On April 27, Industry Committee of China- Russia Friendship Association (CRFA) held the first activity at Peace Palace in the CPAFFC since it was founded. Mr.Chen Yuan, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Chairman of China-Russia Friendship Association (CRFA), attended the activity and made an important speech. The representatives of the Industry Committee had an in-depth discussion on the pragmatic cooperation at the meeting. Chairman Chen Yuan pointed out that since Industry Committee of CRFA established, it had provided a platform for the personages who engaged in developing pragmatic cooperation with Russia. Industry Committee of CRFA would give support for each member in more fields in future and help the two countries further develop cooperation in the fields of fiance, economic，trade, agriculture, tourism and etc.. Chairman Chen Yuan gave a series of advice on pragmatic cooperation between China and Russia. Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC and Vice Chairman of CRFA presided over the meeting. More than 50 personages, including Mr. Li Jiping, Vice President of China Association for the Promotion Development Financing, attended the activity.

On April 26th, President Li Xiaolin had a meeting with Vice President Lisa Jackson of Apple Inc.  President Li Xiaolin welcome Jackson’s first visit to the Friendship Association. She briefed on the CPAFFC’s history and major projects including China-U.S. Governors Forum, China-U.S. Relations Conference, China-U.S. Subnational Legislature Cooperation Forum and Round-Table Summit of “Global CEO Council”. President Li also stressed that both China and the United States should enhance cooperation based on mutual trusts. She hoped that Apple would contribute more to supporting China’s development, environmental protection and philanthropy cause. Vice President Jackson said that Apple has been long engaging in protecting the environment and rare resources and dealing with climate change through the usage of renewable energy and green chemistry. Apple is looking forward to enhancing its cooperation and exchanges with the Friendship Association and will play a more important role in environmental protection and corporate social responsibility.

On April 25th, CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu met with Mr David Aptsiauri, Ambassador of Georgia.  Mr Aptsiauri thanked Vice President Song for the meeting, He said that the relations between the two countries developed rapidly in this year, several important Chinese delegations will visit Georgia. and the people-to-people diplomacy will be more successful. Vice President Song extended his welcome to Mr Aptsiauri for his visiting to CPAFFC, and introduced the basic status of that CPAFFC developing its works to Georgia in recent years. The two sides discussed cultural, sports, youth exchanges and promotion of regional cooperation between the two countries.  Mrs. Hu Chunmei, Associated Counsel of the Department of European and Asian Affairs; Mr. Mgaloblishvili, Counselor of Embassy of Georgia, attended the meeting.

Organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Embassy of CaboVerde in China, reception for the 40th  anniversary of China-Cabo Verde diplomatic relations was held in Beijing on April 25. Almost 200 guests from China and abroad, including Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Mr. Chen Xiaoguang, CPAFFC Vice President Ms. Lin Yi, Ambassador of Cabo Verde to China Ms. Tania Romualdo and Advisor to the President of Cabo Verde Amb. Arnaldo Delcado, attended the function. Ms. Lin Yi addressed that in the past 40 years, China and Cabo Verde have maintained a healthy and fast-growing relationship. She hoped that both countries could take the 40th anniversary as an opportunity, to further strengthen the traditional friendship, to elevate the local cooperation and people-to-people exchange to a new level, so as to better benefit the people of both countries. Amb. Romualdo said that, the success of Cabo Verde during the past 40 years strongly relied on the excellent cooperation with China. We were now in the spring season of our relations. Cabo Verde attached great importance to its relations with China and would take care of the seeds of friendship to allow them to grow root, blossom and bear fruits.      During the reception, Ambassador Romualdo, on behalf of the Government of Cabo Verde, awarded Mr. Zhao Yongqing, China’s former economic counselor to Cabo Verde, in recognition of his contribution to the bilateral relations during his tenure. 

On April 23,2016, people from all over the world, wearing Shakespeare masks with flowers in their hands, took part in the parade, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare in Stratford, a small town in central England along the River Avon. CPAFFC Vice President Hu Sishe and Mr. Zhang Hongxing Mayor of Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province led a delegation to this activity. The delegation, together with nearly a thousand people from all over the world, paraded from Shakespeare’s hometown to his resting place----Holy Trinity church, paying tribute to this great man, also known as “Olympic Mountains of Human Literature Zeus”. Shakespeare is one of the most outstanding playwright in both Britain and the world. He left behind many excellent works, enriching the treasure house of human civilization and serving as a bond for cultural exchanges in the world. Shakespeare is a household name in China and his works, such as Romeo and Juliet , Hamlet and the Merchant of Venice, are often played in China and loved by Chinese audience. On April 22, 2016, seminar in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the death of Tang Xianzu and Shakespeare and Fuzhou Cultural Week, held by CPAFFC and Fuzhou Municipal government, welcomed its opening ceremony. In the garden of Shakespeare’s home, parts of Tang’s well-known works, such as the Peony Pavilion and the Purple Hairpin, were played to the audience. Besides, Nanfeng Nuo Dance and Jinxi lion dance, the intangible cultural heritage of Fuzhou, were also performed. Meanwhile, Tang Xianzu photo exhibition was held in Stratford Library, showcasing Tang’s life, achievements and his hometown Fuzhou. The Chinese Culture, with rich ethnic traditions and local characteristics, aroused strong interest of the British audience and won hearty rounds of applause. The show and exhibition will last until April 25 and be played in the University of Leeds. 

Vice President Xie Yuan met with Deputy Chief Executive of China Red Ribbon Foundation (CRRF) Gu Yanfen on April 21st.They discussed about how to further the cooperation between CPAFFC and CRRF in the field of promoting women’s and children’s health, especially AIDS prevention and control.  CRRF became one of the first members of “Every Woman Every Child (EWEC)” China Partnership Network which was founded by CPAFFC on September 11th, 2015. In the future, CPAFFC will work closely with CRRF to make tangible contribution to the implementation and promotion of EWEC in China.

On April 20th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with Senior Vice President Timothy J. McBride of United Technologies Corporation (UTC). Vice President Xie Yuan extended a warm welcome to Timothy J. McBride’s visit and introduced the work CPAFFC has done to promote China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges. VP Xie said CPAFFC highly emphasizes exchanges with U.S. business communities. During the past years, CPAFFC and UTC have maintained good partnership and launched several public welfare activities, which not only helped UTC’s participation in China’s economic development but contributed to a better China-U.S. relationship. China’s economic development is now on a good track. It is hoped that UTC could continue to play the role as a fine example of American enterprises in China, and actively participate in the future development of China-U.S.political and business relations. Timothy J. McBride conveyed the greetings of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush to CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin. He said that UTC developed well since entering China in the early 20th century and its commitment to China extended over all times.He spoke highly of CPAFFC’s achievements in promoting U.S.-China people-people exchanges and expressed the willingness on behalf of UTC to take part in more activities for the deepening of U.S.-China relations.    

At the invitation and recommendation of the Embassy of China in Kazakhstan, director general of Kazakhstan president’s office and chief librarian of the first Kazakhstan presidential library, Mr. Kassymbekov and his delegation visited Beijing, Shanghai and Xi An from April 12th to 19th.  This visit is intended to understand the state of the Museum and Library in China and applies the findings into the management of their library and museum. Therefore the delegation emphatically inspected The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, The National Library of China, The Shanghai Natural History Museum, The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center and The Museum of Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi An. During the visit, Ms. Li Xiaolin, President of The CPAFFC, Mr. Yang Zhijin, Vice Minister of Culture, and Mr. Han Yongjin, President of The National Library of China, met with the delegation.  In Beijing, Mr. Kassymbekov, accompanied by Kazakhstan ambassador to China Mr. Shakhrat Nuryshev, laid a wreath at the statue of the famous Kazakhstan poet Abaj Kunanbajev.    

President Tang Jiaxuan met with the outgoing Ambassador KITERA MASATO and his wife in Beijing on 19th, April. Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Xiao Qian, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dou Zhongyi, Secretary of President Tang, Mr. Itoh Kouichi, Chief-Minister of the Embassy of Japan in China, attended the meeting. First of all, President Tang expressed consolation to Kumamoto Prefecture hit by powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan. He also appreciated the great contributions made by Ambassador KITERA MASATO to improve the China and Japan relations. He said, as long as the both sides adhere to the four documents and the four-point principled agreement, grasp the direction and general situation of the development of the bilateral ties, take a long-term perspective and do more work that is beneficial to the Sino-Japanese relations, the bilateral ties will be moved to a stable and healthy development. President Tang hoped that Ambassador KITERA MASATO will continue to concern about the general situation of the Chinese development and the bilateral ties in future. He wished Ambassador KITERA MASATO a great success in the new position. Ambassador KITERA MASATO thanked Chinese government and CPAFFC for concerning about the earthquake happened in Kumamoto Prefecture and consoling to the Japanese. He said, when he took up his position in 2012, the bilateral tie was faced with great difficulties. After the jointly efforts of the both sides, the China and Japan relations improved gradually. He thanked the China and Japan Friendship Association for supporting his work and he would like to continue concerning about the bilateral relations after leaving his position.

Mr. Li Xikui, Secretary General of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC) met with Mr. Chen Xinghui, President of Australian Soong Ching Ling Foundation(ASCLF) and his delegation and provided a banquet for them on 16th, April. During the meeting, Secretary General Li and President Chen respectively made a brief introduction of the work done by CPAFFC and ASCLF recently. Secretary General Li said they have known each other for many years. Since the ASCLF was established by President Chen, he has been making active contributions to inheriting and carrying forward the spirit of Mr. Sun Yat-Sen and Mme. Soong Ching Ling, to keeping contact and uniting overseas Chinese as well as promoting the communication and cooperation in a variety of fields between China and Australian. President Chen expressed that they would like to continue strengthening the collaboration with the CPAFFC and make contributions to the cause of the people-to-people friendship between the two countries. The both sides also had a discussion on the topic of how to better develop the friendly exchanges between peoples. The delegation also visited the Exhibitions on the History of CPAFFC. Mr. Zhang Juxiang, Director General of China Service Center for Friendship and Cooperation with Foreign Countries, Mr. Ji Yongjun, Deputy Director General of Department of American and Oceanian Affairs of CPAFFC and Mr. Zhou Lang, Executive Vice President of ASCLF, attended the meeting.