ceremony at the South Gate of ancient Xi’an city was organized by the Xi’an Municipal government. The young delegates felt like returning to the heydays in the Tang dynasty. At the China-ASEAN Youth Cultural Gala Night of Friendship, the folk performances of ASEAN countries and Taiwanese echoed with Shaanxi opera, pushing the Festival to the climax. As Mme. Gu said in the speech before the performance, Xi’an, the provincial capital of Shaanxi, is the birthplace of the Chinese nation, the cradle of Chinese civilization and the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. It is of great significance that we are standing at the starting point of this Road to hold the 4th ACYCEF. It will further build the friendly atmosphere and pass on the traditional friendship. Since 2013, ACYCEF has become a brand-name project of China-ASEAN youth exchanges by CPAFFC. So far, around a thousand Chinese and ASEAN teenagers have participated in it. Chinese Kung-fu  Cambodian Dance

On August 9th, vice president Hu Sishe met with C. Rajasekhar, director general of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). They made in-depth discussions on co-hosting the Second International Conference of Indologists this year and other cultural exchanges between the two countries.  Mr. Hu pointed out that the cultural exchanges between the two countries date back to ancient times. One of the most famous examples of such exchanges is that Xuan Zang, an eminent monk of Chinese Tang Dynasty, brought back Buddhist script ures to China despite all those tribulations and risks. The modern times witness more frequent and more fruitful cultural exchanges between the two countries. There are similarities as well as differences between the two countries. We should learn from and compensate each other. The Second International Conference of Indologists offers a good opportunity for scholars from the two countries to strengthen academic exchanges. Mr. C. Rajasekhar, director general of ICCR spoke highly of the efforts made by CPAFFC in promoting Sino-Indian cultural exchanges. He believed that the upcoming conference would not only be a good opportunity for scholars to make academic discussions, but also a signal to the world of friendship between the two peoples. Both sides extend their hope for more exchanges in the future so as to further enhance the strategic cooperative partnership between China and India. 

Vice President Xie Yuan met with Vice President Ge Jun of Apple Inc. on August 9th.  Vice President Xie welcome Ge’s visit to the Friendship Association. He introduced some of the organization’s brand projects, including China-U.S. Governors Forum, China-U.S. Relations Conference, China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference, Round-Table Summit of “Global CEO Council”, etc. VP Xie said that both China and the United States should enhance cooperation based on mutual trusts. He hoped that Apple could continue its contribution to supporting China’s development, environmental protection and the philanthropy cause. Ge Jun said that Apple attached great importance to its development in China. As a people-oriented corporation, Apple has been engaging in practicing zero emission in all its production facilities as well as those of its suppliers’. The company is looking forward to enhancing its cooperation and exchanges with the CPAFFC. Apple will play a more important role in environmental protection, culture and education, and the philanthropy cause in order to promote the development of China-U.S. people-to-people diplomacy.

The Sixth Youth Exchange Exhibition on Calligraphy and Paintings of China, Japan and South Korea was held successfully on August 7th in SUZU Municipal Multiple-function hall in Japan. The exhibition was cohosted by CPAFFC, SUZU Japan-China Friendship Association, NOTO-CHO Japan-China Friendship Association, Korean Kimchon Institute of Fine Arts. Around 100 people participated in the opening ceremony and visited the exhibition including Vice director General of cultural exchange department in CPAFFC Mr. Ji Wei, the mayor of SUZU Izumiyamasushiro，president of SUZU Japan-China Friendship Association Sanbaimichizo, and president of Korean Kimchon Institute of Fine Arts Mr. Kim Young Sic. Mr. Ji Wei delivered the congratulation from President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC on the opening ceremony. Chinese youth art exchange group performed together with the local children. NHK of Ishikawa made reports on the exhibition.