On April 14, 2025, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the People's Government of Gansu Province cohosted the Symposium Commemorating the 110th Anniversary of the Birth of George Hogg in Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu. He Wei, Vice Chairperson of the Gansu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Jiang Jiang, Vice President of the CPAFFC; Michael Crook, Chairman of the International Committee for the Promotion of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives (ICCIC); Zoè Reed, former Chair of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU); George Hogg's relatives, and representatives of the British Embassy in China, Lanzhou City University and Shandan County attended the symposium and delivered speeches.Jiang Jiang said that in the 1930s, Mr. George Hogg, driven by a profound commitment to world peace and justice, journeyed thousands of miles to China. With unwavering dedication, he immersed himself in the war-torn land, ultimately leaving his brief yet magnificent youth forever etched upon this soil. He used his pen as a medium to expose the atrocities of the Japanese invaders, reflecting the real scenes of the heroic struggle of the Chinese military and civilians, and becoming a pioneer in the pursuit of truth. He joined the ICCIC, also called "Gung Ho," organized and founded cooperatives, actively sought international aid, and became a doer in supporting the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. He planted himself in the old revolutionary base areas, devoting his entire heart and soul to the development of the Bailie School and the education of his students, becoming a guiding light for the youth. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Amid accelerated changes unseen in a century, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. It requires us to think in big-picture terms, maintain a global vision, and shoulder a greater sense of responsibility. We need to build a bridge of closer people-to-people ties, carry forward the spirit of George Hogg, actively build more people-to-people exchange platforms, and jointly be practitioners of building a community with a shared future for mankind. We need to hoist high the sail of cooperation, advocate ICCIC's spirit of "work hard and work together," jointly address the common challenges facing mankind, and make unremitting efforts to advance the cause of peace and development of humanity. We need to let the splendor of civilizations shine forth, champion equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness between civilizations, implement the Global Civilization Initiative, and work toward the prosperity and development of human civilization. We need to foster the torchbearers of tomorrow, encourage young people from all countries to enhance mutual understanding, forge closer bonds, and join hands on the way forward, and see to it that they become the inheritors of traditional friendship, the drivers of friendship and cooperation, and the contributors to global development. The CPAFFC is willing to collaborate with all parties to inherit and carry forward the spirit of internationalism embodied by Mr. George Hogg, continuously deepen the understanding and friendship of the people of all countries, and jointly build a brighter world.At the symposium, Chinese and foreign guests shared the historical evolution of the Gung Ho movement, the work done by British organizations for friendship with China and the life story of Mr. George Hogg. They recounted the touching story of how this great internationalist warrior established the Bailie School and trained technical personnel during China's War of Resistance. The British side thanked the Chinese people for not forgetting their old friends and continuing to dig up the story of the UK-China friendship represented by George Hogg, reinvigorating the George Hogg spirit in the new era. They expressed their readiness to work with the Chinese side to continue to tell the story of George Hogg well, renew the friendship between the UK and China, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in all fields, and contribute to the development of UK-China relations.Before the symposium, the guests also visited the Photo Exhibition Commemorating the 110th Anniversary of the Birth of George Hogg.

On April 13, the "Bond with Kuliang" 2025 China-US Youth Health Academic Visit, hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), was officially launched in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian. Huang Shaorong, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Fujian Province, Zhang Guoan, Deputy Director of the Fujian Provincial Health Commission, Liang Dong, Vice Mayor of Fuzhou, and more than 50 young doctors and medical student representatives from more than 10 medical institutions in China and the US, including Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Yale School of Medicine, attended the launching ceremony. Participants conducted in-depth exchanges on medical education, scientific research and innovation, clinical practice, among other areas, renewed friendship and sought common development.After the launching ceremony, the Chinese and American medical youths conducted academic exchanges in various departments of Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, visited the Fuzhou Second General Hospital and listened to academic reports. They also made a special trip to Kuliang to experience firsthand the bond with Kuliang, which symbolizes the friendship between the peoples of China and the US.The event is an important part of the 2025 "Bond with Kuliang" series of activities. The participating Chinese and American youth representatives will also travel to Guangdong to attend the US-China Youth Health Dialogue.

On April 14, 2025, Sun Xueqing, Secretary-General of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with a delegation from the Union of Cities and Municipalities in Luxembourg (SYVICOL), at the CPAFFC. The two sides had in-depth exchanges of views on strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Luxembourg, and reached consensus on advancing subnational exchanges between the two sides and striving to establish the first-ever China-Luxembourg sister city relationship.Chen Lei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of European and Asian Affairs at the CPAFFC, accompanied Sun to the meeting.

From April 3 to 9, 2025, Shen Xin, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation to visit California and Florida in the US. He met with local people from all sectors of society and communicated on inviting US Flying Tigers veterans and their relatives to China to attend events in connection with the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and further boosting subnational and cultural exchanges between China and the US.

From April 9 to April 11, 2025, at the joint invitation of Kazan, Russia and Tehran, Iran, Sun Xueqing, Secretary-General of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation to Tehran, Iran to attend the second working meeting of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities and spoke at the meeting. Representatives of cities and local government organizations from six countries, including Russia, China, Brazil, South Africa, Iran and Indonesia, participated in the conference, either online or in person.During the meeting, Sun Xueqing held talks with Alireza Zakani, Mayor of Tehran, Ilsur Metshin, Chairman of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities and Mayor of Kazan, Bheki Stofile, President of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), and Eduardo Tadeu Pereira, Executive Director of the Brazilian Association of Municipalities (ABM). They engaged in discussions on strengthening mutual ties, developing the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities, and deepening the pragmatic cooperation between BRICS+ local governments and people-to-people friendship.The meeting featured in-depth discussions on the association's charter, membership admission and withdrawal procedures, and membership fees. Participants were briefed on the association's development vision and proposed activity plans, while a key resolution was adopted to convene its first General Assembly in Brazil this May.

On March 30, 2025, Vice President Jiang Jiang of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with a delegation led by President Peter Kreutzberger from the German-Chinese Friendship Association. The two sides exchanged views on strengthening cooperation between the two organizations, jointly promoting people-to-people exchanges, subnational collaboration, and cultural exchanges between China and Germany, as well as contributing to the development of China-Germany relations.Lv Hongwei, Deputy Director-General and First-Level Counselor of the CPAFFC's Department of European and Asian Affairs, also attended the meeting.

The "U.S.-China Art Dialogue", co-organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), and the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art with support from the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development, was successfully held in Hong Kong on March 28, 2025.The event brought together prominent figures from the international art world, including Alexandra Munroe, Senior Curator at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, and Noah Horowitz, CEO of Art Basel, alongside leading Chinese art professionals such as Philip Tinari, Director and Chief Executive of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, renowned artist Xu Bing, and Prof. Huang Xiaofeng, Dean of the School of Humanities of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Zhou Jiancheng, CUSEF President, along with approximately 100 scholars, experts, and artists from China and the U.S., gathered to embark on a cross-cultural journey of artistic dialogue.Shen Xin, Vice President of CPAFFC, remarked that cultural exchanges between China and the U.S. have a long and rich history, with artists building bridges of mutual understanding and appreciation between the peoples of both countries. He noted that while Chinese and American cultures each have their unique strengths, this event sought to use art—a universal language that transcends borders and speaks directly to the heart—to break down geographical and ideological barriers, inspire wisdom through intellectual exchanges, and foster friendship through shared experiences. He also expressed the hope that young artists and scholars from both countries engage in open discussions, sharing insights and the essence of artistic practices.In a video address, Wu Weishan, Director of the National Art Museum of China and Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association, emphasized that at a time when globalization faces new challenges, art, as a vessel of civilization, carries the mission of transcending language and national boundaries. He highlighted that China-U.S. relations, being among the most consequential bilateral relationships in the world today, mean that the depth and breadth of cultural exchanges not only impact the two nations but also influence the trajectory of global civilization. This, he said, is precisely why such dialogues are meaningful.During the event, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as emerging academic trends in Chinese and American art, the role and significance of artistic creation in cultural exchange, and the catalytic function of art in contemporary China-U.S. relations. Guests openly shared their creative challenges and inspirations, sparking new artistic ideas through the collision of perspectives.

On March 29, Sun Xueqing, Secretary-General of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with a delegation led by Akira Kaneko, Managing Director of the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, Japan.Sun Xueqing congratulated the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum on the successful conclusion of its exhibition "The Great Silk Road World Heritage Exhibition" and noted that China-Japan relations are currently at a critical stage of improvement and development. He reaffirmed CPAFFC's commitment to building more bridges for cultural exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and youth friendship, working alongside various sectors of the Japanese society to contribute wisdom and strength to fostering mutual understanding between the Chinese and Japanese peoples.Akira Kaneko emphasized that cultural exchange serves as a vital channel for promoting friendship between peoples. He pledged to spare no effort in advancing artistic and cultural exchanges between Japan and China, enabling more Japanese citizens to experience the brilliance of China's history and culture.

On March 24, 2025, Jiang Jiang, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Natia Turnava, Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, at the CPAFFC. The two sides exchanged views on strengthening people-to-people exchanges and practical subnational cooperation between China and Georgia to further advance the development of their strategic partnership. Paata Kalandadze, Ambassador of Georgia to China, and Chen Lei, Deputy Director-General of the CPAFFC's Department of European and Asian Affairs, also attended the meeting.

The Second Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations was held in Hangzhou from March 21 to 23, 2025. Shen Xin, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. The event brought together Lu Shan, Vice Governor of the People's Government of Zhejiang Province; Cui Tiankai, Advisor to the Council of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) and former Chinese Ambassador to the United States; Paige Alexander, CEO of The Carter Center; and over 70 representatives from institutions including the U.S.-China Business Council, Yale University, Fudan University, Peking University, and Renmin University of China. Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng delivered a video address.Participants conducted candid and in-depth discussions on U.S.-China economic and trade relations, scientific and academic exchanges, challenges in cooperation and risk management, proposing insights and recommendations for advancing the U.S.-China relationship.The Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations is a non-governmental exchange platform established to commemorate former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his contributions to the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the United States. It aims to enhance mutual understanding and dialogue between the peoples of the two countries, promote cooperation and communication across various fields, and jointly address global challenges.