On September 28th, Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, together with his delegation and Pham Minh Chinh, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) , secretary of the CPV Central Committee and head of the CPV Central Committee Organization Commission, attended the opening ceremony of the Photo Exhibition on China’s reform and opening up and Vietnam’s reform and innovation drive. The Exhibition was sponsored by the CPAFFC and the Vietnam union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) at the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace in Hanoi. CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin and VUFO Executive Vice Chairman Don Tuan Phong accompanied Zhao Leji and Pham Minh Chinh at the Exhibition. This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up and 32th anniversary of Vietnam’s reform and innovation drive. The 100-picture Exhibition reflected the remarkable achievements made by China and Vietnam in national building as well as the common aspirations of China and Vietnam in advancing cooperation on mutual benefits and the development of China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. Zhao Leji met with Pham Minh Chinh before attending the opening ceremony.

At the Invitation of the Prospective and Innovation Foundation, Vice President Hu Sishe led a four-people CPAFFC delegation to France from September 19th to 22nd , to attend the Special Sino-French Forum held on the International Day of Peace (September 21st) at the UNESCO’s headquarter in Paris. Under the theme of “One Hundred Years After the First World War, What Lesson Can We Draw for Humanity?”, the Forum is jointly hosted by 11 organizations including CPAFFC, the Prospective and Innovation Foundation. Charles de Gaulle Foundation, the Association of Wu Jianmin’s Friends and the Charhar Institute. It is aimed to commemorate the spirit of sacrifice of the Chinese laborers who went to France during the First World War, remember history and advocate peace in this centenary year of the end of World War I. Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former French Prime Minister and President of the Prospective and Innovation Foundation, Mr. Qu Xing, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Joseph Zimet, Director of the French First World War Centenary Partnership Program, Mr. Hubert Védrine, former French Foreign Minister, Mr. Shen Yang, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to UNESCO, and many other Chinese as well as foreign guests attended the Forum. In his speech at the opening ceremony, Vice President Hu Sishe pointed out that it was of great significance on this special day of International Day of Peace to recall the memories of Chinese laborers in the First World War. “An important point to eliminate war is to clear the misunderstandings, prejudice and hatred among different cultures, races, beliefs and languages to strengthen people-to-people ties.” After the conference, Vice President Hu Sishe received an exclusive interview from CCTV-Fran?ais. In the evening of the same day, a Sino-French Peace Dinner was held in the name of CPAFFC. Guests including Mr. Qu Xing, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Jacques Godfrain, President of the Charles de Gaulle Foundation, and Mr. Zhao Bin, Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in France attended. CPAFFC delegation has actively communicated with both Chinese and foreign representatives, introduced the Association and its activities, and cordially invited the foreign guests to participate in our 2018 China International Friendship Cities Conference in November. During the visit, the delegation attended the unveiling ceremony of the statue of Chinese laborers at the Gare de Lyon railway station in Paris. Mr. Zhai Jun, the Chinese Ambassador to France, Mr. Jean Bernard Bros, Deputy Mayor of Paris and Special Representative of the Mayor of Paris, Mr. Buon Tan, President of France-China Friendship Group at the French National Assembly, Ms. Catherine Baratti-Elbaz, Mayor of the 12th Arrondissement of Paris, Mr. Li Xiaochao, Chinese sculptor, and over 200 overseas Chinese as well as local citizens witnessed this important moment. Besides, the delegation also paid a visit to UNESCO, Charles de Gaulle Foundation and the Permanent Delegation of China to UNESCO, and exchanged views on further strengthening contact and cooperation. Photographed by Li Fang, Wang Qi

On September 21, Vice President Lin Yi met H. E. Dr.Sai Mauk Kham, Former Vice President of Myanmar, who was on a visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA). Vice President Lin Yi firstly conveyed the greetings by President Li Xiaolin to Former Vice President Dr.Sai Mauk Kham and thanked his great support to the people-to-people friendship during the Presidency. She introduced the exchange programs co-hosted by CPAFFC and Myanmar-China Friendship Association(MCFA) and expressed the willingness to make concerted efforts with the Myanmar side to enhance the inter-connectivity between the two peoples in terms of culture, youth, education and charity fields. Dr.Sai Mauk Kham said that Myanmar and China enjoyed time-honored traditional friendship and the leaders of the older generations established deep and profound friendship, which need to be inherited and carried forward by the younger generations. Through high-level contacts, establishment of sister cities and people-to-people exchanges, Myanmmar and China have further developed bilateral ties and promoted the traditional “Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship between the two peoples to comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. He hoped that the two countries could pay greater attention to people's petition and continue to cooperate for more people-to-people exchange programs and let the bilateral friendship be deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.        

Vice President Xie Yuan attended Michigan-China Friendship Banquet hosted by the State Government of Michigan in Shanghai on September 21. On behalf of the CPAFFC, he awarded the honorary title of Friendship Ambassador to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder during the event. Vice President expressed his sincere gratitude and respect to Governor Snyder for his active efforts in promoting the development of China-U.S. relations, especially sub-national exchanges and cooperation. He said, since assuming office in 2011, Governor Snyder had been visiting China on an annual basis, setting a record among U.S. Governors, in terms of both times and frequency. It had exemplified the great resolve he had in developing ties with China and the confidence he had in China-U.S. relations. The honorary title of Friendship Ambassador was awarded to Governor Snyder as a recognition to his contributions to China-U.S. friendship. Governor Snyder thanked the CPAFFC for honoring him with the title of Friendship Ambassador. He said U.S.-China has its ups and downs, but we should focus on the long-term effects instead of short-term. The best way to promote our bilateral relations was to show the Federal our good will, friendship and all the benefits it has brought about to our people at the sub-national level. In the past 8 years, Michigan had been doing a great job in its economic recovery. The relationship with China was one of the most important factor in Michigan’s return to being great again. He also hoped to strengthen business, education, culture and tourism cooperation with Chinese localities, especially enhancing people-to-people connections so that both sides could continue to grow and prosper together.        

Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with the visiting Mr. Grégoire Junod, Mayor of Lausanne,  Switzerland on September 20, 2018. Grégoire Junod said, Lausanne is recognized as the Olympic Capital and also is one of the founding cities of the World union of Olympic Cities(WUOC). Beijing, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao and Nanjing, these Chinese cities, are all the members of WUOC. He hoped that in future, Lausanne could develop more exchanges and cooperation with Chinese cities in the fields of sustainable urban development being promoted by Olympics and sports. Vice President Song Jingwu made an introduction about the results achieved by CPAFFC in the fields of people-to-people diplomacy, public diplomacy and local diplomacy, and encouraged Lausanne to actively take part in the local pragmatic cooperation between China and Switzerland. Mme. Zhang Ruoning, Deputy Director General of Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.

On September 18, the Uganda China Friendship Association youth delegation, which consists of 23 members, visited the CPAFFC. Mr. Li Hai, Deputy Director General of the Department of Asian and African Affairs, met with the delegation. Mr. Li said that youth is the future and hope of the country. For China and Uganda, the youth are the inheritors and promoters of the traditional friendship between the two countries. We hope the young friends from Uganda will feel China more intuitively and understand China more deeply through this visit. We also look forward that the youth can make more contributions to China-Uganda friendship in the future. Mr. Li also exchanged views with the head of the Uganda China Friendship Association on cooperation in vocational education and other areas.       Photographed by Huang Xiaowei

Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Mr. haider Alrubaie, President of the newly-established Iraq-China Friendship Association (ICFA), and his delegation on September 14. Vice President Lin Yi spoke highly of the establishment of the friendship association with China launched by Haider Alrubaie. She also made an introduction about the situation of CPAFFC and CAFA (the Chinese-Arab Friendship Association), and said, CPAFFC is willing to work together with ICFA to commonly promote the development of the relationship of friendly cooperation of the two peoples. Mr. haider Alrubaie thanked Vice President Lin Yi for taking her time to meet them. He said, China and Iraq have long history and splendid civilization. The peoples of the two countries enjoy profound friendship. The members of ICFA include elites from all walks of life in Iraq. ICFA would like to work together with Chinese side to make contribution to promoting the exchanges between China and Iraq in the fields of culture, economy and trade.  Mr. Li Hai, Deputy Director General of Department of Asian and African Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.

The 54th Anniversary of Independence Day of the Republic of Malta hosted by the Embassy of Malta in China was held in Beijing on September 14. Hon. Mr. Carmelo Abela, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion of Malta, H. E. Mr. John Aquilina, the Malta’s Ambassador to China, Mr. Li Xikui, the Secretary General of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Mr. Liu Weimin, the Deputy Director General of the Department of European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China attended the event. Minister Carmelo Abela said in his speech that the bilateral friendly relations have deepened with the continuous efforts of both sides and he hoped the pragmatic cooperation with China in various fields could be strengthened in the future. Minister Carmelo Abela, Ambassador Mr. John Aquilina, Secretary General Li Xikui and Deputy Director General Liu Weimin joined the cake cutting ceremony to celebrate the event.       Photographed by Xu Jiunan

Mr. Li Xikui, Secretary General of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with Sino-Fran?aise d'Entreaide et d'Amitié (SFEA) delegation on September 14th, 2018. Secretary General Li Xikui said, CPAFFC established relationship of friendly cooperation with nearly 500 nongovernment organizations and institutions in 157 countries over the past 60 years since it was founded. It also played a leading role in the three aspects of the people-to-people diplomacy, public diplomacy and city-to-city diplomacy. SFEA not only made active efforts on promoting Sino-French friendship, but also made contributions to the charity. Secretary General Li hoped that CPAFFC and SFEA should keep contacts frequently and commonly promote the exchanges and cooperation of the two countries as well as the friendship of the two peoples. Mr. Wu Shimin, President of SFEA said, since its establishment 20 years ago, SFEA has been adhering to the purpose of "unity, friendship and mutual assistance". It is keen on charity and public welfare, supports the construction and development of France, safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese, and promotes economic and cultural exchanges between China and France. Therefore, SFEA has now developed to be one of the important associations for overseas Chinese in France. The SFEA not only set up poverty-alleviation education foundation to donate and build 6 schools in China, but also took the lead in establishing youth committee among overseas Chinese in France. He hoped that in the future, SFEA could jointly develop more fields to cooperate with CPAFFC.        

On Sept. 13, Mme. Lin Yi, CPAFFC Vice President, met with Mme. Michele Sullivan, Caterpillar Foundation President. Mme. Sullivan expressed her gratitude on the support provided by CPAFFC for the registration and activities of Caterpillar Foundation Beijing Office, and her willingness to further adjust and improve its operation model according to Chinese laws and regulations. Mme. Lin Yi briefed the meeting on the work of CPAFFC and China’s policies on social organizations. She expressed CPAFFC’s wish to strengthen exchanges and cooperations with Caterpillar Foundation and hope Caterpillar Foundation make more contributions to the friendship and welfare of the two peoples.