In the name of China-Central Asia Friendship Association (CCAFA), the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) co-hosted a seminar on 25th Anniversary of Uzbekistan Independence & Development of China and Uzbekistan Relationship in Beijing on August 25th jointly with China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), Institute of European and Asian Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Science (IEASCASS), Uzbekistan Embassy in China. Mr. Song Jingwu, the Vice President of CPAFFC and the Vice President of CCAFA, Mr. Kurbanov, Uzbekistan Ambassador to China and others attended the seminar and delivered speeches respectively. Vice President Song Jingwu said in his speech that under the leadership of Uzbekistan President Karimov since  independence, the people of Uzbekistan had achieved great results in the various causes of the county construction through making unremitting efforts. During Chinese President Xi Jinping’ s state visit in Uzbekistan in June this year, the two Presidents made a joint decision of further enhancing the bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic partnership, and this is another important milestone in the history of the bilateral relations. Ambassador Kurbanov stressed in his speech that Uzbekistan had made great achievements in the aspects of democratization construction, deepening reform, economy optimization, modernization construction and improving the living standard of ordinary people since it was independent 25 years ago. Uzbekistan considers China as one of the important  cooperative partners. The two leaders enhanced the relations of the two countries to comprehensive strategic partnership in June this year, which showed a broad prospect of the two countries’ cooperation for further develop in various fields .      The participants also had an in-depth discussion on the topics of achievements and experience had acquired since it was independent 25 years ago, the Silk Road Economic Belt and China-Uzbekistan cooperation, the opportunities and challenges between China and Uzbekistan in new times and etc.. More than 50 people, including leaders from China Institute of International Studies, Institute of European and Asian Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Science, Development Research Center of the State Council, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Uzbekistan Institute of Strategic Studies, council members of China-Central Asia Friendship Association, representatives from fields of academy and media  and diplomats of Uzbekistan Embassy in China, attended the activity. 

On August 25th, the awarding ceremony of “One Belt One Road Initiative and Sri Lanka” Essay Competition was held in Beijing. Madame Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC, and Mr. Abeysekera, President of the Association for Sri Lanka- China Social and Cultural Cooperation (ASLCSCC) attended the ceremony. ASLCSCC, as the host of the nationwide competition, selected 3 winners from Sinhala, Tamil and English language competitors. The top award was a trip to China. At the ceremony, Vice President Lin Yi and President Abeysekera presented the winners prizes as well as certificates.

The Launching Ceremony of the 5th China-Indian Joint Medical Mission (JMM) was held in Nanchang, Jiangxi on August 23rd. Madame Lin Yi, Vice President of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries , Mr. Liuchanglin, Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province, Madame Vanaja Thekkat, Councilor of Embassy of India in China , twenty doctors of JMM and representatives of the health care industry in Jiangxi Province, and another one hundred people attended the ceremony. At the ceremony, Vice President Lin Yi said that JMM has already become an excellent example of our joint humanitarian approach focusing on the disadvantaged groups since its establishment in 2008, and we should follow Dr. Kotnis’ heroic deeds and pass on the friendship between China and India to the next generation. In his speech, Vice Governor Liu Changlin mentioned that having the JMM carried out in Jiangxin would be a new way of improving the well-being of the general public. Also, what we are doing is to carry forward Dr. Konit’s international humanitarian through practical action, which would surely promote the corporation and communication between Chinese and Indian people. During the ceremony, Ms. Lin, together with Mr. Liu conferred the team flag and certificates to the twenty doctors. Also, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Hospital donated medicine to them. After the ceremony, the doctors are going to the rural areas of Jiangxi to provide free medical consultation and free medicine, as well as deliver medical service.    

On August 22, Madame Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC, met with the delegation headed by Dato Abdul Majit Ahmad Khan, President of Malaysia-China Friendship Association (PPMC). Madame Lin sang a high praise of the active contributions made by PPMC in deepening China-Malaysia traditional friendship and cooperation in various fields. She hoped that the two sides advance their cooperation in a bid to push forward the China-Malaysia as well as China-ASEAN friendship relations.  Madame Lin extended warm welcome to the 800-member friendship delegation headed by Dato Majit and wished the visit a success. Dato Majit said that the aim of his visit is to enable the Malaysian people learn more about China’s urban development.  PPMC is willing to strengthen its cooperation with CPAFFC on both level bilateral and China-ASEAN framework.  Dato Majit also said that, in order to make the Malaysians, especially the Malays to obtain a better understanding of China, PPMC is working with the Chinese Embassy and other institutions for translating Chinese President Xi Jinping’s works into Malay and shooting documentary on Malaysia-China friendship.

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.