On November 19, 2024, the China International Friendship Cities Conference 2024 concluded in Kunming, the capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province. At the closing ceremony, the conference presented the International Friendship City Award for Outstanding Contribution to 20 Chinese provinces and cities, and the Friendship City Award for Outstanding Partnership with China to 40 foreign provinces, states and municipalities. Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the China International Friendship Cities Association (CIFCA); Liu Hongjian, Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Yunnan Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Kunming Municipal Committee; Wang Hao, Vice Governor of Yunnan Province; and Yan Dong, Vice President of the CPAFFC, attended the event and presented awards to the representatives of the winning local governments. Wang Jinfu, Vice Governor of Fujian Province; Vu Van Cai, Standing Vice Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People's Council, Vietnam; Yakup Paydulla, Mayor of Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; and Artyom Molchanov, Mayor of Yaroslavl, Russia, delivered speeches as representatives of the award-winning provinces and cities.Following the award ceremony, a signing ceremony was held, during which 32 Chinese and foreign local governments, institutions, and enterprises signed 15 cooperation agreements in the fields of sister-city relationships, personnel training, think tank exchanges, economic and trade cooperation, and connectivity. Ten cities in China and Laos signed a memorandum of cooperation of the China-Laos Railway city alliance. At this conference, eight agreements for establishing sister city (province/state) relationships between China and foreign cities were signed. China now has 3,054 sister city (province and state) relationships with 147 countries worldwide.The conference also issued the Kunming Initiative, representing an important consensus reached by all parties participating in the meeting in line with the trend of the times, i.e. peace, development, and mutually beneficial cooperation. The Initiative called on sister cities worldwide to strengthen solidarity and mutual assistance, deepen exchanges and cooperation, and build a better future together. CPAFFC Vice President Yan Dong delivered closing remarks.The Chinese provinces and cities that received the International Friendship City Award for Outstanding Contribution are: Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Fujian, Shandong, Guangdong, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Hohhot, Shenyang, Harbin, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Nanchang, Wuhan, Urumqi, Chengdu, and Kunming.The foreign provinces, states and cities that have won the Friendship City Award for Outstanding Partnership with China are: New South Wales in Australia, Minsk in Belarus, Biobío Region in Chile, Bavaria and Lower Saxony, Germany, West Java Province in Indonesia, Miyagi Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture, Japan, North Kazakhstan Oblast in Kazakhstan, Gyeonggi Province, Gyeongsangbuk Province, and Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, Republic of Korea (ROK), Issyk-Kul Oblast in Kyrgyzstan, Vientiane City and Namtha Province, Laos, Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, Prachuap Province in Thailand, Iowa and Oregon, the United States, Samarkand in Uzbekistan, Hanoi City and Lao Cai Province in Vietnam, Duisburg and Neustadt, Germany, Asti in Italy, Kagoshima, Kobe, Nara, and Osaka, Japan, Yeongcheon in the ROK, Tokha in Nepal, Christchurch in New Zealand, Stavanger in Norway, Hunza in Pakistan, Yaroslavl in Russia, Sarah Baartman District Municipality in South Africa, Barcelona in Spain, Long Beach and St. Louis, USA, and Mong Cai, Vietnam.

On November 18, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Hatoyama Yukio, former Prime Minister of Japan and President of the East Asian Community Institute (EACI), along with his wife, who came to China to attend the China International Friendship Cities Conference 2024, in Kunming, Yunnan Province.Yang Wanming welcomed Hatoyama Yukio and his wife to the conference and extended his congratulations on the recent election of Hatoyama's son, Hatoyama Kiichiro, as a member of the House of Representatives of the National Diet of Japan. Yang emphasized that China and Japan are important neighbors whose relationship is vital to both nations' fundamental interests and to peace, stability, and prosperity in Asia and the world. He noted that three days prior, during the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru, President Xi Jinping met with Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. The two leaders agreed to maintain high-level exchanges, utilize dialogue mechanisms in areas such as the economy and culture, and work toward implementing the consensus on Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima. President Xi stressed the importance of deepening people-to-people, cultural, and subnational exchanges, to enhance mutual understanding, especially among the younger generation. This meeting, Yang said, has charted a clear course for advancing people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.Yang expressed his readiness to work closely with Hatoyama Yukio and friendly forces across various sectors of Japanese society. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the consensus reached by the two nations' leaders and strengthening cooperation in subnational entities, young people and think tanks, and builds more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, youth engagement, and think tank collaboration. Yang also highlighted the need to build more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural interactions, and youth friendships. Additionally, Yang underscored the value of parliamentarian exchanges, particularly with young Japanese legislators, inviting them to visit China to foster political mutual trust and strengthen ties.Hatoyama Yukio thanked the CPAFFC for inviting him to China to participate in both the China International Friendship Conference and Events Marking the 70th Anniversary of the CPAFFC and the China International Friendship Cities Conference 2024. He also extended his congratulations to the CPAFFC on its 70th anniversary. Hatoyama noted that in today's world, which is marked by antagonism and insecurity, the conference held in Kunming themed "Common Prosperity, Shared Future" is timely and of profound significance. He stressed that as international relations grow increasingly complex, it is critical to meet in person, engage in constructive dialogue, and work together to build bridges of friendship. Hatoyama praised the recent meeting between the leaders of Japan and China in Lima, calling it a significant step forward for bilateral relations. Hatoyama also expressed the EACI's commitment, as well as his personal willingness, to strengthen ties with the CPAFFC. He highlighted his desire to deepen and expand cooperation between the two nations in areas such as parliamentarian exchanges, subnational collaborations, youth engagement, and think tank cooperation. He affirmed his dedication to contributing to the sustainable improvement and development of Japan-China relations.CPAFFC Vice President Yuan Mindao, Director-General Zhu Dan of the Department of East Asian Affairs, and Deputy Director-General Sun Liang of the General Office accompanied Yang during the meeting.

On November 18, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Anouphap Tounalom, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Vientiane, Laos, who came to China to attend the China International Friendship Cities Conference 2024 in Kunming, Yunnan Province.Yang Wanming welcomed Anouphap Tounalom and his delegation to the China International Friendship Cities Conference 2024 and congratulated Vientiane for winning the Friendship City Award for Outstanding Partnership with China. In his remarks, Yang noted that in October 2024, General Secretary and President Xi Jinping met with Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos. The two sides reached important consensus on deepening the China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperation and making concrete and sound progress in building a China-Laos community with a shared future. Yang emphasized that the key to implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of both parties and countries lies in fostering practical cooperation across various sectors, consistently delivering visible and tangible benefits to the peoples of both nations. He referenced the Eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit, held recently in Kunming, where critical agreements were reached on openness and cooperation, innovation, and infrastructure development. The subregional economic integration fostered by such initiatives has provided significant momentum for the economic and social development of both China and Laos. Yang expressed his readiness to collaborate with all sectors in Laos to actively implement the consensus reached by the top leaders of both nations. He reaffirmed the CPAFFC's role as the leading organization of the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges and highlighted the importance of platforms such as the RCEP Local Governments and Friendship Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum, and the Forum on Lancang-Mekong Local Government Cooperation. These initiatives aim to strengthen subregional economic integration and foster bilateral cooperation across diverse fields through people-to-people friendship and subnational cooperation. Yang emphasized the importance of translating these efforts into concrete actions that contribute to the realization of a China-Laos community with a shared future.In his response, Anouphap Tounalom extended his gratitude to the Chinese side for the generous invitation and thoughtful arrangements. He acknowledged that Laos-China relations is currently at its best in history, with steady progress in the depth and breadth of bilateral cooperation. He noted the fruitful outcomes of collaboration in fields such as agriculture, infrastructure, culture, and tourism, which have significantly benefited both nations. Looking to the future, Anouphap highlighted the even prospects for cooperation between the two countries. He emphasized that subnational cooperation serves as a driving force for state-to-state relations and reiterated Laos' commitment to working closely with China to further advance the sustainable and continuous development of bilateral relations.Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the CPAFFC; Zhu Dan, Director-General of the Department of East Asian Affairs of the CPAFFC; and Phoukham Saisomphou, Standing Member of Vientiane Municipal Party Committee and Director of the Municipal People's Government Office, attended the meeting.

On November 18, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Emmanuel Sinzohagera, President of the Senate of Burundi, who came to China to attend the China International Friendship Cities Conference 2024 in Kunming, Yunnan Province. They engaged in an in-depth exchange of views on China-Burundi relations, people-to-people friendship, and subnational cooperation, and reached positive consensus.Yang Wanming welcomed Emmanuel Sinzohagera to the conference and commended the Burundian government for its strong commitment to relations with China and its firm adherence to the one-China policy. Yang described China and Burundi as all-weather friends who have shared good and challenging times together and as trusted partners in their shared pursuit of common development. He highlighted that, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China and Burundi have maintained high-level development of bilateral relations, built strong political mutual trust, achieved remarkable results in various fields of cooperation, and maintained close coordination in international affairs, making their partnership a model of South-South cooperation. Yang emphasized the CPAFFC's willingness to actively serve as a bridge to promote the establishment of more sister-city partnerships between China and Burundi. He expressed a commitment to deepening exchanges and cooperation in areas such as economics, culture, and youth engagement. Additionally, he invited the Burundian side to participate in institutional activities organized by the CPAFFC, including the Legislators Forum for Friendly Exchanges and the China-Africa Future Leaders' Dialogue.Emmanuel Sinzohagera congratulated on the successful convening of the conference and expressed his sincere gratitude for the warm reception provided by the Chinese side. He reiterated Burundi's unwavering adherence to the one-China policy and reaffirmed its long-standing support for China in safeguarding its core interests. Sinzohagera highly praised the important role played by the CPAFFC in fostering people-to-people friendship and advancing subnational cooperation. He expressed his intention to work closely with the CPAFFC to facilitate the establishment of sister-city and sister-province partnerships between all Burundian provincial-level administrative regions (following the administrative division reform) and Chinese provinces and municipalities. He also emphasized Burundi's willingness to strengthen practical cooperation with China in key areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, and mining. These efforts, he noted, would support the goal of common development and contribute positively to the deepening of bilateral relations between the two countries.CPAFFC Vice President Yan Dong and Director-General of the Department of Asian and African Affairs Ji Yongjun accompanied Yang Wanming at the meeting.

On November 18, the China International Friendship Cities Conference 2024 officially opened in Kunming, the capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province. The event was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the China International Friendship Cities Association (CIFCA), and the People's Government of Yunnan Province, and organized by the People's Government of Kunming Municipality. The theme of the conference is "Common Prosperity, Shared Future". Peng Qinghua, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Wang Ning, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Yunnan Provincial Committee; Wang Yubo, Governor of Yunnan Province; Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC and the CIFCA; Emmanuel Sinzohagera, President of the Senate of Burundi; Anouphap Tounalom, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Vientiane; and Hatoyama Yukio, former Prime Minister of Japan, attended the ceremony.Peng Qinghua emphasized the critical role of international sister cities in advancing subnational cooperation, strengthening people-to-people friendship, and promoting mutual learning among civilizations. He urged sister cities from China and abroad to seize new opportunities for openness and cooperation, drive innovative development, explore new cooperation projects that benefit the people, write a new chapter of mutual learning among civilizations, and contribute to world peace, stability and prosperity.Wang Ning highlighted Yunnan's tradition of openness and inclusiveness, noting the province's long-standing history of friendly exchanges and its role as a platform for mutually beneficial cooperation. He reaffirmed Yunnan's commitment to implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy and expressed its determination to work with sister cities worldwide under the guidance of the CPAFFC to renew traditional friendship through close exchanges, achieve win-win development through pragmatic cooperation, foster shared progress through mutual learning, and advance modernization together.Yang Wanming praised the contributions of Chinese and foreign sister cities, highlighting their success in building bridges of people-to-people friendship, creating direct channels for economic and trade cooperation, and paving "a road to happiness" for the benefit of the people. He pledged that the CPAFFC would continue its efforts to enhance people-to-people exchanges to foster closer people-to-people ties, deepen practical cooperation to achieve mutual benefit; strengthen cultural exchanges to promote harmonious coexistence, and expand youth exchanges to build enduring friendships between future generations.Emmanuel Sinzohagera noted that this year's conference, which focused on issues such as technological innovation, green development, cultural heritage, and connectivity, has provided us with a valuable platform for exchange and sharing of experiences. He reaffirmed Burundi's firm commitment to the one-China principle and expressed that it is willing to establish more sister province/city relationships with China while exploring new cooperation models to achieve common development and prosperity.Anouphap Tounalom highlighted the progress made in Laos-China cooperation, driven by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He pointed to the Laos-China Railway as a transformative project that has boosted economic and social development and improved the well-being of people in the provinces and cities along the route and across Southeast Asia. Anouphap expressed Laos' readiness to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation among international sister cities in a wide range of fields, such as economy, trade, investment, tourism, and education.Hatoyama Yukio emphasized the importance of maintaining a spirit of brotherhood, mutual respect, understanding, and support, whether among individuals, cities, or nations. He argued that in today's complex international environment, face-to-face exchanges and open, constructive dialogue are critical to building bridges of friendship and advancing the creation of a community with a shared future for mankind.The conference attracted over 700 participants, including 37 provincial and ministerial leaders, 74 mayors and deputy mayors from 41 countries across five continents, representatives from 66 provinces, 125 cities, and 63 local government and friendship organizations, as well as experts, scholars, business representatives, and members of the media.Following the opening ceremony, a theme forum centered on "Common Prosperity, Shared Future" was held. Speakers included Liu Hongjian, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Kunming Municipal Committee; Lee Sari, Deputy Governor of Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey Province; Maurizio Rasero, Governor of Asti Province of Italy; Grant Smith, President of the Global Cities New Zealand; Carol Robertson Lopez, Chair Emeritus of Sister Cities International; and Benjamin Kabikira, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works of Zimbabwe. These speakers shared insights and best practices in urban governance, economic development, people-to-people exchanges, and international cooperation. At four parallel forums, over 40 Chinese and international speakers addressed topics including "Technological Innovation Helps Build Smart Cities", "Urban Green Development Benefits People’s Livelihood", "Guarding and Inheriting the City's Historical and Cultural Roots", and "Transportation Interconnection Builds a Community of Urban Destiny". The forums provided a platform for participants to exchange ideas and make suggestions to promote exchanges and mutual learning, build consensus for deeper cooperation, improve people's welfare, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results for local governments in China and abroad.

From November 13 to 17, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation on a friendly visit to Thailand at the invitation of Korn Dabbaransi, President of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association and former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand. During his visit, Yang met with Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Minister of Culture, Nirat Pongsitthavorn, Governor of Chiang Mai Province, and Assanee Buranupakorn, Mayor of Chiang Mai Municipality. Yang also held working meetings with President Korn Dabbaransi, Bhokin Bhalakula, President of the Thai-Chinese Culture and Economy Association and former President of the National Assembly of Thailand, and Han Zhiqiang, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand. Additionally, he engaged in talks with Borwornsak Uwanno, Chairman of the Foundation of King Prajadhipok's Institute, and youth representatives. Yang had extensive exchanges of views with figures from Thailand's political, business, and cultural circles on China-Thailand relations, people-to-people friendship, youth exchanges and proposals for celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand next year.During the meeting, Yang Wanming emphasized that China and Thailand share geographical proximity, ancestral ties, and cultural similarities, making them good neighbors, friends, relatives, and partners. Over the past 50 years, China-Thailand relations have maintained stable, sound, and rapid development, creating what Yang described as the "golden 50 years". He highlighted the widespread belief in both countries that "China and Thailand are as close as one family". Yang referred to the historic visit by President Xi Jinping to Thailand in November 2022, during which China and Thailand reached a significant consensus on building a China-Thailand community with a shared future for greater stability, prosperity, and sustainability. This agreement marked the beginning of a new era in bilateral relations.Yang also noted President Xi Jinping's recent meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru. During the meeting, President Xi reiterated that "China and Thailand remain as close as a family". He emphasized China's readiness to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries, achieve greater synergy in development strategies, deepen the exchange of governance experiences, coordinate and promote mutually beneficial cooperation in all sectors, support each other's modernization drives, and make further progress in building the China-Thailand community with a shared future. The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, celebrated as the "Golden Jubilee of China-Thailand Friendship". Yang noted that the CPAFFC will collaborate closely with Thai friendship organizations and people from all sectors of society to explore  innovative ways to commemorate this milestone. Yang outlined plans to take advantage of this opportunity to build more platforms and bridges for the two countries in the fields of people-to-people friendship, subnational cooperation, cultural exchanges, culture and tourism promotion, and youth exchanges, strengthen the foundation for the next "golden 50 years" of China-Thailand relations.Wan Muhamad Noor Matha and Anutin Charnvirakul praised the CPAFFC for its positive contributions to strengthening the bilateral friendship and promoting people-to-people friendship. They reiterated that China and Thailand are as close as one family, with the two peoples sharing bonds akin to those of brothers. They noted that the two nations have maintained close and friendly relations across all levels and in various fields. The Thai royal family and government highly value their relationship with China and actively support the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. In light of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025, the Thai royal family and government plan to enhance bilateral communication through both bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. They aim to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in economy, trade, culture, tourism, and local government while supporting social organizations in both countries to organize more friendly activities for the benefit of their peoples.Nirat Pongsitthavorn and Assanee Buranupakorn expressed their wish to pursue greater practical cooperation with local governments in China. They emphasized their interest in drawing on China's successful experiences in environmental protection and urban governance, deepening sister-city exchanges, increasing economic and trade investments, and fostering greater coordination in the tourism sector.Korn Dabbaransi and Bhokin Bhalakula voiced their willingness to collaborate with the CPAFFC in planning and organizing the event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. They emphasized that these efforts would help lay a solid foundation for strengthening Thai-Chinese people-to-people friendship in the new era.The Thai youth representatives shared the outcomes of their visit to China, expressing admiration for China's advanced development achievements. They conveyed their willingness to learn from China's experience and strive to become heirs of the Thailand-China friendship and promoters of human progress.During the visit, Yang Wanming engaged in extensive discussions with Nantana, Chairman of the Thailand-China Parliamentarians Friendship Group, Kanog, former Chairman of the Thailand-China Parliamentarians Friendship Group, Traisulee Traisoranakul, Secretary to the Minister of Interior, Li Shaozhu, Senior Chairman of Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group, Chen Shaoyang, Vice President of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Xiao Hanming, Vice President of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and Theparak Leungsuwan, Chairman of the Namyong Group.Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the CPAFFC, accompanied Yang Wanming during the visit.

On November 11, the 2024 China-Cambodia Sister Cities Conference was held in Siem Reap Province, Northwest Cambodia. The event was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, and the Cambodia-China Friendship Association. The conference was themed "Cambodia and China Jointly Write a New Chapter of a Community with a Shared Future". Prominent attendees included Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC, Wang Wenbin, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, Ek Sam Ol, Member of the Permanent Committee of the Cambodian People's Party and President of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association; Huot Hak, Cambodian Minister of Tourism, and Prak Sophoan, Governor of Siem Reap Province, all of whom delivered speeches at the event. The conference brought together more than 200 people, including Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the CPAFFC, representatives from 15 local governments across eight provinces in China, representatives from 12 Chinese-funded enterprise; and leaders from 25 Cambodian provinces, including Mithona Phuthong, Governor of Cambodian Koh Kong Province.In his speech, Yang Wanming stated that China and Cambodia are "iron-clad friends" who have consistently supported each other through both good times and bad and are like brothers who share mutual trust and sincerity. He highlighted that last year, President Xi Jinping held two separate meetings with Cambodian King Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen, during which strategic communication was maintained, and important consensus was reached on advancing the building of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both nations, the China-Cambodia Diamond Cooperation Framework has been steadily expanded to include six priority areas (including political cooperation, production capacity, agriculture, energy, security, and people-to-people exchanges). Yang emphasized that the China-Cambodia Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership has made solid progress, ushering in a new era characterized by the building of a high-quality, high-level, and high-standard China-Cambodia Community with a Shared Future.This year, being the Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year, the convening of the 2024 China-Cambodia Sister Cities Conference is particularly timely and of far-reaching significance. Yang expressed confidence that through this platform, the sister cities of China and Cambodia would further expand friendly exchanges, promote people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen practical cooperation. Yang also reaffirmed the CPAFFC's commitment to building more bridges of friendly people-to-people exchanges to deepen the friendship between the two nations; building more bridges of practical cooperation to foster mutual benefit and common development; building more bridges for cultural exchanges to enhance mutual understanding; and building more bridges of youth friendship to carry forward the traditional ties while gathering strength to advance the people-to-people friendship and sub-national cooperation between China and Cambodia.Ek Sam Ol welcomed President Yang Wanming and the Chinese delegation, noting that the successful holding of the conference added significant value to the Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year and enriched the foundation of the Cambodia-China Community with a Shared Future. He praised President Xi Jinping's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, describing it as a blueprint for achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, building China into a modern socialist country, and addressing the common challenges faced by all countries amid unprecedented global changes. Ek Sam Ol expressed hope that the local governments of Cambodia and China would share development experiences, learn from each other, and  strengthen practical cooperation to bring greater benefits to the peoples of both nations. He also reaffirmed the Cambodia-China Friendship Association’s readiness to enhance solidarity and collaboration with the CPAFFC, create more platforms for exchanges, and ensure that the Cambodia-China friendship continues to flourish and is passed down from generation to generation.Huot Hak highlighted that Cambodia and China are geographically close to each other in terms of geography close and share deep ancestral ties, with a long tradition of friendly exchanges. He emphasized that the traditional friendship between the two nations has endured over time and remains vibrant and full of vitality. The Cambodian Government greatly values the role of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association and the CPAFFC in fostering Cambodia-China people-to-people friendship. He expressed his belief that the sister cities conference would inspire both nations to deepen their friendship, expand exchanges, and strengthen subnational cooperation.In his speech at the tourism sub-forum, Ambassador Wang Wenbin remarked that tourism is a powerful engine for economic development and serves as a vital bridge to enhance people-to-people friendship. He expressed confidence that, through the joint efforts of both sides, China-Cambodia tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchanges would become more frequent and ever closer, providing strong support for building a high-quality, high-level, and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.Prak Sophoan noted that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two nations, Cambodia and China have established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and forged an iron-clad friendship. He praised the flourishing subnational cooperation between Cambodia and China, which has resulted in the establishment of more than 30 pairs of sister cities. Fields such as tourism, agriculture, trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges have yielded fruitful results. Prak Sophoan reiterated Siem Reap's willingness to strengthen collaboration with Chinese local governments, share successful experiences, and  pursue common development.During the conference, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on two main topics, namely, "Strengthening Tourism Cooperation for a Better Future" and "Expanding Friendship Cities Cooperation and Deepening Cultural Exchanges". Seventeen representatives from China's Henan, Shanxi, Hainan, Nanjing, Guilin, Xiangyang, Fuzhou, and Wuxi as well as Cambodia's Sihanoukville and Koh Kong provinces, delivered speeches. They shared their perspectives and proposed suggestions on how to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, effectively utilize local government and sister city cooperation channels, and expand bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, tourism, culture, and youth. Their contributions provided local insights into the building of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era. The conference culminated in a broad consensus and yielded several significant outcomes. At the conference, exchange cooperation agreements were signed between the Yungang Academy of China's Shanxi Province and the Authority for the Protection and Safeguarding of Angkor and the Region of Angkor (APSARA National Authority), and between the Wuxi Institute of Technician Jiangsu Province and the Cambodia-China Friendship Polytechnic Institute in Sihanoukville.During the conference, President Yang Wanming held talks with Ek Sam Ol, Huot Hak, and Prak Sophoan, gave interviews to Chinese and Cambodian media, and participated in China-Cambodia cultural and artistic exchange activities.The event featured captivating theatrical performances by Chinese soprano Wang Ying and the Gao Bin Art Troupe, who performed alongside Cambodian artists. A highlight of the cultural exchange was a flash mob performance by Chinese artists at Angkor Wat, further enriching the program and showcasing the vibrant cultural ties between the two nations.

On November 8, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Global Neighbours jointly hosted a roundtable discussion on China-European Union (EU) relations in Beijing under the theme "EU-China Partnership: Shaping the Future Together". Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC, Jovanka Porsche, Chairwoman of the Global Neighbours, and Christian Kern, former Chancellor of Austria and President of the Global Neighbours, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Wu Hongbo, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs, presented a keynote speech titled "Jointly Creating a Brighter Future for China-EU Relations".Those who also attended the event include: Zhu Guangyao, former Chinese Vice Minister of Finance, Jiang Jiang, Vice President of the CPAFFC, Pan Jiang, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Feng Zhongping, Director of the Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Zhou Xiaoyan, Vice President of the China Council for International Investment Promotion, Huang Yiping, Dean of the National School of Development at Peking University, Shi Zhiqin, Executive Director of the Belt and Road Institute of Strategic Studies at Tsinghua University, Cui Hongjian, Professor of the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, and Wang Tong, Vice President of the Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Technology Co., Ltd., Philipp Rösler, former Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Economics and Technology of Germany, and Secretary-General of the Global Neighbours, Herta Däubler-Gmelin, former Federal Minister of Justice of Germany; Marcos Troyjo, former Deputy Minister of Economy of Brazil and former President of the New Development Bank, Gu Xuewu, Director of the Center for Global Studies of the University of Bonn, Eberhard Sandschneider, a renowned scholar on international relations and China expert, Xu Feiyu, Non-Executive Director of Airbus, and Oliver Radtke, Managing Director of the Global Neighbours. They conducted in-depth discussions on the meeting's theme and reached a broad and positive consensus.In his keynote address, Wu Hongbo highlighted that the world is undergoing profound and major changes and faces significant challenges, including international security, global development, and the coexistence of civilizations. He noted the frequent high-level exchanges between China and the EU, the steady expansion of practical cooperation, and vibrant people-to-people exchanges. However, he also acknowledged existing challenges, including economic and trade frictions and geopolitical issues. Wu emphasized that China views its relationship with the EU from a strategic and long-term perspective and advocates resolving trade disputes through dialogue and consultation. He called for cooperation that transcends differences in ideology and values. Wu underscored the importance of 2025, which will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. He stressed that as two major powers, markets, and civilizations, China and the EU have a shared responsibility to act as a steadfast force for world peace, promote common development and continuously promote the integration and progress of human civilization.The experts and scholars who attended the meeting believed that the development of China-EU relations in the past period has been mixed. On the positive side, bilateral relations have shown a stabilizing momentum. In particular, the frequent high-level exchanges between China and the EU since the beginning of this year reflect the trend of some European countries and the EU to adopt a rational China policy and the complementary and mutually beneficial nature of China-EU cooperation. At the same time, due to the EU's "triptych (rival, partner and competitor)" toward China, "de-risking" and "reducing dependence" on China, trade protectionism and the thinking of attaching political and ideological labels to economic issues and overstretching the concept of security have spread, resulting in twists and turns in China-EU economic and trade relations. Europe's insufficient understanding of China has also led to a decline in mutual trust between the two sides, making it difficult for the two sides to effectively implement the consensus reached earlier at the specific level.Despite the many challenges facing China-EU relations, the participants agreed that against the backdrop of major changes and profound adjustments in major-country relations and geopolitics, China-EU relations are becoming increasingly important, and the roundtable is timely. China and the EU are interdependent and their interests are inextricably intertwined. The two sides share a common aspiration and vision for practicing multilateralism and addressing global challenges. They have enormous potential for cooperation in the digital economy, green transition, artificial intelligence and its governance. As participants and beneficiaries of globalization, the two sides should help each other succeed, rather than decoupling and disrupting industrial and supply chains. The China-EU relations face more opportunities than challenges in the coming years. Therefore, they should strengthen people-to-people exchanges, enrich China-EU relations with culture, education, youth exchanges and cooperation, and make continuous efforts to improve the public opinion environment for bilateral relations and rebuild popular support for mutual understanding. This will help put China-EU relations back on the right track of mutual respect, objectivity, rationality and pragmatic cooperation, ensure the steady and sustainable growth of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, and bring more benefits to the two peoples.In his concluding remarks, Yang Wanming summarized the consensus reached during the discussion, emphasizing mutual trust, peace, cooperation, and exchanges as the takeaways. Yang stressed that rational thinking and concrete actions are essential to implement the consensus reached by both sides. Under the new circumstances, China and the EU should respect each other, maintain open communication, strengthen dialogue, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation. He also called on both sides to uphold multilateralism, respect the authority of the UN and the Security Council, and advocate for a multipolar world that champions international fairness and justice. Yang concluded by expressing the CPAFFC's commitment to deepening exchanges and cooperation with the Global Neighbours and their European insightful people to contribute to the growth of China-EU relations and global peace and stability.Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Vienna, the Global Neighbours aims to promote dialogue and cooperation between the EU and China.

On November 6, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Seo Cheong-won, President of the Korea-China Friendship Association, and his delegation at the CPAFFC. The two sides held an in-depth discussion on China-ROK relations, people-to-people friendship, and bilateral cooperation, reaching positive consensus on several key points.Yang Wanming appreciated the positive role played by the Korea-China Friendship Association in facilitating people-to-people exchanges between China and the ROK and promoting the development of China-ROK relations. He also said that China and the ROK are important neighbors and cooperative partners. Over the past 32 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, friendship and cooperation have always been the mainstream of bilateral relations. This has brought enormous benefits to the two countries and peoples and contributed to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. Yang referenced recent high-level meetings, during which President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang met with ROK President Yoon Suk-yeol to chart the course for the development of China-ROK relations. He noted the encouraging momentum of improved bilateral relations, supported by increased exchanges and cooperation on multiple fronts. Yang highlighted China's recent announcement of a visa-free policy for ROK citizens on a trial basis, emphasizing that this move demonstrates the Chinese government's strong commitment to enhancing relations. He expressed confidence that this policy would further boost friendly cooperation and facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries. Yang also reaffirmed the CPAFFC's readiness to collaborate with the KCFA to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders and create platforms for subnational exchanges, cultural collaboration, and youth engagement.Seo Cheong-won expressed appreciation for President Yang Wanming's efforts to strengthen China-ROK relations and praised the CPAFFC's long-standing contributions to fostering people-to-people friendship between the two countries. He highlighted the positive reception of China's recent visa-free policy by the people of the ROK and expressed confidence that it would enhance friendly exchanges and further bilateral development. Seo pledged the KCFA's commitment to deepening cooperation with the CPAFFC and contributing to political, economic, trade, and people-to-people exchanges to foster greater mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations.Zhu Dan, Director-General of the Department of East Asian Affairs of the CPAFFC, Hwang Woo-yea, former Deputy Prime Minister of the ROK, and Lee Hun-seung, Member of the ROK National Assembly, attended the meeting.

On November 5, 2024, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with a delegation of Brazilian youth leaders at the CPAFFC.President Yang Wanming engaged in a cordial exchange with the delegation and provided a brief overview of China's economic and social development achievements since the start of reform and opening up in 1978. He highlighted that China and Brazil are both major developing countries and important emerging markets, and bilateral relations have grown steadily over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. Yang noted that in April 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reached an important consensus on opening up new prospects for China-Brazil relations in the new era. As a Chinese saying goes, "The key to sound relations between states lies in amity between the people". He expressed hope that through this visit, Brazilian youth leaders would gain a comprehensive and multidimensional understanding of the real China, build bridges of mutual understanding and friendship, and contribute to deepening the China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership and fostering people-to-people friendship.The delegation primarily consisted of members from prominent Brazilian family-owned businesses, including Suzano Papel e Celulose, Gerdau S.A., and the CGB Group. All of these young representatives were visiting China for the first time. They expressed heartfelt gratitude to Yang for taking the time to meet with them and commended China’s remarkable achievements in high technology, new energy, and sustainable development. They expressed enthusiasm for fostering long-term exchanges and cooperation with the CPAFFC, organizing more Brazilian youth to come to China to get a deeper understanding of the country, and jointly creating opportunities for young business leaders from Brazil and China to enhance interaction, explore business opportunities, and pursue joint development.After the meeting, CPAFFC Vice President Shen Xin had dinner with the delegation. Sun Tao, Deputy Director-General of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs of the CPAFFC, also attended the event.