On 13th September，CPAFFC hosted the Reception Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, and the Republic of Lithuania held in Beijing. Ms. Shen Yueyue, vice chairman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress, Mr. Song Jingwu, vice president of CPAFFC, Mr. Liu Haixing, Assistant Chinese Foreign Minister,Mr. Marten Kokk, Estonian Ambassador to China, Mr. Maris Selga, Latvian Ambassador to China, Ms. Ina Marciulionyte, Lithuanian Ambassador to China and other 120 Chinese and foreign guests attended the Reception. Vice Chairman Shen Yueyue expressed in the meeting with the ambassadors of the three countries, that China pays high attention to the relations with the Baltic Countries, and is willing to achieve the mutual benefits, win-win situation, and common prosperity, in order to promote the contribution of the “One Belt and One Road”strategy.    Vice President Song Jingwu, the Estonian Ambassador, the Latvian Ambassador and the Lithuanian Ambassador delivered the speech at the reception respectively. At the reception, vice chairman Ms. Shen Yueyue and three ambassadors unveiled together the commemorative envelope of the 25th Anniversary of China-Estonia Diplomatic Relations, China-Latvia Diplomatic Relations and China-Lithuania Diplomatic Relations. 

Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, President of China-Japan Friendship Association (CJFA) met in Beijing with Japanese Komeito Youth Lawmaker delegation led by Mr. ISHIKAWA HIROTAKA, the Senator of Japanese Komeito and the Chairman of Youth Committee on September 13. President Tang extended warm welcome to the delegation and appreciated active efforts and important contributions made by Japanese Komeito and the founder, Mr. Ikeda Daisaku, to rebuilding and improving the Sino-Japanese relations for a long time. President Tang said that China-Japan relations had been improved on the whole since the end of 2014, but the progress was long and  slow. During the G20 Hangzhou Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping had an official meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. Both sides reached a consensus on putting aside disruptions and propelling bilateral relations back on the track of normal development. The Chinese side always pays attention to and improves the bilateral ties in the spirit of reviewing the history and looking into the future and on the basis of four political documents and four-point principled agreement. President Tang hoped that the Japanese side could work with Chinese side towards the same direction and make practical efforts on promoting the bilateral relations towards the correct track. He also hoped that Japanese Komeito could play a constructive role in improving the Sino-Japanese relations. ISHIKAWA HIROTAKA thanked President Tang for taking time to meet him. ISHIKAWA HIROTAKA said that they had a deep impression and understanding about Chinese history, culture, economy and social development after this visit. Japanese Komeito always attaches importance to its relations with China and considers that the two countries should be partners. Japanese Komeito adheres to its tradition that developing friendship with China and is willing to further inherit and carry forward the fine tradition and spirit of the elder generations of the two countries. It also would like to make their efforts on improving the bilateral ties and expanding the cause between China and Japan friendship in the spirit of reviewing the history and looking into the future. Mr. Yuan Mindao, the Director General of Department of Japanese Affairs of CPAFFC and the Secretary General of CJFA, Mr. ISHIKAWA HIROSHI, Minister of Japanese Embassy in China and others attended the meeting.

Mr. Chen Yuan, Vice-Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and President of China-Russia Friendship Association (CRFA), met with Mr. Mezencev, Member of Russia Federation Council (RFC) and Chairman of Russia-China Friendship Association (RCFA) on September 9th. President Chen Yuan welcomed Chairman Mezencev to visit China and expressed that it was a great pleasure to meet him in Beijing again shortly after they separated last time. Chairman Mezencev thanked President Chen Yuan for taking time to meet him and making an introduction about the recent work of RCFA and the working plan in the next stage in detail. Both sides exchanged their opinions on further strengthening the local exchange between China and Russia, promoting the cooperation in the fields of tourism, economics, trade, humanity and etc., and a series of activities commonly to be organized during the 60th anniversary of the establishment of RCFA in next year.  Chairman Mezencev mainly accompanied Mr. Matvenko, Chairman of RFC, to visiting China this time. Mme Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Zhou Liqun, Vice President of CRFA and Deputy General Manager of China Cheng Tong Group, Mr. Kosachev, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of Russia Federation Council, Mr. Kulik, Director-General of the first Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russia Federation, attended the meeting.

On September 6th, Madame Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC, met with the Indian Federal Members of Parliament Delegation led by Mr. Trivedi, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Railways. Vice President Lin Yi introduced what the CPAFFC has achieved in conducting bilateral exchanges and corporation on all fronts, and suggested that we should organize more diversified activities to promote the friendly relationship between the two countries. The members of the delegation highly appreciated the development in China as well as the important role of CPAFFC in enhancing China-India friendship, and expressed their willingness to actively participate in strengthening the corporation in various sectors. Mr. Ma Zhanwu, Consul-General of China’s Consulate General of Calcutta, India, was also present.   

CPAFFC Vice President Hu Sishe met in CPAFFC with Min-On delegation with 7 members led by Mr. Hisao Kondo, Council Member of Min-On on September 5. Vice President Hu Sishe first conveyed President Li Xiaolin’s greetings to Mr. Ikeda Daisaku and other members of Min-On. Vice President Hu also spoke highly of outstanding cooperation  had been made with Min-On over the past 40 years. He said that the friendly exchanges and better interaction of the two peoples could promote the cooperation of the two countries and improve the bilateral relations. The dance drama, Crested Ibis, organized by CPAFFC made a tour performance in Japan in 2015, which played the role in promoting the friendly exchanges of the two countries. He hoped that the two organizations could continuously strengthen the cooperation in the future and find excellent works of art of the two countries which really play a bridge to exchanges for two countries.  Hisao Kondo conveyed the Ikeda Daisaku’s greetings. Mr. Ikeda Daisaku is the founder of Min-On. It had been 20 years since he was conferred as the title of Friendship Ambassador in 1996，by CPAFFC． He has been appreciating the trust and support from CPAFFC and firmly believed that with the common efforts of the two organizations, the friendship of the two countries must be promoted. Mr. Hisao Kondo also expressed that the Chinese excellent works of art, such as the dance drama, Red Ibis, which had been dispatched over the decades by CPAFFC, showed the Chinese People’s broad-minded, pure and kind-hearted to the Japanese people. In the future, the two organizations will make common efforts to present the best works of art to the audience. After visiting Beijing, Min-On delegation would go to Yunnan Province to develop culture exchange.

CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu met with Japanese ink painting delegation led by ABE TOSHIKO member of Japanese House of Representatives and the former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan in the afternoon of September 1. Vice President Song Jingwu extended his warm welcome to the delegation and gave a positive evaluation to ABE TOSHIKO’s efforts on promoting cultural exchanges between China and Japan. Vice President Song also said that with Mme ABE TOSHIKO’s great effort, Japanese Kabuki delegation visited China and performed with Beijing Opera last year, which displayed a grand performance to Chinese audience and achieved a complete success. Art is a language without border for two countries and the best bridge for communication between the souls. Vice President Song hoped that after the ink painting delegation visiting China, the exchanges of the two countries would be further strengthened, and this make an active contribution to pushing the feelings and development of the two countries. ABE TOSHIKO thanked Vice President Song Jingwu for taking his time to meet the delegation, as well as CPAFFC and CJFA made the thoughtful arrangements for this visiting. She said that each painter of the delegation is eager to enhance the mutual understanding between the two counties in the field of ink painting through this visiting. They are willing to consider culture exchange as a bond and make unremitting efforts on promoting the mutual understanding and passing down the long-standing friendship from generation to generation. The painter OTANI NANKA expressed that Chinese friends’ gracious hospitality let us feel warm and she would share her experiences in China with her family and friends after returning back to Japan. She will also expand the friend circle of the two peoples. The delegation visited China at the invitation of CPAFFC.  

Vice President Xie Yuan met with Mr. Duncan McIntosh, Executive President of Canada China Friendship and Goodwill Association (CCFGA) on Oct. 31, 2016.  Vice President Xie introduced the planning conception and new progress for establishing the Mechanisms for Canada-China Provincial Leaders Exchanges and Cooperation, and expressed his appreciation for CCFGA’s efforts in promoting exchanges and collaboration between China and Canada at sub-national level. Duncan McIntosh agreed with Mr. Xie that 2016 was a landmark year in the bilateral relationship between China and Canada, which witnesses an increasing enthusiasm on pragmatic cooperation with China from most of the provinces in Canada. Canada-China Friendship and Goodwill Association wished to continue to work together with CPAFFC on the establishment of Mechanisms for Canada-China Provincial Leaders Exchanges and Cooperation. 

CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu met in CPAFFC with Mr. TAKAMI FUMIO, Vice President of GEN and his delegation on August 31st. Vice President Song Jingwu spoke highly of the contributions made by TAKAMI FUMIO to supporting the Chinese greening cause for a long time. Vice President Song said that TAKAMI FUMIO insisted in carrying out the tree planting campaign in Datong, Shanxi Province for decades on end and tried to assist the local to improve the severe natural environment so as to improve people’s quality of life, which is regarded as working in contemporary era, while benefiting for future generations. Mr.TAKAMI FUMIO’ kindness behavior made contributions to enhancing the mutual understanding and friendly feelings of the two peoples. In order to commend TAKAMI FUMIO’ outstanding contributions to the people-to-people friendship work of the two countries, China and Japan Friendship Association (CJFA) decided to confer the title of China-Japan Friendship Ambassador to Mr. TAKAMI FUMIO. Vice President Song also hoped that under the inspiration of the spirit of Mr. TAKAMI FUMIO, there will be more people from the two countries involving in the China-Japan friendship cause so as to make the spirit of China-Japan friendship pass from generation to generation. Mr. TAKAMI FUMIO thanked CPAFFC and CJFA for highly appreciating to his cause. He reviewed the efforts and moving stories during the carrying out the tree planting campaign in Datong and expressed that he would consider the opportunity of being conferred the title of China-Japan Friendship Ambassador as a new start and continuously support the greening environmental protection cause and make efforts for China-Japan friendship. After the meeting, CJFA held a ceremony and conferred the title of China-Japan Friendship Ambassador to TAKAMI FUMIO. More than 130 people, including Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Liu Deyou, former Vice-Minister of Ministry of Culture, Mr. Liu Hongcai, Vice-Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Mr. Cao Weizhou, the Vice-Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of National People’s Congress, Mr. YAMAMOTO TAKASHI, Minister of the Embassy of Japan in China and representatives from all walks of life of the two countries, attended the conferring ceremony.

On August 27th, the opening ceremony of 2016 China International Taichi·Yoga Convention, hosted by the China India Friendship Association (CIFA), was held in Tangshan, Hebei Province. Madame Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC, Lin Xiaohai, council member of CIFA and secretary general of China International Yoga Convention, together with 450 yoga lovers attended the opening ceremony. In her speech, Vice president Lin Yi said that China International Taichi·Yoga Convention, formerly known as China International Yoga Convention, had been successfully held nine times, making a great contribution to the cultural exchanges among China, India and other countries across the world. From this year on, the convention is formally named as “China International Taichi·Yoga Convention”, which demonstrates a profound understanding of the two sports. Acting as the bridge of cultural communication between China and India, Taichi and Yoga will definitely help promote the mutual understanding and friendly relations. At the opening ceremony, the champion of Yoga Asana Competition, the successor of Chen Style Taichi and other performers offered a wonderful show.  

On August 25, the CPAFFC together with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ASEAN Committee in Beijing (ACB) hosted the reception in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations in Fangfei Garden of Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. State Counselor Yang Jiechi, President Gu Xiulian of China-ASEAN Association, President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC, Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, Vice President Lin Yi of CPAFFC, Ms. Magdalene Teo, Rotating Chair of ACB and Ambassador of Brunei and other ambassadors and diplomats of ASEAN countries’ Embassies to China attended the reception with other 300 Chinese and foreign guests. Before the reception, Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with ASEAN ambassadors and representatives in Beijing, saying bilateral relations have made big strides over the past 25 years and contributed to regional peace, stability and prosperity. Yang said, China is willing to take the opportunity and work with ASEAN to hold a successful commemorative summit marking the 25th anniversary of the dialogue relationship in September this year and to advance bilateral relations to a higher level. President Li Xiaolin and Ambassador Magdalene Teo delivered a speech at the reception respectively. Li said that China-ASEAN relations made huge progress and harvested fruitful cooperation in the past 25 years. The Chinese side is willing to work with ASEAN to further the development of bilateral relations. The CPAFFC would like to make full use of its advantages and contribute to the enhancement of public opinions between China and ASEAN. Ambassador Teo said that the ASEAN-China relations enjoyed rapid progress in past 25 years and have already set up over 40 mechanisms of cooperation, which brought tangible benefit to the people of both sides. ASEAN appreciates Chinese government’s support in the ongoing ASEAN community building efforts in achieving the vision of 2035 and ASEAN centrality.  ASEAN is happy to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and jointly build a closer ASEAN-China Community of Common Destiny.