On March 27, the dance drama Crested Ibis performed by the Shanghai Song and Dance Troupe, organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), was staged in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. President Yang Wanming, who was visiting Japan, attended the performance alongside Ryuta Ibaragi, Governor of Okayama Prefecture, and other key officials from Okayama Prefecture and various municipal governments. Since its premiere in Chiba Prefecture on February 19, Crested Ibis has toured 19 cities across 18 prefectures in Japan, attracting nearly 50,000 viewers. The performance in Okayama was the 34th stop on the tour.On the evening of the performance, the theater was filled to capacity. Audiences, eager for the long-awaited show, arrived early at the venue. Among the attendees were not only long-time supporters returning to relive the performance but also newcomers drawn by the play's reputation. On stage, the artists demonstrated the spirit of "performing each show as perfectly as if it were the first", using their superb dancing skills to vividly bring the elegance and grace of the crested ibis to life. Immersed in this picturesque artistic world, the audiences were all deeply moved by the beauty of life and nature. Especially during the depiction of the crested ibis's journey from near-extinction to rebirth, many audiences were moved to tears, lamenting the loss of the bird and celebrating its at its miraculous return. As the curtain fell, the applause and cheers lasted for a long time. At that moment, emotions resonated across national boundaries, and the seeds of love and peace quietly took root and began to sprout.During his interactions with Japanese friends, President Yang Wanming noted that cultural exchanges between China and Japan have always served as the "stabilizer" of bilateral relations. Since 1975, the CPAFFC has organized over 40 outstanding domestic performing troupes—including Peking opera, acrobatic, song and dance, and drama troupes—to tour Japan. These efforts have built a bridge of art and friendship between the peoples of China and Japan. This Crested Ibis tour in Japan is also part of the CPAFFC's ongoing efforts to promote the mutual understanding between the two peoples. He expressed hope for more cultural exchanges between China and Japan in the future.After watching the performance, Governor Ryuta Ibaragi commented that the crested ibis, as a symbol of luck, carries the profound friendship between the Chinese and Japanese peoples across mountains and waters. The Crested Ibis performance tonight is a deeply moving visual feast. It is hoped that the CPAFFC bring more outstanding cultural and artistic works to Japan in the future to further promote understanding and friendship between the two peoples.Following the performance, President Yang Wanming extended his regards to the cast and crew, congratulated them on the success of the performance, and encouraged them to redouble their efforts to make new contributions to enhancing cultural exchanges, mutual understanding, and friendship between the peoples of China and Japan.Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the CPAFFC, Fang Wei, the Deputy Consul-General of the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Osaka, local leaders of the Soka Gakkai, and Min-On President Koji Yamaguchi, along with nearly 2,000 audiences, attended the performance.The tour of Crested Ibis in Japan will last for over two months, with 55 performances scheduled across 30 cities in 28 prefectures.

On March 27, the 2025 Kyushu China-Japan Friendship Exchange Conference and China-Japan Sister Cities Exchange Event was successfully held in Fukuoka. The event was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Fukuoka, the Japan-China Friendship Association (JCFA), and the Kyushu Regional Japan-China Friendship Association.(Group photo of representatives from China and Japan)President Yang Wanming attended the event and delivered a speech. Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao sent a written message, and Chinese Consul-General in Fukuoka Yang Qingdong also addressed the gathering. Among those present were Tokuichiro Utsunomiya, President of the JCFA; Senichi Moriyama, Chairman of Fukuoka Prefecture Japan-China Friendship Association; Takayuki Hiraya, Vice Governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture; Yoshiaki Eguchi Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly Vice-Chairperson; as well as leaders from six provinces (autonomous regions) including Liaoning, Jiangsu, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shandong, and Xinjiang, and 11 cities including Dalian, Fuzhou, Qingdao, Shenyang, Urumqi, Aksu, Yancheng, Zhangzhou, Nanping, Yichun, and Zaozhuang. Additionally, representatives from eight Japanese prefectures—Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Okinawa, and Yamaguchi —along with leaders from 23 cities—Fukuoka City, Saga City, Oita City, Kumamoto City, Miyazaki City, Kagoshima City, Naha City, Kitakyushu City, Shimonoseki City, Imari City, Koga City, Tsukushi City, Kurume City, Omuta City, Nakagawa City, Tsukushino City, Miyatano City, Nakaku City, Kasuga City, Yanagawa City, Arao City, Yatsushiro City, and the Kyoto area of Yobuko—also attended the event. In total, more than 260 representatives from various sectors, including friendship organizations, enterprises, media, and universities, participated in the conference.The participants engaged in in-depth discussions on carrying forward the friendly tradition, building stronger bonds through friendship, and strengthening consensus on further promoting people-to-people exchanges and dialogues. They also explored ways to deepen practical cooperation at the local level, and contributing to the development of a continuous, stable, and healthy development of the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit, and reached positive consensus.(CPAFFC President Yang Wanming delivers a speech)President Yang Wanming stated that China-Japan relations are showing positive momentum for improvement and development. Last November, President Xi Jinping met with Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan in Lima, reaffirming the commitment to comprehensively advance the China-Japan strategic mutually beneficial relationship and build a constructive and stable relationship that meets the requirements of the new era, in line with the principles outlined in the four political documents between China and Japan. Under the political guidance of the leaders of the two countries, a series of key dialogues took place, including the second meeting of High-Level Consultation Mechanism on People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges between China and Japan, the Ninth Meeting of the China-Japan Ruling Party Exchange Mechanism, and the Sixth China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue. These events have further enriched the new connotations of the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit in political, economic, and cultural fields.Yang emphasized that people-to-people exchanges are the "source of living water" for China-Japan relations. This event serves as an important measure to sustain the positive momentum of bilateral relationship, promote people-to-people exchanges, and advance sister-city cooperation. He expressed the hope that organizations and governments at the local level from both countries actively implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and take this event as an opportunity to strengthen exchanges, maintain the political foundation of China-Japan relations, and continuously improve and develop bilateral relations. Moreover, the two sides should expand practical cooperation, enrich the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit with new connotations; promote exchanges and dialogues among all sectors, and improve the public opinion for a friendly China-Japan relationship.Wu Jianghao noted that, in the context of increasing global uncertainties, China-Japan relations face both new opportunities and challenges. It is thus all the more necessary for us to review the value of China-Japan relationship, reaffirm the significance of China-Japan friendship, and reinforce mutually beneficial cooperation of the two countries. People-to-people friendship and subnational partnership is not only a valuable asset but also a unique advantage of China-Japan relations. It is hoped that the subnational governments from both countries use the event to consolidate traditional friendship, expand opportunities for exchanges, and undertake more substantial and enduring practical cooperation, thereby enhancing the sense of gain of the two peoples.(Chinese Consul-General in Fukuoka Yang Qingdong delivers a speech)Yang Qingdong said that subnational exchanges and cooperation are integral to China-Japan relations and crucial for advancing people-to-people friendship. The fruitful results of sister-city cooperation have delivered tangible benefits to the people of both nations and provided robust support for future development. He urged the participants to continue serving as bridges for China-Japan subnational exchanges and help the cities of both countries overcome geographical barriers, and jointly play a bigger role to promoting the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations and enhancing the well-being of the two peoples.(JCFA President Tokuichiro Utsunomiya delivers a speech)Tokuichiro Utsunomiya reflected that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 75th anniversary of JCFA's establishment. Since its inception, the JCFA has always been adhering to the "No More War Between Japan and China" principle and and working tirelessly to promote Japan-China friendship. President Xi Jinping recently stated that the world is once again at a crossroads in history. As humanity shares a common future, building a community with a shared future for mankind is the path forward for all nations. It is hoped that the Kyushu China-Japan Friendship Exchange Conference would pool the wisdom and strength at the subnational level and promote the vigorous development of exchanges and cooperation between sister cities on both sides. The JCFA will continue contributing to the long-standing friendship between Japan and China as well as the peace and development of Asia and the world at large.Senichi Moriyama emphasized that Kyushu has long been a key gateway for cultural, economic, and political exchanges between Japan and China. Amid profound changes in the international situation and human history, subnational entities and the peoples of the two countries need to pool wisdom more than ever, deepen cooperation and exchanges, and jointly address common challenges.(Left: Qian Wenhua, Deputy President of the Jiangsu People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries [JPAFFC]; Right: Takayuki Hiraya, Vice Governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture)Qian Wenhua, Deputy President of the JPAFFC, and Takayuki Hiraya, Vice Governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture, delivered speeches on behalf of their local governments. Qian Wenhua said that the JPAFFC is willing to work hand in hand with all sectors in Kyushu, inherit and carry forward the tradition of "advancing official diplomacy with people-to-people exchanges", and leverage amity among the peoples to add to the warm chapters of "a bosom friend afar brings a distant land near" in the new era. Takayuki Hiraya said that as the region in Japan the closest to China, Kyushu and Yamaguchi have always had active exchanges with China and made important contributions to the development of bilateral relations. Yamaguchi Prefecture and Shandong Province are the first pair of sister cities. Over the past 40 years since the establishment of the sister-city relationship, the two sides have continuously deepened mutual trust and friendly cooperation. In the future, it is hoped that Yamaguchi Prefecture and Shandong Province can further strengthen exchanges in various fields such as economy, education, and culture and move forward together towards a new future full of social changes. (Scene of the 2025 Kyushu China-Japan Friendship Exchange Conference and China-Japan Sister Cities Exchange Event)During the conference, representatives from local governments of both countries participated in the China-Japan Sister Cities Exchange Event. Notable speakers included Sun Zhongzhen, Executive Deputy Mayor of Urumqi, Xinjiang; Li Lin, Director-General of Fujian Provincial Foreign Affairs Office; Tan Ganming, Mayor of Yichun, Jiangxi; Guo Tao, Deputy Secretary of the Aksu Prefectural Party Committee, Xinjiang; Tang Jing, Vice Mayor of Yancheng Government, Jiangsu; Zhao Gang, Secretary-General of the Municipal Committee of Zaozhuang City, Shandong; Jia Guifen, Deputy President of the Liaoning People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Ma Taotao, Deputy Mayor of Zhangzhou, Fujian; Zhou Yan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Dalian Municipal Government, Liaoning; Chen Shuangwei, Director of Shenyang Foreign Affairs Office, Liaoning; Wang Xiangyu, Deputy Director of Qingdao Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, Shandong; as well as Takahisa Nakagakiuchi, Deputy Mayor of Kumamoto City, Japan; Kazuki Tanabe, Mayor of Koga City, Fukuoka Prefecture; YOKOO Toshihiko, Mayor of Taku City in Saga Prefecture; Tamami Nakamura, Deputy Mayor of Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture; Noriyasu Kawasaki, Director of the International Kumamon Bureau of Kumamoto Prefecture, etc. They shared experiences and outcomes from their sister-city exchanges and cooperation in building a foundation for people-to-people friendship, establishing a bridge for subnational cooperation, and carrying out extensive practical exchanges in various fields, and put forward suggestions for future cooperation.Liaoning Province, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and cities such as Qingdao, Urumqi, Aksu, Yancheng, and Zaozhuang set up publicity boards in the venue, displaying creative cultural products and brochures to introduce the latest economic and social development and natural scenery of their local areas, which were well-received by the participants.The Kyushu China-Japan Friendship Exchange Conference, initiated in 2013 by the CPAFFC, the Consulate-General in Fukuoka, and the Kyushu Regional Japan-China Friendship Association, has been successfully held for 10 sessions. It serves as a vital platform for enhancing mutual understanding, promoting people-to-people friendship, and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Japan at the local level.

From March 23 to 24, at the invitation of the Brunei-China Friendship Association, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation on a friendly visit to Brunei. During the visit, he met with Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism; Nazmi bin Haji Awang Mohamad, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports; and Hajah Mardiana Haji Omar, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam. He also held discussions with the leadership of the Brunei-China Friendship Association, including its President Chen Jiafu. During the visit, the two associations jointly signed a memorandum of cooperation for the period from 2025 to 2030. President Yang also toured Muara Port to review the practical achievements of China-Brunei cooperation, engaged extensively with friendly figures from Brunei's political, business, and cultural sectors, and conducted in-depth exchanges on China-Brunei relations, people-to-people friendship, and youth exchanges, reaching positive consensus.Yang Wanming noted that China and Brunei are friendly neighbors across the sea, with a longstanding traditional friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 34 years ago, the two countries have continuously deepened political mutual trust, with practical cooperation across various fields yielding fruitful results, contributing positively to regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity. In February this year, President Xi Jinping met with Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei. The two leaders reached important consensus on building a community with a shared future for China and Brunei and issued a joint statement on deepening the strategic partnership and advancing the construction of a community with a shared future for China and Brunei, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations.Yang further emphasized that 2024 and 2025 are the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges, and next year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brunei. The CPAFFC is ready to work with Brunei to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state. This includes building more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and youth friendship, thereby continuously deepening the construction of a community with a shared future for China and Brunei. All sectors in Brunei are welcomed to actively participate in events such as the China-ASEAN Expo, the RCEP Local Governments and Friendship Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum, the Conference on ASEAN-China People-to-People Friendship Organizations, and the ASEAN-China Young Leaders Exchange Festival, in a way to further strengthen people-to-people friendship, expand cultural and subnational exchanges, deepen practical cooperation, and make new and greater contributions to the ongoing development of China-Brunei relations.People from all sectors in Brunei warmly welcomed President Yang Wanming and his delegation and highly appreciated the positive role of the CPAFFC in promoting people-to-people friendship between Brunei and China and advancing the development of bilateral relations. They expressed that Brunei places great value on its relationship with China, and takes China as an important partner. Under the political guidance of the two heads of state, the two countries have maintained friendly relationship, and attained fruitful exchanges and cooperation in various fields. The Brunei side is committed to further strengthening cooperation with the CPAFFC, deepening people-to-people exchanges in areas such as economy, trade, culture, sports, youth, tourism and subnational cooperation, thus jointly building a community with a shared future for China and Brunei.Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the CPAFFC, and Xiao Jianguo, Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, attended relevant activities.

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.