The CPAFFC and the Embassy of Seychelles in China co-hosted a reception celebrating the 40th anniversary of China-Seychelles diplomatic relations and independence of Seychelles in Beijing on June 29, 2016. H.E. Mr. Zhou Xiaochuan, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC, H.E. Amb. Maurice LOUSTAU-LALANNE, Secretary of State of Seychelles and other 200 guests from both sides attended the reception. The CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi and the Ambassador of Seychelles to China, H.E. Ms. Vivianne FOCK TAVE delivered speeches in the reception. Before the reception, Mr. Zhou Xiaochuan met with Amb. Maurice LOUSTAU-LALANNE. Zhou said that since China and Seychelles established diplomatic ties 40 years ago, bilateral relations have long maintained a sound momentum of development and become a model which shows that all countries, big or small, are equal and countries with different conditions can have mutually beneficial cooperation. China is willing to work with Seychelles, with focus on the implementation of the results of the FOCAC Johannesburg Summit, to further promote pragmatic cooperation in all areas and bring more benefits to the two peoples. Amb. Maurice LOUSTAU-LALANNE said that China is Seychelles’ sincere friend. Seychelles is grateful to China for providing valuable support to Seychelles’ economic and social development. Seychelles-China people-to-people exchanges enjoy a long history. With the launch of direct flight between the two countries and the constantly deepened mutual understanding of each other, he believed the friendship between the two peoples will be more solid.

At the invitation of CPAFFC, Mr. Dmitry Mezentsev, new Chairman of Russia and China Friendship Association (RCFA), paid a special visit to China to attend the commemoration marking the 15th anniversary of the signing of Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia. Mr. Chen Yuan, Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Chairman of China and Russia Friendship Association (CRFA) met with Mr. Dmitry Mezentsev in Beijing on June. 29th.  Chairman Chen Yuan congratulated Mr. Dmitry Mezentsev on being elected as Chairman of RCFA and said that under the promotion of the two heads of state, the bilateral relations developed to a high level nowadays, the supports of the social and the public of the two countries were also given the meaning of the new times. RCFA would like to make unremitting efforts with CRFA on strengthening the mutual understanding and friendly feeling between the people of the two countries, especially the young generations of the two countries. Moreover, the two countries’ nongovernmental friendly institutions would also promote the cultural exchanges and pragmatic cooperation  so as to provide an effective platform for the both sides’ cooperation in the fields of the energy, fiance, tourism, education and culture. Mr. Dmitry Mezentsev thanked Chairman Chen for giving some opinions and advice on deepening the nongovernmental cooperation between Russia and China. Mr. Dmitry Mezentsev said that the two friendly organizations, CRFA and RCFA, would have broad prospects in the sides of promoting the cooperation of the industries and the exchanges of the local governments between Russia and China, which would give more substantive connotation to the traditional friendship of the people-to-people of the two countries. Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the RCFA, and it will take this as an opportunity to develop its advantages to supply new energy to the cooperation and exchanges of the people-to-people in various fields. Moreover, Mr. Dmitry Mezentsev spoke highly of the commemoration marking the 15th anniversary of the signing of Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia organized by CPAFFC. Mr. Chen Yuan and Mr. Dmitry Mezentsev also signed “Annual Cooperation Plan of 2016-2017 of CRFA and RCFA”. Mr. Dmitry Mezentsev, who was Secretary General  of  Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Governor of Irkutsk and Vice Chairman of Russian Federation Council before, was elected as new Chairman of RCFA now. It is the first time for Mr. Dmitry Mezentsev to visit China. Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. George Zinoviev, charge’ d'Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of Russia, were present.

The Chinese Civil Organizations Seminar on Ecuador Earthquake Relief co-hosted by CPAFFC and China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation(CFPA) was held in Beijing on June 29th. On behalf of CPAFFC, Vice President Xie Yuan expressed his gratitude to CFPA and the Chinese civil organizations along with Chinese companies which had been actively participating the earthquake relief in Ecuador this April. He made the commitment that CPAFFC would carry on the cooperation with all partners, aiming at assisting the other developing countries to establish and improve the mechanism for disaster reduction, prevention and relief, as well as strengthen capacity building in their countries without any additional conditions. We will join hands with people all around the world to deal with natural disasters, and realize the harmonious development between human, nature and society.   Vice President of CFPA Jiang Shaogao, H.E. Ambassador of Ecuador to China Jose Borja and Vice Secretary General of China NGO Network for International Exchanges Yue Yanghua also delivered their speeches on the seminar. Mr. Ji Yongjun, Deputy Director General of Department of American and Oceania Affairs hosted and summarized the seminar.  All together 60 participants attended the seminar, including representatives from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Civil affairs, CFPA, China NGO Network for International Exchanges, Tsinghua University, China National School of Administration, Beijing Normal University, China Charity Alliance, Zhuoming Information Platform, Pearl Humanitarian Rescue Team, Rescue Team of Ramunion, Ifeng.com etc.

The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC) and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF) co-hosted the 1st China-U.S.Sub-national Legislatures Cooperation Forum in Honolulu, Hawaii of the U.S.A from June 24 to 26, 2016.   About 150 people, including CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin, Vice Chairman Shi Heping of the Standing Committee of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Congress, Vice Chairperson Ma Lancui of the Standing Committee of Hebei Provincial People’s Congress,Vice Chairman Wang Jianming of the Standing Committee of Hubei Provincial People’s Congress, Vice Chairman Liu Daoping of the Standing Committee of Sichuan Provincial People’s Congress, President Stephen Lakis of SLLF, 28 state legislative leaders from 21 states, and representatives from governments, universities, and business communities, attended this Forum. This year marks the China-U.S. Tourism Year. With the theme of tourism cooperation, the two sides carried out in-depth discuss on three topics including the “State and Provincial Governments’ Role in Promoting Tourism”, “China and the U.S.-Forging Partnerships Between Provinces and Cities”, “Creating a Business Friendly Environment”. During the Forum, Hawaii Governor David Ige hosted a welcome dinner for the conference attendees.       Madam Li Xiaolin said that China-U.S. relationship owes its continuous development to sub-national cooperation. State legislative leaders and provincial congressional leaders are pioneering, managing and contributing to the social-economic development of their own states or provinces. They are also participating in, spearheading and actively promoting China-U.S. sub-national cooperation. CPAFFC is willing to work with SLLF and the state legislative leaders, making full use of the existing China-U.S. Sub-national Exchange Mechanism, further expanding and innovating cooperation between sub-national legislatures, bring tangible benefits to both the two countries and their people. Leaders from the four provincial people’s congress at this conference said that, the system of people’s congress is the fundamental political system of China. The provincial people’s congresses and their standing committees are important components of this system, and just as the U.S. state legislatures, they play an important role in the nation’s social and political activities. Enhancing cooperation and personnel exchanges at the sub-national legislature level, will help to build political mutual trust, promote practical cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and friendship.     Stephen Lakis, president of SLLF said that U.S. states and Chinese provinces play the adhesive and catalytic role in the U.S.-China relations. The sub-national legislative leaders of the two countries will leverage their political wisdom and capability to solve the common problems faced by both sides and the world. They have a great sense of responsibility to create a more secure and happy life for future generations. The U.S. state legislative leaders vowed to actively promote their individual state legislature’s cooperation with Chinese counterparts, to guide their state governments in strengthening cooperation with China in areas of economy and trade, people-to-people exchanges, education and tourism, to assign special department in communicating with Chinese provinces, so as to form a long-term practical cooperation mechanism.  The Forum reached a great success. Hubei Province and Sichuan Province signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Standing Committees of their  Provincial People’s Congress, with Ohio House of Representatives, and the Wisconsin State Assembly respectively. Jiangsu Provincial Tourism Administration and Hawaii Tourism Authority signed the Tourism Cooperation Agreement. Nanjing Municipal Tourism Commission and Preferred Hospitality Group signed the Promotion of Nanjing as a Tourist Destination in the Market of North America. At the closing ceremony of the Forum, Madam Li Xiaolin announced that next year’s Forum will be held in Wuhan, Hubei province.  To establish the China-U.S. Sub-national Legislature Cooperation Forum is an important outcome of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the U.S. in September 2015. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin of Russia attended the commemoration marking the 15th anniversary of the signing of Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia, and delivered important speeches on June 25th. The commemoration was jointly co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development (CRFCPD) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech entitled "Jointly Build a Better Tomorrow for China-Russia Relations" and stressed that over the past 15 years, guided by the spirit of the treaty, China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has rapidly moved forward at a high   level with fruitful results in cooperation in various fields. We would take the joint celebration of the 15th anniversary of the signing of the treaty as an opportunity to strengthen the people-to-people exchanges, carry forward extensively the concept of the peace set in the treaty and promote the personages from all sectors of the society of the two countries knowing each other so as to pass down the long-standing friendship from generation to generation. President Vladimir Putin said, Russia and China enjoy profound friendship and bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is established on the basis of friendship, mutual respect and full consideration of respective interests and concerns. The relations are not only in line with the interests of the two peoples and long-term development goals of the two countries, but also conducive to regional and global stability and security. He thanked the Chinese side for holding the commemoration activity of the 15th anniversary of the signing of the important treaty. Later, the two heads of state watched the performances of the night of friendship between China and Russia. The classical songs which were familiar to the Chinese and Russian audience sang by Philharmonic Boys Choir of Chinese Musicians Association and Children and Young Women's Chorus of China National Symphony Orchestra respectively. It was full of warm and friendly atmosphere in the site.  Around 500 people attended the activity, including Vice-Premier of the State Council Zhang Gaoli, Liu Yandong, Wang Yang, Director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China Li Zhanshu, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of China-Russia Friendship Association Chen Yuan and other top leaders, President of CPAFFC Li Xiaolin, Vice President of CPAFFC Song Jingwu and other leaders from relevant Ministries/Commissions, the official delegations and envoys from Russia, the persons from Chinese industries, media, academic fields and Chinese and Russian friendly personages. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech The performances of the night of friendship between China and Russia

On June 17, CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi met with H.E. Mr. Alimamy Phillip Koroma, the new ambassador of Sierra Leone to China. Mme. Lin welcomed H.E. Mr. Alimamy Phillip Koroma to visit the CPAFFC soon after assuming his office in China. She reviewed the CPAFFC’s friendly exchanges with Sierra Leone in recent years, and gave a detailed introduction to the CPAFFC’s cooperation with friendship organizations around the world and the “Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation”. She said that the CPAFFC will stay in close contact with the embassy, further exchanges with local government and friendship organizations in Sierra Leone and facilitate the development of friendship cities between the two countries, so as to enhance China-Sierra Leone friendship. H.E. Mr. Alimamy Phillip Koroma thanked Mme. Lin Yi for sparing the time to meet him, and spoke highly of the CPAFFC’s commitment to developing China-Africa people-to-people friendship. He said he will take the 45th anniversary of Sierra Leone-China diplomatic relations as an opportunity, to strengthen cooperation with the CPAFFC during his term and push forward the development of bilateral relations.

On June 16th, Mr Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) attended a Reception to mark Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday hosted by the British Embassy in China and met with H.E. Ms Barbara Wood, British Ambassador to China. Vice President Song extended congratulations on the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, thanked Ambassador’s support for China-UK local government cooperation, and exchanged ideas with her on the recent work of the two countries’ local government exchanges and cooperation. Song also passed on to her a congratulation letter to Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday written by an 11-year-old Chinese girl from Shandong Province and the invitation letter to China International Friendship Cities Conference 2016. Ambassador Wood thanked Vice President Song and the CPAFFC’s work in pushing forward China-UK local government cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

On 16th June. 2016, Mrs. Hu Chunmei, Associated Counsel of the Department of European and Asian Affairs, Secretary General of China Central Asia Friendship Association, met with the Ambassador of Tajikistan Mr. Davlatzoda. Both sides informed each other of the working scheme and discussed the work plans for observances of Tajikistan's 25th independence. 

Vice Presdient Xie Yuan met with Dr. Jonathan Strosmeth, policy planning staff from Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of State on June 8.  Vice President Xie Yuan introduced about the history of CPAFFC and its work in recent years in promoting China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges, especially at sub-national level. Xie noted that CPAFFC will keep in close communication with the U.S. Department of State on how to further promote China-U.S. sub-national exchanges, including city exchanges.  Dr. Jonathan Strosmeth said that sub-national cooperation is important in helping build a stable and strong U.S.-China relationship. The U.S. Department of State is supportive of U.S.-China sub-national exchanges, and is hoping to expand new exchange platforms for both sides in the areas such as city governance and urban planning, so as to advance the practical cooperation between cities of the two countries. 

On June 8, Mr. Hwang Kyo-Ahn, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, met with delegates from China and Korea attending the first China-Korea Governors Conference in Seoul. Prime Minister Hwang sang a high praise of the outstanding roles played by CPAFFC and Governors Association of Korea (GAOK) in promoting the cooperation of local governments.  He hoped that the Conference would make new contributions in developing Korea-China relations. On behalf of the Chinese delegation, Madame Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC, briefed Mr. Hwang on the exchanges conducted by CPAFFC with Korea in recent years. She hoped that the local governments in China and Korea would learn from each other, explore more fields of cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and win-win result, thus to inject more vigor into the development of bilateral relations. Present at the meeting were Mr. Luosang Jiangcun, Chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region, Mr. Liang Gui, Member of the Standing Committee and Director-General of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shaanxi Committee, Mr. Zhao Haishan, Vice Mayor of Tianjin Municipality, Madame Wang Yanling, Vice Governor of Henan Province, and Mr. He Duanqi, Vice Governor of Yunnan Province, Mr. Yoo Jeong Bok, President of GAOK and Mayor of Incheon, Mr. Kwon Young-Jin，Mayor of, Daegu Metropolitan City, Mr. Song Ha-Jin, Governor of Jeollabuk-do Province, Mr. Ahn Hee-Jung, Governor of Chungcheongnam-do Province, Mr. Yoon Jang-Hyun, Mayor of  Gwangju Metropolitan City，Mr. Choi Moon-Soon, Governor of Gangwon-do Province，Mr. Lee Nak-Yon, Governor of Jeollanam-do Province, Mr. Won Hee-Ryong, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, and Mr. Qiu Guohong, Ambassador of China to Korea. Hwang Kyo-Ahn(second from left)  with Li Xiaolin(second from right)