Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met in Tokyo with Mr. OKAMOTO TAMOTSU, President of Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) on August 6. Vice President Song Jingwu said that the CPAFFC and the CLAIR are the organizations managing and promoting local exchanges in their own county. Although the bilateral relations still confront the sensitive and complex situation, the exchanges of the two countries are still in ascendance. Japan is the first country established the friendship city relations with China. Until now, both countries have set up 250 pairs of friendship cities, which are the largest number for China established with foreign countries. He hoped that CLAIR could develop their advantages and work together with China to further promote the pragmatic cooperation and the youth exchanges of the two countries. He wished the Exchanges Conference of Friendship Cities among China, Japan and Korea to be held in October this year in Okayama Prefecture a complete success and expressed that the Chinese side is willing to make efforts and prepare for the conference. President OKAMOTO TAMOTSU thanked Vice President Song Jingwu for taking time to meet him. President OKAMOTO TAMOTSU also said that under the thoughtful arrangement of CPAFFC, the Exchanges Conference of Friendship Cities among China, Japan and Korea held in Yi Wu, Zhejiang province last year achieved a complete success, which deepened the pragmatic cooperation among the three countries in various sectors. Okayama Prefecture is actively preparing the Conference to be held in October this year. He hoped to receive great support from CPAFFC, so as to hold a successful conference.

The 2016 China Africa Youth Gala, hosted by the CPAFFC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and organized by the Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Communist Youth League Committee of Guangdong Province and Guangdong Youth Federation,  successfully concluded in Guangzhou on August 5, 2016. During the four-day event, nearly 200 youth representatives from all walks of life from 18 African countries carried out various exchanges with their Guangdong counterparts in economy and trade, culture and social services, which further enhanced China-Africa youth friendship. During the Gala, Chinese and African youth representatives attended the China Africa Startup Forum with the theme of "Young Start-ups create the Future" and exchanged views with the volunteers of Guangzhou youth volunteer service center. They also visited the high-tech enterprises in Shenzhen like Huawei, enjoyed the lion dance and martial arts performance in Foshan and co-hosted the gala in the Canton Tower.

In the name of China-Russia Friendship Association (CRFA), the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) held a symposium of  Russian main-stream media journalists and CRFA’s experts, scholars and media representatives studying on Russia on August 5th. Mrs. Hu Chunmei, the Associated Counsel of the Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC and Secretary- General of CRFA, made a brief introduction of the work about Russia done by CPAFFC and CRFA in recent years to the delegation The representatives from the both sides made a discussion on the current international situation, China-Russia relations, media exchanges and etc.. At the invitation of the Embassy of China in Russia, the Russian main-stream journalist delegation visited China. It was made up of many Russian media representatives including the Information Telegraphic Agency of Russia-TASS, "Russia Today" TV, "The Voice of Russia" and other Russian media journalists. The aim of the special symposium holding for the  journalists was to actively cooperate with “the Exchange Year of China and Russia Media”and promote the coordination between the two countries’ medias. The representatives from the Chinese academy and media circles attended the symposium, including Institute of  European, Central Asian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Department for European-Central Asian Studies of China Institute of International Studies, Euro-Asian Social Development Research Institute, Development Research Center, the State Council of China, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Department of Russia Studies of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, CCTV-RU, China Pictorial and etc..

At the invitation of the Japanese government, the Chinese youth delegation and the Chinese college graduates village official delegation with 187 representatives visited Japan for friendly exchange on August 2. In the evening of August 3, Japan-China Friendship Center (JCFC) held a welcoming reception for the delegations in Tokyo. Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Mr. EDA SATSUKI, President of JCFC, were present and delivered speeches. Vice President Song Jingwu appreciated the Japanese government’s inviting and JCFC’s hospitable reception. After that, he introduced the components of the two delegations and the situation of the exchanges after the delegation arriving in Japan to the guests of the both sides. Vice President Song pointed out that China and Japan are close neighbors linked by a narrow strip of water. Both countries have the history of the friendly exchanges for over 2000 years. He also said that the youth are the future for the two countries’ friendly relations. They should work together to take the responsibility for inheriting and developing the friendly relations of the two countries and make their own contribution to developing the bilateral ties in the new times. CPAFFC and CJFA (China and Japan Friendship Association ) will continue working for the cause of the friendly relations between China and Japan. They will make their own effort to further strengthening the friendly exchanges of the two peoples, especially among the youth, for improving the bilateral ties.   JCFC President EDA SATSUKI said in his speech that China and Japan are close and friendly neighbors. They should discover more points in common to enhance the mutual understanding of the two peoples. The Japanese government extended warm welcome to the delegations and hoped that the delegation members should make more friends with the Japanese, so as to deepen the mutual understanding and trust, and also make their own contribution to improving the feeling of the two peoples and developing the bilateral ties. Mme. Wang wan, counsellor of the Embassy of China in Japan, Mr. SHIKATA NORIYUKI, Deputy Director-General of Asian and Oceania Affairs Bureau of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Wang Zhanqi, Deputy Secretary-General of CJFA and Japanese representatives from friendly delegations to China, attended the welcoming reception.

On the morning of August 2, the China-U.S. Internet Eco Innovation Forum, hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and sponsored by U.S. Sino Friendship Association, Internet Eco Research Institute, Le Holdings (Beijing) Co. Ltd was held at the Great Hall of the People. Officials from China and the U.S., including Zhou Wenzhong, vice chairman of Committee of Foreign Affairs of the CPPCC, vice president of the China-U.S. People’s Friendship Association, former vice minister of Foreign Affairs, former Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC, Vice President Xie Yuan of CPAFFC, Zheng Xinli, former deputy director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, John Chiang, California State Treasurer and the Western U.S. Local Officials’ Delegation, as well as business leaders and experts on Internet industry, represented by Liu Hong, co-founder of vice chairman of Le Holdings (Beijing) Co. Ltd participated at the conference, and discussed about the new opportunities brought by Internet Eco Innovation, to bilateral economies and the global economy.  Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong said that as the most developed countries on Internet application, China and the U.S. are major driving forces behind Internet technology advance. Cooperation between the enterprises of the two countries in this area will bring strong impetus to both economies, and vitality to the global economic development and technological innovation.  CPAFFC Vice President Xie Yuan said that this Forum is the first one to incorporate the factor of Internet Eco Innovation into China-U.S. cooperation framework. It is aimed to provide a platform for the local governments, colleges and enterprises for exchange and cooperation, and for Internet practitioners to have comprehensive eco experience.  During the Forum, the attendees had an in-depth discussion on the topics of “Internet Eco-business Ushered in a New Model of China-U.S. Boundary-breaking Innovation” and “Practice and Responsibility of China-U.S. Internet Eco Innovation”. The two sides agreed that Internet Eco Innovation will bring new cooperation opportunities and models for the two countries, and deepen their ties in the areas of Internet, electronic vehicles, and cultural creativity.  

The 2016 China Africa Youth Gala, hosted by the CPAFFC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and organized by the Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Communist Youth League Committee of Guangdong Province and Guangdong Youth Federation, was inaugurated in Guangzhou on August 2, 2016. H.E. Mr. He Zhongyou, Vice governor of Guangdong Province, Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC and H.E. Mr. Victor Sikonina, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Madagascar to China attended and addressed the opening ceremony. The Gala aims to implement the Follow-up Actions of the FOCAC Johannesburg Summit in South Africa last December of enhancing China-Africa youth exchanges and hosting the China Africa Youth Gala in different countries in turn. During the four-day event, nearly 200 youth representatives from all walks of life from 18 African countries will carry out exchanges with their Guangdong counterparts in economy and trade, culture and social services. During the Gala, a China Africa Startup Forum with the theme of "Young Start-ups create the Future" and a youth volunteer symposium will be held. The African youth will also visit the community administrative service center and high-tech enterprises in Shenzhen like Huawei, enjoy the lion dance and martial arts performances, and hold a gala with the Chinese youth. In this way, they will be able to learn about Guangdong and China from different perspectives and thus enhance China-Africa traditional friendship.

Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, President of China and Japan Friendship Association (CJFA), met in Beijing with Japan Association of Corporate Executives (JACE) delegation led by Mr. KOBAYASHI YOSHIMITS，Chairman of JACE and Chairman of the Board of Mitsubishi Chemical Holding Group on August 1st. The both sides exchanged views on China-Japan relations, Chinese economic situation, economy and trade cooperation of the two countries. President Tang extended his welcome to Chairman KOBAYASHI YOSHIMITSU for visiting China and congratulated on the 70th anniversary of the founding of JACE. He positively evaluated that JACE made important contributions to improving the bilateral relations for a long time and encouraged the Japanese economy industry to develop its technology and experience advantages, set a new growth point  of the economy and trade cooperation of the two countries, create a new situation of the win-win cooperation between China and Japan, and enhance the regional cooperation and prosperity of the East Asia. KOBAYASHI YOSHIMITSU said that since JACE founded  70 years ago, it had been positively engaging in the exchange and cooperation of the two countries. He expressed that they have confidence in the Chinese economy. The visiting to China this time was to put emphasis on studying the sectors of Chinese IT, internet, virtual economy and etc.. They also planned to have an in-depth discussion with Chinese professional personages and relevant institutions to expect to strengthen the mutual beneficial cooperation in the fields of new economy and others, so as to promote the relations of the economy and trade between China and Japan forward.

The Embassy of Japan in China held a farewell meeting in Beijing for the Chinese youth delegation and college graduates village official delegation in the evening of August 1st. Mr. Song Jingwu, the Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and head of the delegation, Mr. Wang Zhanqi, Deputy Secretary-General of China-Japan Friendship Association (CJFA), Mr. YAMAMOTO TAKASHI, Minister of the Embassy of Japan in China, attended the meeting.       Mr. Song Jingwu, the Vice President of CPAFFC and head of the delegation, delivered a speech Vice President Song Jingwu thanked the Embassy of Japan in China for giving support and assistance to this visiting. He said that China and Japan are close neighbors. Promoting the mutual understanding and friendly feeling of the two peoples, especially among the youth, is an important basis for further improving the bilateral relations. The both sides should know each other correctly, comprehensively and objectively by the way of the extensive and thorough exchanges. CPAFFC and CJFA are willing to continue pushing the friendship of the people-to-people and the exchanges of the youth. On behalf of the Japanese government, Minister of Japanese Embassy, Mr. YAMAMOTO TAKASHI extended his warm welcome to the delegations for friendly visiting. He wished the visiting a complete success and thanked CPAFFC and CJFA for making efforts and contributions to promoting the youth exchanges of the two countries. Mr. YAMAMOTO TAKASHI, Minister of the Embassy of Japan in China, delivered a speech A total of 95 people in the Chinese youth delegation, who came from Beijing municipal civil servant at the basic level, economy circle and medical staff. There are 92 people in the Chinese college graduates village official delegation, who came from Beijing, Hebei and Chongqing. At the invitation of the Japanese government, the two delegations would visit Tokyo, Kyoto-fu, Yamanashi prefecture, Nagano prefecture and other places respectively from August 2 to 6, and from August 2 to 9. They would visit and study the facilities in their own relevant sectors and had friendly exchanges with relevant Japanese people.

On 25th July, Mr Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with Mr. Maris Selga, the Ambassador of Latvia. Vice President Song expressed his welcome to Mr. Selga for his visiting, and introduced the main functions of CPAFFC. Mr. Selga believed that twinning sister cities could be the potential of the bilateral relations. Otherwise, the Ambassador would like to expand more cooperative fields with the assistance of Mr. Song and CPAFFC. The two sides also discussed about the issue of the Celebration of 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Baltic Countries and China in this September. Mr. Andzejs Kasevskis, Second Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia, Mr. Lv Hongwei Deputy Director General of the Department of European Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting. 

The opening ceremony of “China Arab Friendship Youth Ambassadors Program 2016” was held in Beijing on July 20th. Lin Yi, vice president of CPAFFC, Mona Saad, chief coordinator of Arab China Friendship Association Federation, youth representatives from 8 countries, Chinese students from Arabian Language departments from more than 10 universities, Ambassadors and diplomatic officers from some Arab States, media representatives, amounting to 120 persons were present. After the opening, China and Arab youth had a friendship dialogue on the subjects of mutual concern. “China Arab Friendship Youth Ambassadors Program 2016” is jointly held by CPAFFC and Arab China Friendship Association Federation. Around 50 youth from Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan, Algeria, Oman, Libya, Morocco and Egypt, attended the activities. The one-week program is to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relationship between China and Arab, and to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and Arabian younger generation.