On October 29, 2025, Lu Xiangdong, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with a delegation from Villa Musica Foundation of Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, led by Jurgen Hardeck, State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture of the Rheinland-Pfalz State.Lu Xiangdong welcomed Jurgen Hardeck and the delegation. He stated that since the establishment of cooperation between the Villa Musica Foundation of Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany and the CPAFFC in 1993, the two sides have conducted over ten mutual visits by musical groups for exchanges and performances through the "China-Germany Young Musicians Exchange and Mutual Visit Program." These exchanges have served a wide audience and delivered positive outcomes, making significant contributions to advancing people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Germany and deepening mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. Yesterday, artists from the delegation and Chinese artists delivered a resoundingly successful joint performance at the CPAFFC Auditorium. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, and the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership has entered a new decade. The CPAFFC is ready to work hand in hand with the Villa Musica Foundation of Rheinland-Pfalz to  leverage music as a bond to build more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and youth friendship between China and Germany, jointly composing a new chapter of China-Germany friendship.Jurgen Hardeck expressed gratitude to the CPAFFC for its warm reception of the delegation, and said that the Foundation has remained committed to promoting musical exchanges between Germany and China for years. Throughout more than three decades of close cooperation with the CPAFFC, mutual understanding and trust between the two sides have been continuously deepened. He hoped to continue using music as a bond to further enhance cultural exchanges and bring the two peoples closer together.After the meeting, the two sides signed the Memorandum of Cooperation Between the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Villa Musical Foundation of Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, providing a solid foundation for closer cooperation between the two sides in the future.Qing Boming, Director of the Department of Sister City Affair and Cultural Exchange of the CPAFFC, attended the meeting.

On October 29, the Yangtze-Mississippi River Regional Dialogue, co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the People's Government of Hubei Province, was held in Wuhan. Themed "River Dialogue for a Glorious Chapter, Basin Cooperation for a Win-Win Future," the dialogue brought together 100 representatives from local governments and various sectors along the Yangtze River Basin and the Mississippi River Basin. Discussions were carried out on shipping and logistics, cultural tourism, sister-city exchanges, education, and youth. Zhuge Yujie, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee, attended the dialogue. Zhang Wentong, Vice Governor of Hubei Province; Shen Xin, Vice President of CPAFFC; and Susan Thornton, Vice Chair of the United States Heartland China Association (USHCA), attended the dialogue and delivered remarks.Zhang Wentong noted that, Hubei and the U.S. share a long history of subnational exchanges with remarkable achievements in practical cooperation. Given the encouraging prospects for Yangtze-Mississippi river basin cooperation, Hubei looks forward to continuously deepening dialogue and exchanges with the U.S. side, deepening basin cooperation, and writing a new chapter of mutually beneficial collaboration.Shen Xin noted that the Yangtze-Mississippi River Regional Dialogue, built on practical cooperation and aimed at deepening friendship, has established a multi-level, long-term cooperation framework in ecological protection, academic exchanges, and subnational collaboration, serving as a model for people-to-people and subnational interactions between China and the U.S. The two sides should build a sustainable future by consolidating an "ecological community with a shared future", expand the scope of subnational cooperation by forging a "collaboration network of cities", and gather support from all sectors by fostering a "bridge of people-to-people friendship". It is essential to fully tap the cooperative potential of participating provinces, states, and cities, increase mutual visits and dialogues, and advance cooperation in extensive areas, including agriculture, science and technology, innovation, and youth engagement.Susan Thornton noted that the Yangtze-Mississippi River Regional Dialogue builds a bridge for exchanges between the peoples and cities of the two basins, expressing hope that the dialogue will drive more in-depth exchanges and broader cooperation between them.At the meeting, the "Wuhan Initiative on Yangtze-Mississippi River Basin Cooperation and Development" was officially released. The two sides pledge to work together to establish future city partnerships, deepen the bonds of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, jointly respond to the common challenges of climate change, and enhance shipping and logistics connectivity. Youth representatives from China and the U.S. jointly read out the "'Caring for Nature, Working Together' - A Shared Vision for Chinese and American Youth Protecting the Great Rivers". Before and after the dialogue, U.S. delegates conducted field visits to institutions in Wuhan related to historical and cultural heritage, ecological conservation, and technological innovation. They also took part in a China-U.S. youth exchange activity.Sun Tao, Director-General of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs of the CPAFFC, also attended at the event.

On October 28, 2025, the 2025 "Voice of Friendship" Concert, hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and organized by the Beijing Hefeng Art Foundation, was successfully held at the CPAFFC Auditorium in Beijing. At the invitation of the CPAFFC, young artists from the Villa Musica Foundation of Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, joined their peers from the Beijing Symphony Orchestra to present a concert that brought together the musical traditions of the East and the West in perfect harmony. CPAFFC Vice President Sun Xueqing, Secretary Wang Yu of the CPC Leadership Group of the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Deputy Director-General Li Zhuang of the External Promotion Bureau, Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Deputy Secretary-General Xu Yongji of the International Confucian Association, and representatives from relevant ministries and institutions attended the concert. Foreign guests included  Ambassador of Ukraine to China Oleksandr Nechytailo, State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture of Rheinland-Pfalz Jurgen Hardeck, and Counsellor of the Embassy of Germany in China Dr. Armin Weiss. Around 100 Chinese and foreign guests attended the event.The concert opened with two Chinese classics—Blooming Flowers and Full Moon and Deep Affection, Long Friendship—performed by the young artists of the Beijing Symphony Orchestra. Their graceful melodies conveyed the rich charm and humanistic spirit of Chinese culture, offering guests a direct experience of the unique allure of China's traditional heritage. Young artists from the Villa Musica Foundation then performed works by Western composers such as César Franck and Johannes Brahms. Their exquisite musical expression and grand symphonic textures revealed the depth and elegance of Western classical music, bringing a distinct artistic experience to the audience. As Chinese and German musicians joined hands on stage to perform Mozart's Divertimento and the beloved Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower, the concert reached its climax. The elegant rhythm of Western classical music merged seamlessly with the poetic grace of Chinese folk melody. At that moment, music transcended borders, becoming not only a form of artistic expression but also a bridge of emotional resonance between peoples, carrying the warmth of friendship through every note.During their visit to China from October 27 to November 2, the German artists will participate in a series of concerts, art exchanges, and discussions with young Chinese musicians, further deepening China-Germany friendship and enhancing mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries.

From October 25 to 28, at the invitation of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) of the Russian Federation, Lu Xiangdong, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation to Russia.During the visit, Lu attended the International Cooperation Forum Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Russian People's Diplomacy and delivered a speech at a thematic session. In his address, Lu noted that the theme of the forum "People's Diplomacy: For Development" is of vital importance and highly timely. President Xi Jinping stressed that "people-to-people friendship is the foundation for stable and sustained international relations and an inexhaustible driving force for promoting world peace and development, and a basic prerequisite for win-win cooperation." The Chinese side commends Rossotrudnichestvo's consistent commitment to promoting international people-to-people exchanges, fostering international understanding and friendship, and playing a unique role in advancing people-to-people friendship between China and Russia. The CPAFFC stands ready to work closely with Rossotrudnichestvo and other international partners to focus on building four bridges for people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and youth friendship, so as to deepen people's friendship, promote common development, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity.Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to the forum. Sergey Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a video address. Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev,  Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky, and Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Yevgeny Primakov addressed the forum. More than 2,000 participants from over 100 countries participated.On the sidelines of the event, Lu met with Primakov and conveyed a congratulatory letter from CPAFFC President Yang Wanming on the centenary of Rossotrudnichestvo. Primakov sincerely thanked the Chinese side for the heartfelt congratulatory letter, noting that the friendship embodied in it made him feel deeply warm and moved. The Russian side values the friendship and cooperation between the two organizations and is ready to spare no effort in advancing the cause of friendship between the two countries. Lu also met with Galina Kulikova, First Deputy Chairperson of the Russia-China Friendship Association and an honoree of the Friendship Medal of China. The two sides had in-depth exchanges on topics including China-Russia people-to-people friendship, youth exchanges, and subnational cooperation.Chen Lei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of European and Asian Affairs of the CPAFFC, accompanied the visit.

On October 28, 2025, Deputy Secretary-General Ji Yongjun of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with Smail Debeche, President of the Algeria-China Friendship Association, and his delegation. The two sides exchanged views on China-Algeria relations, people-to-people exchanges, and practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest.Deputy Secretary-General Ji Yongjun extended a warm welcome to Smail Debeche's visit to China and highly praised his longstanding active contributions to promoting China-Algeria friendship. Deputy Secretary-General Ji Yongjun emphasized that the traditional friendship between China and Algeria is deeply rooted, and that China attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations. The CPAFFC is committed to further strengthening cooperation with the Algeria-China Friendship Association, building additional bridges, and enriching the content of the China-Algeria comprehensive strategic partnership.President Smail Debeche expressed his admiration for China's remarkable achievements in economic and social development. He noted that China-Algeria relations have maintained a high level of development in recent years, a development that Algeria is proud of. He emphasized that the Algeria-China Friendship Association is eager to strengthen communication and coordination with the CPAFFC, deepen cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, culture, and subnational exchanges, and ultimately deliver greater benefits to the two peoples.Xu Yan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Asian and African Affairs of the CPAFFC, was present at the meeting.

On October 24, 2025, the 7th Tang Xianzu International Theatre Exchange Month was officially launched in Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province. The event was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the People's Government of Jiangxi Province, and the China Theatre Association. Wan Guangming, Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province; Ji Yongjun, Deputy Secretary-General of the CPAFFC; Wang Chunmei, Vice Secretary-General of the China Theatre Association; along with ambassadors from the UK, Malta, Thailand, and other countries, as well as domestic and foreign guests, totaling more than 1,000 people, attended the opening ceremony.In his remarks, Deputy Secretary-General Ji Yongjun emphasized that the "Tang Xianzu & William Shakespeare Dialogue" not only bridges Eastern and Western stages, facilitates audience interaction, and fosters academic exchanges, but also serves as a broad platform that extends into numerous fields such as history, philosophy, and literature, holding profound social and cultural significance. The CPAFFC will continue to promote friendship through culture, using theatre as a medium to enhance mutual understanding and friendship among peoples worldwide, deepening practical cooperation in cultural, economic, and trade sectors, thus contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.The opening ceremony held at the evening featured natural water landscapes as a backdrop and garden spaces as the stage. Through a thematic narrative titled "The Dream of Theatre", the event vividly illustrated the spiritual resonance between Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare, transcending time and space. Performances included the Kunqu opera "Three Lifetimes in a Dream: The Peony Pavilion", the Yue opera "The Divine Damsel of Devastation", the Xuhe Gaoqiang opera "The Purple Hairpin", and the cross-border drama "The Tang Xianzu & William Shakespeare Encounter", offering a dramatic feast that beautifully combined Eastern and Western theatrical traditions for the guests.The Tang Xianzu International Theatre Exchange Month is part of an initiative launched by the CPAFFC in partnership with the Jiangxi Provincial Government to implement President Xi Jinping's proposal during his 2015 visit to the UK to jointly commemorate Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare. This year marks the seventh edition of the event, following six successful editions. The theme of this year's event is "Ten Years of Civilizational Mutual Learning: New Voices of the Peony Pavilion for the World to Hear". Over the course of the month-long event, several activities will take place, including the "Tang Xianzu & William Shakespeare Legacy: Youth Dialogue", a special performance of "Famous Chinese Opera Masterpieces", and the 6th Tang Xianzu Drama Competition, alongside performances of outstanding regional dramas.

From October 22 to October 25, 2025, the 18th China-Japan-Korea Cultural Exchange Forum was successfully held in Wakayama, Japan. The event was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Japan Foundation for Cultural Heritage and Art Research, and the South Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange Conference. Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the CPAFFC; Kazuki Sawa, President of the Japan Foundation for Cultural Heritage and Art Research; and Chung Ku-chong, Chairman of the South Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange Conference, attended the event and delivered remarks. Miyazaki Izumi, Governor of Wakayama Prefecture; Inuzuka Yasushi, Deputy Mayor of Wakayama City and other participants, were present at the event.The theme of this forum was "Enhancing Cultural Exchange through Film and Animation." Nearly 50 representatives, including related experts, enterprises, and cultural organizations from China, Japan, and the ROK, attended the forum and related activities.(From left to right: Vice President Yuan Mindao, President Sawaki Kazuki, Chairman Jeong Koo-jong)Vice President Yuan Mindao emphasized that hosting this forum was a concrete step toward implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the three countries. It holds great significance in enhancing mutual understanding and trust, enriching practical cooperation in various fields, and achieving new outcomes that benefit the peoples of China, Japan, and South Korea. He pointed out that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, with an international landscape that is increasingly complex and unpredictable. In this context, China, Japan, and South Korea should join hands in promoting peaceful development, mutual benefits, and sustainable growth. Vice President Yuan expressed confidence that the successful hosting of this forum would contribute unique people-to-people wisdom and efforts toward building an East Asian community with a shared future.President Sawaki Kazuki noted that film and animation have become integral to cultural exchanges between China, Japan, and South Korea. With the advent and application of new technologies, the potential for expanding the field of animation has greatly increased. He hopes the three countries will deepen exchanges on topics such as the application of AI technology and talent development, thus promoting further exchange and cooperation and fostering stronger mutual understanding and affinity among the peoples of the three countries.Chairman Jeong Koo-jong emphasized that China, Japan, and South Korea are all East Asian countries with close ties and rich cultural resources, which offer vast space and rare opportunities for cooperation in the fields of film and animation. He expressed hope that the three countries would strengthen collaboration in joint animation creation, production, and distribution, accelerating the industry's upgrading and internationalization to enhance its global competitiveness and influence. This would contribute to fostering the friendly relations and cooperation between the three countries and promoting regional peace and development.Governor Miyazaki Izumi congratulated the successful hosting of the forum and pointed out the profound changes in the current international situation. He noted that both China and South Korea are vital neighboring countries for Japan, and active cultural exchanges are crucial for maintaining strong ties. He affirmed that Wakayama Prefecture would leverage its sister-city partnerships to actively support cultural exchanges and cooperation among the three countries.Deputy Mayor Inuzuka Yasushi remarked that animation has the unique power to transcend language and national boundaries, directly touching the hearts of people. He expressed his belief that strengthening exchanges in animation and other fields between China, Japan, and South Korea would play an essential role in nurturing friendly relations among the younger generations of the three countries.(Experts from China, Japan, and South Korea deliver keynote speeches. From top to bottom: Associate Professor Duan Wenkai, Professor Okamoto Mitsuko, Professor Lee Tingmin)During the forum, experts from China, Japan, and South Korea engaged in in-depth discussions on the forum theme. Duan Wenkai, Associate Professor at the School of Animation and Digital Arts at Communication University of China; Mitsuko Okamoto, Professor at the Graduate School of Film and New Media at Tokyo University of the Arts; and Lee Ting-min, Professor of Animation at the Film School of Korea National University of Arts, delivered keynote speeches on topics such as AI applications in animation, talent development, and China-Japan-South Korea cooperation. The event also featured animation works from the three countries, showcasing their respective cultural characteristics. The Wakayama Children's Choir performed the forum's theme song, "We Are the Future", in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.(Wakayama Children's Choir performs the forum theme song "We Are the Future")

On October 24, 2025, Vice President Shen Xin of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with the Paraguayan parliamentary delegation led by Carlos Pereira, Member of the Chamber of Deputies from the Radical Liberal Party of Paraguay. The two sides engaged in detailed discussions on advancing exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in areas including people-to-people relations, subnational cooperation, culture, sports, youth, and media.Deng Lan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs of the CPAFFC; Zhao Yongguo, Director-General of the Department of Asian, African, and Latin American Affairs of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs; among others, were present at the meeting.

On October 22, 2025, Vice President Lu Xiangdong of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with the delegation of the United Arab Emirates' Second-Tier Leadership Study Program. Khaled Alshehhi, Deputy Ambassador of Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in China, was present at the meeting.Vice President Lu Xiangdong extended a warm welcome to the delegation to China and noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than 40 years ago,  under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-UAE relations have made significant strides. In 2018, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership, marking a new chapter in the development of bilateral relations. The purpose of hosting this study program is to build additional bridges of people-to-people friendship, allowing delegation members to experience China's modernization process firsthand through a variety of activities. This will further promote friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and the UAE. China is committed to working with all sectors of the UAE to implement the important consensus reached by the two state leaders, enhance mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples, and contribute to the continued development of the comprehensive strategic partnership.Deputy Ambassador Khaled Alshehhi remarked that China-UAE relations have transcended traditional political and economic cooperation, becoming a model for relations between China and Arab countries in the new era. He expressed the high regard from the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in China for the CPAFFC's role as a bridge and link, and its significant contributions to enhancing cultural exchanges. The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in China is eager to work closely with the CPAFFC to deepen friendly cooperation between the UAE and China for the benefit of the two peoples.The UAE Second-Tier Leadership Study Program is a joint initiative of the CPAFFC and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in China. This edition of the program will be held in Beijing and Fujian.Xu Yan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Asian and African Affairs of the CPAFFC, was present at the meeting.

On October 21, 2025, the 2025 Asia-Europe Large River Regional Dialogue was held in Shanghai. Chen Jing, President of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai People's Congress; Mei Bing, Party Secretary of East China Normal University; and Bhokin Bhalakula, President of the Thai-Chinese Culture and Economy Association and former Speaker of the Thai National Assembly; as well as representatives from friendly organizations, experts, scholars, chambers of commerce, institutions, and enterprises from Eurasian countries, totaling approximately 150 people, attended the event. Ji Yongjun, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), attended and addressed the opening ceremony.Deputy Secretary-General Ji Yongjun emphasized that China places significant importance on the protection and utilization of water resources as a crucial component of national development. He highlighted that the concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, serves as the fundamental guiding principle for water conservation efforts. Deputy Secretary-General Ji Yongjun outlined China's groundbreaking initiatives in water conservation, water environment governance, and ecological protection and restoration, all of which have resulted in remarkable achievements recognized globally. Large river basins, as complete natural and socio-economic systems, require a cross-border perspective and collaborative efforts for effective governance and development. Deepening exchanges and cooperation in the Asia-Europe large river basin is not only an essential response to global challenges but also a key pathway to unlocking regional growth potential, promoting shared prosperity, and building a closer Eurasian partnership.The dialogue, themed "Asia-Europe Large River Exchange and Cooperation," was co-hosted by the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and East China Normal University. The event focused on the civilizational exchanges and development cooperation within the Asia-Europe large river basin, with a view to exploring new opportunities for cooperation.