On March 19, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Kanasugi Kenji, Japanese Ambassador to China, at the CPAFFC. The two sides exchanged views on China-Japan relations and friendly people-to-people exchanges.Yang Wanming said that China-Japan relations are currently in a critical period of improvement and development. Both sides should implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, adhere to the principles outlined in the four political documents between China and Japan, stick to the correct positioning of the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, properly manage differences, and guide the two peoples and all sectors of society in both countries to forge consensus on friendship, thereby ensuring the steady and sustained growth of bilateral relations along the right track.Kanasugi Kenji expressed his willingness to work with the Chinese side to improve and develop bilateral ties and support the cause of people-to-people friendship between the two countries.Zhu Dan, Director-General of the CPAFFC Department of East Asian Affairs and Usui Masato, Minister of the Embassy of Japan in China, were present at the meeting.

On March 17, President Yang Wanming of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with Chen Jing, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and President of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SPAFFC), and his delegation at the CPAFFC. The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on strengthening cooperation to better build bridges of people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges and youth friendship and promoting the high-quality development of people-to-people diplomacy.Vice President Jiang Jiang of the CPAFFC attended the meeting.

On March 17, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with a delegation of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (JACE) headed by Ikeda Junichiro, Chairman of JACE's Japan-China Relations Committee and President of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, at the CPAFFC. Vice President Jiang Jiang and Director-General Zhu Dan of the Department of East Asian Affairs at the CPAFFC accompanied Yang at the meeting.Yang Wanming commended the JACE for the long-standing positive contributions it has made to boosting economic and trade cooperation between China and Japan and advancing the sound and steady development of bilateral relations. He also expressed that maintaining and developing friendly and cooperative relations between China and Japan as important countries in both Asia and the world at large serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples. It also contributes to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and beyond. Currently, China-Japan relations are in a critical period of improvement and development. While expressing his gladness to see vibrant bilateral interactions in recent days, Yang emphasized that complex and sensitive factors still remain in China-Japan relations. The two sides should follow through on the important common understandings reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru during their meeting in Lima, Peru, continue to consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, properly manage differences, to ensure the steady and sustained growth of bilateral relations along the right track.Yang Wanming said that serving as a bedrock and stabilizer for the development of China-Japan relations, bilateral economic and trade cooperation is witnessing an accumulation of favorable factors. Yang introduced the guiding principles of China's Two Sessions (annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference). In addition, he added that China will further comprehensively deepen reform and remain firmly committed to pursuing high-standard opening up. This effort will bring more benefits and opportunities to China-Japan cooperation. Furthermore, Yang expressed the CPAFFC's readiness to continue to serve as a bridge for the Japanese business community to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China and make new and even greater contributions to the continuous improvement and development of China-Japan relations.Ikeda Junichiro said that in the face of an international landscape marked by increasing uncertainties, instabilities, and lack of transparency, it is imperative for Japan and China to strengthen bilateral cooperation and enhance coordination on global affairs, as such efforts are pivotal to world stability and development. The JACE has attached high importance to exchanges and cooperation with China and actively sent delegations to China, hoping to increase the correct understanding among Japanese businesspeople of China's economic and social development. China's development achievements in recent years have attracted worldwide attention. The Japanese business community is willing to continue to work with the Chinese side to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in all areas and contribute to new progress in Japan-China relations.The delegation came to China at the invitation of the CPAFFC and will visit Beijing, Shandong, Anhui, and Shanghai, among other places.

On March 3, 2025, at the invitation of Fernando Lugris, Head of the Mission from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and Ambassador of Uruguay to China, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), had a group meeting with the diplomatic envoys of LAC countries to China at the Embassy of Uruguay in China.Speaking highly of the relations between China and LAC countries, Yang Wanming noted that amid a complex international environment, the Global South is growing with a strong momentum and profoundly reshaping the world's political, economic and cultural landscapes. It has become a key driving force for the transformation of the international order. President Xi Jinping's sixth successful visit to the LAC region in November last year signified that the vision of building a China-LAC community with a shared future is taking deeper root and blossoming in the region. As a natural member of the Global South, China has taken solid steps towards its own path of modernization. LAC countries have, on the whole, maintained steady development. China and LAC countries have actively strengthened solidarity and cooperation, continuously injecting stability and positive energy into this volatile world.Yang Wanming said that people-to-people exchanges provide an endless source of strength for state-to-state relations. Looking to the future, the CPAFFC is willing to work closely with the embassies of the LAC countries in China to build more bridges of people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges and youth friendship between China and LAC countries. Additionally, steps will be taken to build an interconnected China-LAC people-to-people friendship network involving non-governmental organizations, subnational entities, parliaments, youth, and cultural institutions. These will contribute insights and strength to advancing the building of the China-LAC community with a shared future and world peace and development.The diplomatic envoys of LAC countries to China said that China is a good friend of LAC countries and friendship among the peoples underpins state-to-state relations. Ahead of the upcoming ministerial meeting of the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (China-CELAC Forum), they expressed that the embassies of the region's countries in China stand ready to further strengthen cooperation with the CPAFFC to constantly deepen the relations between their countries and China, working together to promote LAC-China cooperation to scale new heights and deliver more tangible benefits to the people on both sides.After the group meeting, President Yang Wanming attended the luncheon prepared by Fernando Lugris for the participants.The event was attended by diplomatic envoys from 23 LAC countries to China. Among them were Fernando Lugris, Ambassador of Uruguay to China, Anyin Choo, Ambassador of Guyana to China, Hallam Hartley Henry, Ambassador of Barbados to China, Analisa Low, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to China, Paulette Bethel, Ambassador of The Bahamas to China, Pick Fung Ho-Chong, Ambassador of Suriname to China, Sergio Cabrera, Ambassador of Colombia to China, Ian Marshall, Ambassador of Grenada to China, Alberto Blanco, Ambassador of Cuba to China, María Soledad Córdova, Ambassador of Ecuador to China, Arthur Williams, Ambassador of Jamaica to China, Salvador Moncada, Ambassador of Honduras to China, Alfredo Ortuño Victory, Ambassador of Costa Rica to China, Marcelo Suárez Salvia, Ambassador of Argentina to China, Luis Oswaldo López Álvarez, Ambassador of El Salvador to China, Remigio Ceballos, Ambassador of Venezuela to China, José Julio Gómez Beato, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to China, Joao Batista Magalhaes, Chargé d'Affaire a.i. of the Embassy of Brazil in China, Ramiro José Cruz Flores, Chargé d'Affaire a.i. of the Embassy of Nicaragua in China. Director-General Sun Tao and Deputy Director-General Deng Lan of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs at the CPAFFC accompanied Yang to the event.

On February 27, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Xu Hao, Vice Governor of Yunnan Province, and his delegation at the CPAFFC. The two sides held in-depth exchanges on giving full play to local characteristics and joining hands to carry out practical cooperation in the fields of Chinese and foreign sister cities, culture, tourism, economy and trade, and youth.CPAFFC Vice President Yuan Mindao, Deputy Secretary General of the People's Government of Yunnan Province Shen Qi, and Director of the Yunnan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office Yang Shaocheng attended the meeting.

On February 27, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Pham Thanh Binh, Vietnamese Ambassador to China, at the CPAFFC. The two had an in-depth exchange of views on topics such as China-Vietnam relations, people-to-people friendship, cultural exchanges, and subnational cooperation.Welcoming Pham Thanh Binh to his new post in China, Yang Wanming noted that China and Vietnam are fellow companions in the socialist cause and good partners on the road of reform. Under the strategic guidance and personal commitment of the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, China-Vietnam relations have entered a new stage of building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. In January this year, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Tô Lâm talked on the phone and exchanged New Year greetings. They had an in-depth exchange of views on comprehensively advancing the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future and sent congratulatory messages to each other on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which has pointed out the way forward for the development of China-Vietnam relations in the next stage.This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges. The CPAFFC will take this opportunity to continue close cooperation with the Embassy of Vietnam in China, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, and other sectors on the Vietnamese side, and jointly implement the high-level common understandings between the two parties and the two countries. In the meantime, it will explore new ways to host China-Vietnam friendship activities and continuously strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in culture and other fields and among non-governmental organizations, subnational entities, and young people. By doing so, new contributions will be made to concrete and solid progress in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.Pham Thanh Binh said that under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, Vietnam-China relations have made breakthroughs. He emphasized that the first important event after he took office was the reception hosted in partnership with the CPAFFC to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China. It marked a good start for the series of celebrations commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. This high-profile and high-quality reception fully reflected the great importance China attaches to Vietnam-China relations and the profound friendship between the two peoples. The Embassy of Vietnam in China is ready to work closely with the CPAFFC to ensure the success of a range of celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges while following the principles of greater political mutual trust, more solid security cooperation, deeper mutually beneficial cooperation, stronger popular support, closer multilateral coordination and better handling of differences. Exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in all fields and at all levels will be stepped up to foster closer people-to-people ties and push Vietnam-China relations to scale new heights.Zhu Dan, Director-General of the CPAFFC Department of East Asian Affairs, was present at the meeting.

On February 26, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Miyamoto Yuji, President of the Japan-China Friendship Center (JCFC), at the CPAFFC. The two sides exchanged views on the current China-Japan relations, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, and other topics of common concern.Yang Wanming expressed his appreciation for the long-term positive contributions the JCFC has made to China-Japan people-to-people exchanges and added that China-Japan relations are in a critical period of improvement and development. Last November, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru in Lima, Peru, during which they reaffirmed their commitment to comprehensively advancing the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit and striving to build a constructive and stable relationship that meets the requirements of the new era. This has pointed out the way forward for the development of bilateral ties. Yang said that it's glad to see the vibrant interactions between the two sides and the encouraging momentum in people-to-people exchanges in all areas. However, complex and sensitive factors still remain in bilateral relations. He expressed the hope that the Japanese side would adhere to the one-China principle and the guiding principles set out in the four political documents between China and Japan, and work with the Chinese side to jointly push forward the sound and stable development of China-Japan relations.Yang Wanming expressed that the CPAFFC will work with the JCFC and other sectors in Japan to follow through on the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries. It will work together to carry out friendly exchanges on all fronts and at all levels for all social sectors, including politics, economy, and culture, and among media organizations, subnational entities, non-governmental organizations, and young people. Additionally, it will build more bridges of people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges and youth friendship. All these aim to make new and greater contributions to the continuous improvement and development of the China-Japan relations. Miyamoto Yuji stated that in the current complex and ever-changing international landscape, it is essential for Japan and China to strengthen exchanges and cooperation across the board and jointly tackle common challenges faced by the two countries in their development. This is an integral component of the efforts to comprehensively advance the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit. People-to-people friendship plays a pivotal role in the development of bilateral relations. The JCFC is willing to work with the Chinese side to seize opportunities, meet each other halfway, and jointly maintain the positive momentum of improvement and development in Japan-China relations. The JCFC will work to cement public support for the China-Japan friendship by enhancing exchanges in areas such as mutual visits of young people and academic seminars between the two countries.Zhu Dan, Director-General of the CPAFFC Department of East Asian Affairs and Usui Masato, Minister of the Embassy of Japan in China, were present at the meeting.

From February 22 to 24, 2025, at the invitation of the Turkish-Chinese Women's Friendship and Culture Association (TCWFCA), Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation to visit Türkiye. He met and held talks with Ustunkol, Secretary-General of Türkiye's Union of Aegean Municipalities, Zafer Levent Yıldır, Deputy Mayor of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Filiz Ceritoğlu Şengel, Mayor of Selçuk, Yuldugur, Board Member of the TCWFCA, and other government officials and friendly personages. They had an in-depth exchange of views on increasing mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and Türkiye, deepening exchanges between local governments and enhancing people-to-people exchanges, which led to positive consensus.During the visit, the China-Türkiye Friendship Concert was held in Türkiye's capital Ankara. Musicians from the China National Symphony Orchestra were invited to perform with Türkiye's Musa Göçmen Symphony Orchestra. President Yang Wanming had a telephone conversation with Tan Ataç President of the TCWFCA, during which he expressed sincere thanks to the TCWFCA for the meticulous planning of this event and for the work they have done.

From February 18 to 21, 2025, at the invitation of the parliamentary friendship group with China of the Serbian National Assembly, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation to Serbia. He met with Tomislav Nikolić, President of the National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China and former President of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly, Marina Ragus, Deputy Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with China, and Nikola Stojanovic, State Secretary of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They had an in-depth exchange of views and reached positive consensus on further deepening China-Serbia civil friendship, increasing exchanges among legislatures, localities, and young people, and building a high-quality China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era. Li Ming, Chinese Ambassador to Serbia, attended relevant events.(Yang Wanming meets with Tomislav Nikolić, President of the National Council for Coordination of Cooperation with the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China and former President of Serbia.)Yang Wanming remarked that China and Serbia are iron-clad friends sharing weal and woe. The traditional friendship between the two countries was formed in the common opposition to power politics and bullying practices, tempered in the struggle to defend independence and sovereignty, and carried forward in mutually beneficial cooperation and common development. In May last year, President Xi Jinping paid a successful state visit to Serbia. The two heads of state made a major decision to build a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era, opening a new chapter in China-Serbia relations. The CPAFFC is ready to work with Serbia to earnestly implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, safeguard and develop the traditional friendship between China and Serbia and actively build platforms for friendly exchanges. Meanwhile, continued efforts will be made to deepen and substantiate bilateral practical cooperation on the basis of the existing 17 pairs of sister cities established between China and Serbia. It will also work for fruitful outcomes in bilateral relations under such frameworks as the Belt and Road Initiative and China-CEEC cooperation. These efforts will help add new dimensions to the China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era.(Yang Wanming meets with Ana Brnabić, Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly.)(Yang Wanming meets with Marina Ragus, Deputy Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with China.)(Yang Wanming meets with Nikola Stojanovic, State Secretary of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.)During the meeting with Serbian representatives from various sectors, they expressed that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, Serbia-China relations have achieved leapfrog development and have been kept at a high level. The profound friendship between the peoples of Serbia and China is rooted in shared values and long-term friendly cooperation. No matter how the international landscape may evolve, the two countries have steadfastly supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests such as sovereignty and territorial integrity. Serbia is honored to be the first European country to build a community with a shared future with China. They expressed the hope that the Serbia-China Free Trade Agreement could further unleash the potential for trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, helping elevate and upgrade bilateral economic and trade collaboration. People from all sectors in Serbia are willing to work with the CPAFFC to deepen exchanges and cooperation in culture and among subnational entities and young people between the two countries, so as to deliver benefits to the two peoples and build a better world through the iron-clad friendship between Serbia and China.(Delegation members paid tribute to the Chinese martyrs who lost their lives in the bombing of the former Chinese Embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.)During their stay in Serbia, the delegation paid tribute at the site of the bombed Chinese Embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, laying flowers in honor of the Chinese martyrs who lost their lives in the attack.Zhang Yangbin, Deputy Secretary-General of the CPAFFC, accompanied Yang during the visit.

From February 16 to 17, 2025, at the invitation of the Slovene-Chinese Friendship Association (SCFA), Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation to Slovenia. He met with Jože Novak, Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of Slovenia, Mateja Norčič Štamcar, Director-General of the Directorate for Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, Miroslav Gregoric, Member of Slovenian National Assembly and Chairman of the Slovenia-China Parliamentary Friendship Group, Ivo Vajgl, President of the Association of Former Slovenian Ambassadors and former Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter Gašperšič, former Slovenian Minister of Infrastructure, Danica Purg, President of IEDC-Bled School of Management, Slovenia, and Tomaz Amon, President of the SCFA, among other government officials, parliament members, and friendly personages. They had a full exchange of views and reached positive consensus on further deepening China-Slovenia people-to-people friendship, promoting exchanges between the legislatures, localities, think tanks and young people of the two countries, and ensuring the sound and steady growth of China-EU relations. Zhao Binghui, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of China in Slovenia, attended the relevant activities.(Yang Wanming meets with Mateja Norčič Štamcar, Director-General of the Directorate for Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia.)During the meeting, Yang Wanming said that bilateral relations have seen healthy and steady development over the past 33 years since China and Slovenia established diplomatic ties. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar have had multiple phone calls and exchanges of letters and messages, charting the course for the future development of relations between the two countries. A good friend and partner of China in the European Union, Slovenia has actively responded to the Belt and Road Initiative, played an active role in the China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) cooperation mechanism, and contributed constructively to the growth of China-EU relations. The CPAFFC attaches high importance to the development of the China-Slovenia friendship and cooperation. It stands ready to work with the Slovenian side to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, continuously deepen the exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in the fields of economy and trade, tourism, culture, education, as well as science and technology, and among subnational entities, think tanks and young people, deepen and expand China-Slovenia pragmatic cooperation through people-to-people friendship, and sustain the growth of the China-EU relations.(Yang Wanming meets with Miroslav Gregoric, Member of Slovenian National Assembly and Chairman of the Slovenia-China Parliamentary Friendship Group.)(Yang Wanming meets with Ivo Vajgl, President of the Association of Former Slovenian Ambassadors and former Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marija Adanja, former Slovenian Ambassador to China, and Roman Kirn, former Slovenian Ambassador to the United States.)In the meeting, the Slovenian side said that Slovenia highly values developing its relationship with China and has always made the one-China policy the cornerstone of relations between the two countries. As the lead country of the China-CEEC coordination mechanisms for forestry cooperation and sports (winter sports), Slovenia will, as always, take an active part in the China-CEEC cooperation. The Slovenian side highly appreciated the positive contribution that the CPAFFC has made to the Slovenia-China friendship. They expressed their eagerness to join hands and continue to forge new milestones in subnational, sister-city, and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Moreover, they commended China's efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of international disputes and its constructive proposals to safeguard global peace and development. Confronted with a world marked by volatility and disorder, Slovenia stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations to jointly respond to global challenges.Zhang Yangbin, Deputy Secretary-General of the CPAFFC, accompanied Yang during the visit.