On August 19th, Mr Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with Janice Dickson, President of Scotland-China Association. Vice President Song spoke highly of the contributions that the Scotland-China Association has made in promoting communication and understanding between the Chinese and British People, and between the Chinese and Scottish people in particular, over the past nearly 50 years since its establishment, and extended congratulations on its upcoming 50th anniversary celebration. Song said the CPAFFC supports the celebration activities for its 50th anniversary. Dickson thanked the CPAFFC for supporting its work. The two sides have exchanged ideas on the upcoming 50th anniversary celebration of the Scotland-China Association and on their future cooperation projects. Deputy Director General of the European and Asian Department Mr Shen Xi attended the meeting.

On August 18th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with a 19-member students delegation from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) of the United States. The delegates include doctoral and master graduates and candidates of JHU’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Vice President Xie expressed warm welcome to the delegation. He introduced the main work of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), indicating that promoting China-U.S. sub-national exchanges and cooperation is one of CPAFFC’s main tasks. VP Xie vividly described the long and profound friendship between China and the United States. The two countries will have a broad future for cooperation. He hoped that the younger generation from both sides could promote mutual understanding and trust through exchanges and visits to each other, and thus promoting the development of bilateral relationship. The delegation leader is Ms. Ji Zhaojin, program coordinator of SAIS’s China Studies program and assistant to Professor Lampton, a famous American scholar. Ji expressed her sincere gratitude to CPAFFC and briefed Xie on the exchange programs between SAIS and China. The delegates discussed with VP Xie and Director General Zhang Heqiang about hot issues including China-U.S. relations, cyber-security, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, etc. Some delegates mentioned that they had known about CPAFFC’s programs such as Touching the Tigers and Salute to Friendship before the visit. They hoped that the American public, especially young people, could learn more about the Friendship Association’s projects.

  On August 17, Vice President Xie Yuan met with Mr. Audie Wong, President of Amway China. Vice President Xie appreciated the achievements made by Amway since it started its operation in China 20 years ago. He encouraged Amway to expand its business in China, so as to further contribute to the economic and trade exchanges between China and the U.S. Audie Wong said Amway regards China as its most important market for its huge potential and good prospect for development. Amway will strive to meet the demand from the Chinese market through innovation, and will stay committed to promoting U.S.-China relations.

From Aug 14 to 16, the delegation of “Ping Pong Diplomacy Touring China”, led by Vice President Song Jingwu,visited Hebei Province.Wang Shaohua,Deputy Mayor of Shijiazhuang City, Party Secretary of Zhengding County and Li Weijun, Acting Head of Zhengding County, met with the delegation. Wang Shaohua welcomed the delegation and said that Zhengding County is a famous national historic and cultural city and one of the important birthplaces of Yanzhao civilization.In recent years,its economy as well as other undertakings have been advancing rapidly. Zhengding is the place where President Xi Jinping used to work and National table tennis training center is located. This visit will surly improve the reputation of Zhengding and vigorously promote Zhengding’s foreign exchanges and cooperation.     Song Jingwu ,Vice President of CPAFFC and President of Table Tennis Association of CPAFFC said that giving full play to people-to-people diplomacy, “Ping Pong Diplomacy” , which rotates the globe by tiny balls, is a successful example in the history of world diplomacy. For years, CPAFFC has been committed to inheriting and carrying forward the fine tradition of “Ping Pong Diplomacy” .This delegation, the first one of“Ping Pong Diplomacy Touring China”organized by CPAFFC, will have matches with provincial and municipal teams.The purpose of this event is to inherit “Ping Pong Diplomacy” so as to increase the understanding and affection of foreign diplomats for China.   Rinchen Rakshaev,First Secretary of Russian Embassy in China,said that it is a great pleasure to visit Zhengding. “Ping Pong Diplomacy Touring China” is a great event that enables Russian diplomats to have a better understanding of China. Russian diplomats will strive to deepen friendship between Russia and China. In Zhengding, the joint team of foreign diplomats and CPAFFC table tennis team respectively had friendly matches with table tennis team of Zhengding County government and the joint table tennis team of Hebei provincial government and Shijiazhuang municipal government.

  Vice President Lin Yi met with Mr. Sayed Makhdoom Rahhen and the Afghanistan China Friendship Association (ACFA) Delegation on 14 August 2015. Mr. Rahhen is also the former Minister of Information and Culture of Afghanistan. Madam Lin Yi welcomed President Rahhen and his delegation to visit China. Lin spoke highly of Rahhen’s efforts in promoting Afghani-China people-to-people friendship. She briefed about the China-South Asian people-to-people friendly exchange programs of the CPAFFC, and encouraged the ACFA to cooperate with us in the fields of local governments, youth, culture and media exchange programs. Madam Lin also invited the ACFA to attend the 4th China South Asia Friendship Organizations Forum to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka this October. President Rahhen expressed his gratitude for the CPAFFC for inviting the ACFA delegation to visit China, and said he was willing to work closely with the CPAFFC for the development of China-Afghan friendship. Afghanistan Ambassador Farahi was also present at the meeting.

At the invitation of Space Camp Turkey, CPAFFC sent a 19-member delegation including middle school students and a teacher from Hubei Province to attend the Space Summer Camp in Izmir of Turkey from August 2 to 10, 2015. During the camp, 17 Chinese students attended a variety of cultural and sports activities together with other 155 students from Turkey, Russia, Bulgaria, Greece, USA and UAE. The Chinese students acquired knowledge of the space, practiced their English and improved their ability of self-independence and cooperating with others. They also displayed the Chinese culture through their singing, and dancing and made international friends during the whole camp.

At the invitation of the Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan, delegation of celebrities of we-media and media journalists from Kazakhstan visited Chengdu, Lhasa, Kunming and Beijing from July 28 to August 6. The delegation met with Party secretary of Tibet Autonomous Region Chen Quanguo,Vice chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region He Wenhao and Vice President Song Jingwu of CPAFFC.  

From 5th to 6th August, the 4th Canada-China Cultural Dialogue was convened in Toronto, Capital City of Ontario, Canada. Mr. Li Xikui, General Secretary of CPAFFC attended the Dialogue. General Secretary Li pointed out in his remarks for closing ceremony that, affinity between the people holds the key to state-to-state relations while mutual understanding holds the key to people-to-people relations. Moreover, culture serves as the bridge to connect people’s hearts from two countries. Culture diversity is the common wealth of all humans and also the stimulus for development and innovation. Mutual understanding, mutual learning among difference cultures and progress upon that is the only way for all countries to achieve win-win result under the background of globalized economy. What is more, it is also the crucial foundation to enhance friendship between the two peoples. The Dialogue was co-hosted by CPAFFC, Canadian Fund for International Understanding through Culture (Can4Culture) and Canada-China Economic Growth Alliance (CCEGA) as well. His Excellency Luo Zhaohui, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Canada, The Honorable Michael Chan, Ontario Minister of Citizenship, Immigration & International Trade, Mr. John Tory, Mayor of Toronto, Dr. Nelly Ng, Chair of Can4Culture, Mr. William Cheng, Chair of CCEGA and around 300 representatives from government, business circle and cultural circle of the two countries were present at the Dialogue. In support of this Cultural Dialogue, Friendship Art Exchange Association of CPAFFC organized a delegation of renowned Chinese artists for the Dialogue and Mr. Fan Dian, President of Chinese Academy of Fine Arts acted as Head of Delegation. He delivered a keynote speech on the welcoming Luncheon with the topic of Global Perspective of Contemporary Chinese Art.   Dr. Nelly Ng and His Excellency Luo Zhaohui declaring the opening of 4th Canada-China Cultural Dialogue Mr. Li Xikui, Secretary General of CPAFFC addressing the closing ceremony Mr.Fan Dian presenting his work of calligraphy to Dr. Nelly Ng

  On August 5th, CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi met with H.E. Mr. Charles Namondwe, Ambassador of Malawi to China. Mme. Lin welcomed H.E. Mr. Namondwe to serve his second term in China, and appreciated his efforts to promote China-Malawi friendship as CPAFFC’s old friend. She said that the CPAFFC hopes to enhance exchanges with the local governments of Malawi to further promote the pragmatic cooperation in areas of local governments and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. H.E. Mr. Namondwe thanked Mme. Lin Yi for sparing the time to meet him. He said the embassy will maintain close cooperation with CPAFFC to promote the in-depth development of China-Malawi friendship.

  On Aug 5th, Vice President Xie Yuan met with Samuel T. Mok, Treasurer of the National China Garden Foundation (NCGF) of the United States. Vice President Xie Yuan briefed Mok on CPAFFC’s work and functions. He said that the Friendship Association would support the China Garden project and stand ready to enhance cooperation with NCGF for further exchanges in various areas. Mok introduced the progress of the China Garden project and expressed gratitude for CPAFFC’s long-time support. Mok is the former Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Labor and Department of the Treasury, one of the highest ranking Asian Americans in George W. Bush’s Administration.