On March 24th, Vice President Hu Sishe met with Mrs Bernardie-Tahir, Vice President of University of Limoges. Vice President Hu briefed Mrs Bernardie-Tahir on CPAFFC’s engagement in cultural cooperations with European countries, in particular with France and Germany.  Mrs Bernardie-Tahir expressed her wish for Hu’s continuing interest in the exchanges the University has with Chinese counterparts. She recommended Festival des Théatre de la Froncophonie, L’école Nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, and the city’s library for further cooperation between the CPAFFC and Limoges. They also discussed the possibility of bilateral exchanges of university students and young civil servants, and Sino-France Cultural Forum. Mrs Bernardie-Tahir hoped that the city of Limoges would be another channel through which the CPAFFC carries out China- France cultural activities.

  Vice President Xie Yuan met with students from Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago on March 21, 2016. Vice President Xie briefed the students on CPAFFC. He said that although China-U.S. diplomatic relationship has undergone ups and towns since its establishment in 1979, it has come to the best time in history. CPAFFC is striving to promote mutual-understanding and mutual-trust between the people of the two countries. By nurturing objective and in-depth understanding between young students of both countries, CPAFFC hopes to sow seeds of peace and hope into the soil of China-U.S. relations. Adam Lechnir, second year MPP at Chicago Harris, on behalf of the Harris team, expressed his appreciation for the warm reception extended by CPAFFC. He said, some members of the delegation were from the U.S., while some were from other countries. For all of them, this was their first trip to China. They highly cherished this opportunity, hoping to make full use of every minute to deepen their understanding about China.

On March 17, Mr. Zhang Heqiang, Director General of Department of American and Oceanian Affairs of The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), attended the opening ceremony of Harvard Model United Nations China Conference 2016  co-hosted by CPAFFC and Harvard International Relations Council. HMUN China builds on decades of experience. In 1927, Harvard held its first annual Model League of Nations, followed by the first Model United Nations Conference in 1953 and the first Model United Nations China conference in 2010. In his welcome remarks, Director General Zhang Heqiang welcomed students and teachers from around the world. He emphasized the significant contribution the United Nations has made to international development since its founding and encouraged the delegates at HMUN China to actively embody its mission and guiding principles in their own studies and personal development. He also announced that as part of the “Every Woman Every Child” China Partnership Network (CPN), CPAFFC sponsored 5 outstanding students from underprivileged families in Hebei Province to attend HMUN China 2016, granting these students the same opportunity to learn about the United Nations and international affairs while interacting with students of their age from 10 countries across 4 continents. Secretary-General of HMUN China Mr. RJ Teoh said in his opening remarks that delegates at HMUN China research, debate, negotiate, and work together to draft resolutions that address some of society’s most complex issues, while building skills in public speaking, writing, and teamwork. HMUN China is also the first nation-based spin off of Harvard MUN, with a founding goal of satisfying the desire of Chinese students to participate in Model United Nations and international students to learn about and understand Chinese culture and perspectives on international relations.  Also attending the opening ceremony were Founder and Chairman of the Chi-Heng Foundation Chung To and Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Partners Education Ethan Feng, who made warm remarks on behalf of their organizations. These speeches were followed by an artistic treat brought by the Peking University Acapella Group.

On March 15, H.E. Mr. Abdul’ahat Abdurixit, Former Vice Chairman of CPPCC and President of the Chinese-African People’s Friendship Association (CAPFA) met with the delegation led by H.E. Mr. Jose De Vasconcelos, Minister of Petroleum of Angola. Abdul’ahat welcomed Vasconcelos and his delegation and thanked him for his long-term support to the development of the Chinese enterprises operating in Angola. He said that Vasconcelos is both a good friend of Chinese people and a good partner of Chinese enterprises. The Chinese government attaches great importance to China-Angola relations, and the CAPFA specially set up the China-Angola friendship association to strengthen its cooperation with Angola. Abdul’ahat also hoped that Vasconcelos will continue to support bilateral pragmatic cooperation and maintain exchanges with the association, so as to jointly promote China-Angola people-to-people exchanges. In addition, he briefed the delegation on the NPC and CPPCC sessions in 2016, as well as the outline and development concepts of the 13th Five-Year Plan. Vasconcelos thanked the CPAFFC and the CAPFA for inviting him to visit China. He said that through the visits to the enterprises specialized in developing shallow sea oil field and energy, he gained a deeper understanding of and learned more about China’s successful experiences, advanced equipment and technology in exploiting land-based oil. Under the framework of Angola-China strategic partnership, he would take this visit as an opportunity to promote the pragmatic cooperation between Angola and China with oil industry as the focus, introduce China’s advanced technology and equipment to Angola and exploit oil and gas resources in Angola jointly with China. He also said that he would try his best to cooperate with the CAPFA. During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged in-depth views on issues such as China-Angola local government cooperation and international oil price. Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC and the CAPFA, Mr. Sun Xueqing, Deputy Director General of Asian and African Affairs Department of the CPAFFC, Mr. Yi Huichang, Vice President of China-Angola Friendship Association were present.

On 14th March, Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of CPAFFC met with Mr. Federico Pinedo, President Por Tempore of Senate during his friendly visit to Argentina. Mr. Xie briefed about general work of CPAFFC and expressed the willingness to promote friendly exchanges, including sister city relationship with Argentina. Mr. Federico Pinedo welcomed Mr. Xie’s visit to the Senate. He said that Argentine government had paid high attention to the relations with China and planned to establish Argentina-China Friendship Group within the Senate this year. Local governments’ cooperation, such as setting up sister cities’ relations with Chinese side is also supported by Argentine Government.  

  The 17th Lecture Tour by African Ambassadors, sponsored by the CPAFFC and organized by Chengdu People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, was held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on 9 March, 2016. H.E. Ms.Dolana Msimang, Ambassador of South Africa to China, H.E. Mrs.Winnie N. Chibesakunda, Ambassador of Zambia to China, Mr. O. O. Orevba, Charge d'Affaires of Embassy of Nigeria in China, Mme. Kumba Alice Momoh, Charge d'Affaires of Embassy of Sierra Leone in China and officials from relevant departments of Chengdu Municipal People’s Government and businessmen totaling around 100 attended the function. Mr. Xie Ruiwu, Vice Mayor of Chengdu City, introduced the economic and social development of Chengdu and its cooperation with Africa. During the function, the ambassadors and diplomats introduced the overview and investment policies of their countries, expressed their hopes to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation with Chengdu and extended their warm welcome to Chengdu businessmen to invest in Africa. They also exchanged views with the audience during the Q&A session. Mr. Zhou Pingjian, Deputy Director-General of African Department of Foreign Affairs Ministry introduced the China-Africa cooperation. Chengdu Daily and other local media interviewed the diplomats and covered this event. The delegation also paid a study visit to Chengdu City Planning Exhibition Hall, Chengdu No.9 Sewage Treatment Plant, Agricultural Machinery Industrial Park and Furniture Industrial Park in Xindu District and the 18th Healthcare Expo China West.  

On 8th March, Vice President Lin Yi met with Mr. Dinos Florides, President of the Cyprus China Friendship Association (CCFA), and the CCFA delegation headed by him. Ambassador of Cyprus Mr. Agis Loizou was present at the meeting. Vice President Lin Yi made a brief introduction about the recent activities of the CPAFFC, and exchanged views with the CCFA and Ambassador Loizou on how to promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between our two countries. 

On March 7, Madame Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC, met with Ms. Evangeline Ducrocq, who is leaving her post as Minister of the Philippine Embassy in Beijing. Madame Lin extended gratitude to Ms. Ducrocq for her support to CPAFFC over the years and indicated that CPAFFC co-hosted a number of friendly activities with the Philippine side last year, especially the Seminar of Chinese and Philippine Local Government Leaders which was the first bilateral cooperation mechanism of local governments between China and ASEAN member states. The CPAFFC will work with the Philippine side to further promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation between people-to-people friendship organizations and local governments. Madame Lin hoped that Ms. Ducrocq can continue to support the cause of people-to-people friendship between China and the Philippines in the future. Ms. Ducrocq spoke highly of CPAFFC’s contribution in bilateral relations during her term of office in China as well as CPAFFC’s unique role in promoting friendship-city relations and local government cooperation. The Philippine Embassy will keep close contact with CPAFFC to carry on and develop the traditional friendship between the two countries.

On March 4, CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi met with Mr. O.O. Orevba, Charge d'Affaires of Nigerian Embassy in China. Mme. Lin welcomed Mr. O.O. Orevba to visit the CPAFFC soon after assuming his office in China. She made a detailed introduction to the CPAFFC’s work, especially the Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation and people-to-people exchanges with African countries. She also reviewed the exchanges between the CPAFFC and Nigeria in recent years, and said that the CPAFFC will take the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria as an opportunity to promote communication and cooperation with Nigeria in terms of local government, so as to strengthen China-Nigeria friendship.  Mr. O.O. Orevba thanked Mme. Lin Yi for sparing the time to meet him, and spoke highly of the CPAFFC’s commitment to developing China-Africa relations. He said Nigerian and Chinese people enjoy profound friendship, and hoped to enhance cooperation with the CPAFFC during his term and make greater contributions to Nigeria-China relations.

At the invitation of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Deputy Director General Zhang Ruoning and her four member delegation visited the UK from 29 Feb to 4 Mar. The delegation met with representatives from UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Sheffield City Council, China - Britain Business Council and TCA Consulting to conduct preparatory work for the inaugural China-UK Regional Leaders Exchange Programme. They also paid a visit to the Chinese Embassy in the UK to inform the latest progress of the programme.