The 16th Lecture Tour by Ambassadors from African Countries, hosted by CPAFFC and organized by Hainan Provincial Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, was held in Hainan from Sept. 14 to 18. The lecture delegation was comprised of 12 members, including Cameroonian Ambassador Mr. Martin Mpana, Rwandan Ambassador Mr. Charles Kayonga, Seychelles Ambassador Ms. Vivianne Fock Tave, Chargé D’affaires of Mozambican Embassy Mr. Isac Massamby, and other diplomats.   In the morning of Sept. 15, a meeting for the lecture tour was held in Haikou, where the diplomats introduced respectively their political, economic and cultural conditions, particularly the investment opportunities and policies, and held in-depth talks with over 100 representatives from Hainan Provincial Tourism Committee, Hainan University, Haima Automobile Group and other government departments, schools and enterprises. This event was covered by Hainan Daily and other local media.   During the tour, the delegation respectively met and dinned with Deputy Governor of Hainan Province Mr. Li Guoliang and Deputy Mayor of Sanya City Mr. Wu Peng.  They also visited Haikou Integrated Free Trade Zone, Haima Automobile Group, Hainan Airlines Group, the permanent site of the Boao Forum and Xinglong Tropical Garden under China Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences.

On September 17, Vice President SONG Jingwu attended the third meeting of the China-UK High-Level People-to-People Dialogue held in London, UK. During the plenary session, Mr. SONG reported to Vice Premier LIU Yangdong and Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt, the co-chairs of the Dialogue, on his bilateral discussion with the UK Department of Communities and Local Government(UCLG) about China-UK regional cooperation, focusing on current situation, experiences and future plans for bilateral cooperation in areas such as China-UK Friendship City  development, cooperation among cities and city clusters, and China-UK local government exchange program.   During the meeting, Vice President and Mr. Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government signed Memorandum of Understanding on building strong China-UK Regional Relationships, under the witness of Vice Premier LIU Yandong and Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt.

On September 16th, “Pass on From Generation to Generation--Exhibition of Chinese Masterpiece of Modern Pottery in ROK” showed in 2015 Cheongju International Craft Biennale in Chungcheongbuk-do. The Exhibition is jointly held by China Friendship Institute for International Art Exchanges (CFIIAE), China Culture Center in Seoul, and Korea-China Friendship Association of Culture & Economy. Mr. LEE Seung-Hoon, the mayor of Cheongju, Mr. Shi Ruilin, the cultural counselor of Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Korea and the Director of the China Culture Center in Seoul, and Mr. Wang Heshan, the secretary general of CFIIAE, attended the opening ceremony and made the ribbon-cutting. On the opening ceremony, the committee of Cheongju International Craft Biennale awarded Chinese artists who participated the exhibition (including 3 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze prizes). The exhibition presents the choicest 45 craft works by 12 Chinese artists, and those craft works are made by Chinese famous pottery and porcelain, such as Ding Kiln Porcelain, Longquan Celadon, Guan Kiln Porcelain of Earlier Song dynasty, Jun Kiln Porcelain, Ru Kiln Porcelain and Yixin Zisha. The quality of the works is in top class, and the exhibition is viewed as a high level artistic event. Together with other countries’ scholars and expertise on culture area, the Chinese artists who visited ROK for the exhibition had a deep discussion on heritage and development of traditional pottery and porcelain craft skills, and the artistic conception and value of modern pottery and porcelain art. The exhibition is positive for China and ROK learning from each other to enhance the pottery and porcelain art together.         

On the evening of September 15, 2015, CPAFFC held a reception in Beijing to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland. Mr. Luo Fuhe, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, and Mr. Li Baodong, Deputy Foreign Minister attended the reception. Mr. Li Xikui, Secretary General of the CPAFFC and Mr. Jean-Jacques de Dardel, Ambassador of Switzerland to China were present and spoke at the reception. A report meeting on Sino-Swiss relations was held before the reception. Mr. Thomas Wagner, President of Switzerland-China Association who is on his special visit to China for the celebration, and Mr. Cai Fangbai, former Chinese Ambassador in Switzerland, gave reports respectively at the meeting. President of CPAFFC Mme. Li Xiaolin and Vice President of CPAFFC Mr. Hu Sishe held a meeting with the delegation of Switzerland-China Association on the noon of the 15th.   Mr. Luo Fuhe, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, holding a courtesy meeting with Ambassador Mr. Jean-Jacques de Dardel and President Mr. Thomas Wagner President of CPAFFC Ms. Li Xiaolin and Vice President of CPAFFC Mr. Hu Sishe holding a meeting with the delegation of Switzerland-China Association   Mr. Thomas Wagner, President of Switzerland-China Association, and Mr. Cai Fangbai, former Chinese Ambassador in Switzerland, giving reports respectively at the meeting   Mr. Li Xikui, Secretary General of CPAFFC speaking at the reception Mr. Jean-Jacques de Dardel, Ambassador of Switzerland in China speaking at the reception

At the invitation of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met with Antigua and Barbuda’s governor-general Rodney Williams in Beijing on 14th, September. Chairman Yu Zhengsheng extended his warm welcome to Williams and attended the Fifth Forum of China-Latin American People’s Friendship. He hailed the progress of bilateral ties over the past years. He said China values its relations with Antigua and Barbuda, and hopes to further enrich contents for bilateral relations. Governor-General Williams expressed that the friendship between Antigua & Barbuda and China will be long-standing. Antigua and Barbuda-China Friendship Association was established recently. He holds the post of honorary president and patron himself, and his wife acts as the president. He hoped that both sides should take this opportunity to further promote the exchanges between Antigua & Barbuda and China. Madame Li Xiaolin, President of the CPAFFC, Madame Zhang Qiujian, Vice Secretary-General of the CPPCC, Mr Qian Hongshan, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China attended the meeting.

2015 Council Meeting of China India Friendship Association (CIFA) was held at the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) on the morning of 14 September 2015. CIFA President, Former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Mr. Jiang Zhenghua, CPAFFC Vice President Madam Lin Yi, CIFA Vice President, President of the Sinosteel Corporation Mr. Xu Siwei, CIFA Executive Council Member, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPPCC National Committee Mr. Han Fangming and other council members attended the meeting.   President Jiang Zhenghua addressed the meeting. Jiang said, the CIFA has made positive achievements in the past years. He encouraged all CIFA council members to give full play to each others’ advantages, make more friends, expand fields for cooperation, and further contribute to China India friendship. CIFA Secretary General Ms. Luan Yutao gave a report on the work of the association. Council Member Ms. Li Zhongdong made a brief introduction about the preparation of the 4th China India Forum to be held in Mumbai this November. Other council members expressed their views on how to better promote China India friendship. The meeting nominated CPAFFC Vice President Madam Lin Yi as the CIFA Vice President.

  On September 14th, Mme. Yan Junqi, Vice Chairperson of the NPC Standing Committee, met with Ms ásta Jóhannesdóttir, former President of Althingi and General Secretary of Centennial Celebration of Women′s Suffrage 2015 in Iceland, and the Icelandic Ambassador to China, Mr Stefán Skjaldarson at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing. Mme Yan introduced the current China-Iceland relations, and said China cherishes the traditional friendship with Iceland. The two sides exchanged views on gender equality, clean energy, and problems emerged in the two countries’ social and economic development. Ms Jóhannesdóttir was invited by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. 

  On September 14th, Mr Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Ms ásta Jóhannesdóttir, former President of Althingi and General Secretary of Centennial Celebration of Women′s Suffrage 2015 in Iceland, and the Icelandic Ambassador to China, Mr Stefán Skjaldarson at the CPAFFC. Vice President Song Jingwu extended warm welcome to Jóhannesdóttir, and briefed her on the activities carried out by the CPAFFC including people-to-people friendship, local government cooperation, public diplomacy and charity. Song said the CPAFFC attached great importance to friendly exchanges with Iceland, and hoped to deepen China-Iceland exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, art, women’s affairs and local governments through this visit. Jóhannesdóttir thanked the CPAFFC for helping arrange her visit in China, and expressed willingness to work with the CPAFFC to promote the two countries’ exchanges and cooperation. Deputy Director General of the European and Asian Department Ms Zhang Ruoning attended the meeting.  

  On the 11th, September 2015, the release ceremony of ”remember the past and Cherish Peace --- Documentary of traveling activity for peace”was successfully hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), The Photojournalist Society of China, Chinese Artistic Photography Society, The Entrepreneurs Photography Society of China and Zhejiang Photographic Press in Beijing. Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice-President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC), Mr. Xu Zugen, President of The Photojournalist Society of China, Chinese Artistic Photography Society and around 60 gusts were present at the ceremony. 

Representing the family members of Dr. Kotnis, Madam Sumangala Borkar, niece of Dr. Kotnis and her husband Rajan M. Borkar visited China at the invitation of the Chinese Government, and attended commemorative activities for 70th Anniversary of Victory of Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression as well as the World Anti-Fascist War, from 1 to 6 September.  During their visit in China, Mr. and Mrs. Borkar attended the Awarding Ceremony of the Commemorative Medal, Grand Commemoration at the Tian’anmen Square, Commemorative Reception and Cultural Gala Night at the Great Hall of the People. The Borkars’ also went to Zhijiang to attend relevant activities of the 5th China Zhijiang International Peace Festival.   At their interview with media including the Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, “Global People”, “Hunan Daily”, Hunan ETV, the Borkars’ shared their feelings about this visit. They said, China is a nation that respects history and martyrs, and cherishes peace. China’s development will contribute to world peace by strengthening the power upholding world peace. They thanked the Chinese government and people, and the CPAFFC in particular, for having been making publicity of the stories and carrying forward the spirit of Dr. Kotnis for decades, and expressed their willingness to continue cooperating with the CPAFFC and make more contribution to China India friendship.