At the invitation of the Japan-China Friendship Association, President Li Xiaolin visited Japan from November 18 to 20, 2018 and attended the 16th China-Japan Friendship Conference in Okayama on November 19. The 16th China-Japan Friendship Conference was co-sponsored by the Japan-China Friendship Association and the CPAFFC. Li Xiaolin, President of the CPAFFC, Li Xikui, Secretary General of the CPAFFC, Li Tianran, Consul General of China in Osaka, Wang Wan, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Japan, Abe Toshiko, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Niwa Uichiro, President of the Japan-China Friendship Association, Ibaragi Ryuta, Governor of Okayama Prefecture, Omori Masao, Mayor of Okayama, Eda Satsuki, former President of the House of Councilors in Japan, councilors of Okayama Prefecture constituency, representatives from local friendship associations, local administrative and legislative bodies, as well as economic and academic circles from 16 Chinese provinces, cities and autonomous regions and 28 Japanese prefectures, totaling 300, attended the conference. In her opening speech, Li Xiaolin said that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Japanese Peace and Friendship Treaty. Over the past 40 years, the bilateral relations have achieved rapid development and the depth and breadth of interests connection have reached an unprecedented level, which is rarely seen in bilateral relations. At present, China-Japan relations have entered a new stage of development. The people-to-people friendship organizations should take the 40th anniversary as a new starting point, carry forward the tradition, advance with the times, and comprehensively deepen exchanges and cooperation in economy, culture, tourism, local governments, youth and other fields, so as to draw closer the distance between the two peoples, make greater contributions to China-Japan friendship, and better benefit the two peoples with the achievement of pragmatic cooperation. In his speech, Niwa Uichiro said that a few years ago, the Japan-China relations faced the most difficult situation since the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and the friendly sentiment between the two peoples fell to the bottom. Thanks to the unremitting efforts of the friendly personages from all walks of life in Japan and China, the relationship between the two countries has ushered in a better situation recently, which is very exciting. "Promoting official relations through people-to-people exchanges" is the unique advantage and great tradition of Japan-China friendship. It is expected that all the participants will open their hearts, communicate openly on future plans and build consensus, so that this conference will become a new starting point and lead friendship between the two countries to a new height. Omori Masao expressed his pleasure in his speech at the convening of the 16th China-Japan Friendship Conference in Okayama on the occasion of the Sino-Japanese Peace and Friendship Treaty. He believed that even if the relations between the two countries encounter some twists and turns, they will eventually return to the track of friendship, as long as the two peoples continue to strengthen exchanges in various fields and deepen mutual understanding. He hoped that the participants will keep making new and greater contributions to the continuous improvement and development of Japan-China friendly relations. Wang Wan read the congratulatory message on behalf of H.E. Cheng Yonghua, Ambassador of China to Japan. Li Xikui and Utsunomiya Tokuichiro, Vice President of the Japan-China Friendship Association delivered keynote reports respectively. The theme of this conference was "New Era, New Actions - Creating a New Situation of China-Japan Friendship and Exchanges". Based on the current situation of China-Japan relations, the participants held in-depth discussions about the theme, and jointly issued the Okayama Declaration. They are determined to continue to hold high the banner of China-Japan friendship on the basis of the four political documents and the four-point consensus between China and Japan, and seize the opportunity to follow the trend, so as to make new contributions to the continuous development of bilateral relations. During her stay in Japan, Li Xiaolin met with Governor Ibaragi Ryuta, Mayor Omori Masao and other heads of local governments of Japan respectively, and exchanged views on further deepening the exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Japanese local governments.        

President Li Xiaolin held a meeting with Kentucky Governor Matthew Bevin on November 9th in Beijing. President Li expressed her appreciation to Bevin for visiting China as the only U.S. governor during the U.S. mid-term elections and attending the First China International Import Expo (CIIE), which marked China’s goal of continuous opening up. She pointed out that the regional and people-to-people exchanges between China and the U.S. are important factors in promoting the sound development of our bilateral relations. She hoped Kentucky could deepen cooperation with China in areas including economy and trade, culture, health care and education. Governor Bevin said that respect and understanding were key to enhancing friendship. In the context of current U.S.-China relationship, it was even more important to strengthen the bilateral relationship by strengthening exchanges between local governments, businesses and people. He believed that the U.S. and China would resolve trade disputes soon, and achieve broader and deeper comprehensive cooperation in the future. Bevin hoped that Kentucky could paly a leading role in the U.S.-China local government exchanges, seize the opportunities and achieve win-win development. Vice President Xie Yuan attended the meeting.        

President Li Xiaolin had a meeting with Richard M. Daley, former mayor of Chicago, in Beijing on November 8. President Li commended Mayor Daley for his long-time efforts to strengthen China-US friendship and the bilateral relationship between the two countries. She said, although China-US relations are faced with obstacles, people-to-people and sub-national exchanges should be strengthened instead of being weakened under such circumstances. Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. She sincerely hoped that the bilateral relations will be able to move ahead healthily in win-win cooperation. Mayor Daley said that the US and China could become friends with each other, and American people generally speaking are friendly towards China. Local governments in the US, especially governors and mayors are important forces in the continuous development of US-China relations. He wished to continue supporting US-China exchanges and cooperation at all levels, delivering new contributions to the positive development of US-China relations.

On October 20, the 4th Local Leaders Meeting of China-Central and East European Countries （CEEC）, sponsored by the China-CEEC Association of Governors of Provinces and Regions, China-CEEC Secretariat and Ministry of Affairs of Bulgarian EU presidency, co-organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and Sofia Region, was held successfully in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria. Mr. Li Keqiang, Premier of State Council, sent congratulatory letter to the meeting. Mr. Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Mr. Cao Jianming, Vice-Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC),  Mr. Emil Karanikolov, Minister of Economy of Bulgaria, Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC, attended the meeting and delivered speeches respectively at the opening ceremony. Mme. Pavlova, Minister of Affairs of Bulgarian EU Presidency, presided over the opening ceremony. Chinese leaders from 14 provinces and municipalities including Mr. Tang Yijun, Governor of Liaoning Province, Mr. Xia Yanjun, Vice Governor of Hebei Province, Mr. Shang Binyi, Vice-Chairman of Tianjing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr. Ma Qiulin, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province, Mr. Zhao Jiajun, Vice-Chairman of Shangdong Provincial Committee of CPPCC, Mr. He Jingping, Vice Governor of Henan Province, Mr. Li Jun, Deputy Secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC) Hainan Provincial Committee, Mr. Shen Jinqiang, Deputy Director-General of Standing Committee of Chongqing Provincial People’s Congress, Mr. Sun Dongsheng, Vice Governor of Heilongjiang Province, Mr. Xu Xinrong, the Memeber of the Standing Committee of Communist Party of China (CPC) Shaanxi Provincial Committee and the Secretary of Communist Party of China Yan’an Municipal Committee, Mr. Yang Fengchun, Vice Governor of Qinghai Province, and several local leaders from CEECs attended the meeting. President Li XiaoLin said in her speech, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and CPAFFC actively promoted “16+1” local cooperation in recent years, which led to make great achievements in the economy and trade, investment, infrastructure, finance, tourism, education, agriculture, humanities, local cooperation and other fields. So far, 165 pairs of provinces and cities between China and CEEC have been twinned. The friendship provinces or cities between the two sides maintain an increasing growth momentum, with a sound development in both quantity and quality. CPAFFC and Ningbo Municipal Government had jointly established and held two sessions of China and CEEC 16+1 Mayor Forum. The local cooperation between China and CEEC had become fresh impetus for the development of the cooperation between China and CEEC. During the meeting, the local leaders and the representatives from China and CEEC exchanged views and countermeasures as well as experience on how to further deepen the development of “16+1” cooperation and expand the local cooperation and exchanges under the framework of the local cooperation between China and CEEC. After the meeting, the Fourth Working Group Meeting of China and CEEC Governors Federation, the China and CEEC SMEs Matchmaking Event 2017, and Art Performance from China and Bulgaria were held.             Photographed by Feng Miao

President Li Xiaolin met with Washington State Auditor Pat McCarthy and her husband John McCarthy in Beijing on October 17th in Beijing. President Li briefed the guests on the function of CPAFFC as well as the local government exchanges and cooperation between China and the U.S. carried out by our association. She pointed out that the two countries should solve current bilateral problems by negotiation instead of sanction or punishment. State Auditor McCarthy expressed her willingness to promote Washington State Government and Congress to actively carry out exchanges with China, further enhance the sound development of U.S.-China bilateral relations through cooperation between local governments.         

On October 16th, President Li Xiaolin met with Tim McBride, senior vice president of government relations from United Technologies Corporation( hereafter referred to as UTC)in Beijing. President li commended UTC for its support to CPAFFC’s poverty alleviation and charity programs. She said that China adheres to the basic state policy of opening to the outside world, sticks to deepen the reform and welcomes American companies to expand investment in China. She also encouraged UTC to continue the positive role in enhancing people-to-people exchanges between China and the U.S.. Tim McBride said the current trade situation between China and the U.S. is regrettable, adding that he and UTC will unswervingly maintain the economic and trade cooperative ties with China and will support the bilateral people-people exchange programs as usual . He praised the outstanding contributions made by the CPAFFC in the sub-national exchanges between China and the United States, and would like to carry on facilitating more cooperation with CPAFFC in the future.      

Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), hosted a banquet for Mr. Akram Zeynalli, Azerbaijan Ambassador to China, and Mr. Soltan Mammadov, President of Department of International Liasion of Heydar Aliyev Foundation (HAF), and his delegation in CPAFFC on October, 10. President Li Xiaolin expressed sincere appreciation for the warm reception and highly attention Ambassador Akram Zeynalli and HAF had paid during her visiting Azerbaijan. Both sides also exchanged views on how to develop the cooperation between CPAFFC and HAF in future. After the banquet, President Li Xiaolin accepted a vedio interview on the 15th anniversary of the establishment of HAF. Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr.Shen Xin，Director General of Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC and Mme. Hu Chunmei, Associated Counsel of Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC attended the banquet.         Photographed by Feng Miao

At the invitation of the Vietnam union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), Madame Li Xiaolin, President of the CPAFFC, paid a visit to Vietnam with her delegation from September 26th to 29th and attended relevant activities of the Photo Exhibition on China’s reform and opening up and Vietnam’s reform and innovation drive. Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, together with Pham Minh Chinh, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) , secretary of the CPV Central Committee and head of the CPV Central Committee Organization Commission, visited the Exhibition accompanied by President Li Xiaolin and VUFO Executive Vice Chairman Don Tuan Phong. On September 27th, Madame Li held talks with Mr. Don Tuan Phong on strengthening coordination between the CPAFFC and VUFO as well as developing China－Vietnam people-to-people exchanges. Both sides agreed on carrying forward the China－Vietnam friendship nurtured by older generations of state leaders and bringing benefits to the two peoples by promoting mutual understanding and pragmatic cooperation in various fields. Li Xiaolin holding talks with Don Tuan Phong

President Li Xiaolin held a meeting with Michigan Governor Rick Snyder on September 17. President Li Xiaolin extended her warm welcome to Governor Snyder, who was on his eighth visit to China in his governorship. She said, the vibrant practice and great success of Michigan’s cooperation with China had sent a positive signal to all walks of life in the U.S. about the importance of friendship between China and the U.S. and how it had benefited people of both countries. The CPAFFC would work continuously with Michigan friends to promote the bilateral cooperation to a new height, imbuing positive energy to China-U.S. relations. On behalf of the people of Michigan, Governor Snyder awarded a special tribute to President Li, recognizing her tireless work to promote economic, cultural and academic ties between China and the State of Michigan since she became the president of CPAFFC, and expressing his appreciation for her strong advocacy for the enduring friendship between China and Michigan. He also expressed his desire to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Chinese localities, promoting further development of U.S.-China relations through the subnational cooperation.              

On September 5 and 6, President Li Xiaolin attended the meeting hosted by China-US Exchange Foundation Chairman (CUSEF) Tung Chee Hwa on the subject of China-U.S. local exchanges and cooperation. Participants included Midwest US-China Association Chairman Bob Holden, CUSEF board members and executive director. The meeting agreed to carry out programs to promote China and U.S. Midwest Governors and Mayors dialogue, and cooperation in fields of trade, education and etc.