At the invitation of CPAFFC, Dr. Khammany Inthirath, President of Lao-Chinese Friendship Association and Minister of Energy and Resources headed a delegation visited Beijing and Guangdong from July 15 to19. During the visit in Beijing, Mme. Gu Xiulian, President of China-ASEAN Association and Mr. Wu Tao, President of Chinese-Lao Friendship Association met with the delegation. Mr. Wu Tao and Dr. Khammany Inthirath also signed the MOU for the next five years' cooperation between the two associations. During the visit in Guangdong, Mr. Ouyang Weimin, Vice Governor of Guangdong Province met the delegation. The visit further enhanced the cooperation of energy, resources and new technology under the framework of "the Belt and Road" by visiting Norinco International, CGGC, Huizhou Water Storage Power Station of China Southern Power Grid, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd (GAC Group) and Jiaduxintai Technology Co., Ltd.          

On 18th July, CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi met with Ambassador of Morocco to China Aziz Mekouar. Lin Yi congratulated the Ambassador on his assumption of the new post and welcome him to the CPAFFC. She briefly introduced the functions and programs of the CPAFFC and the Chinese-Arab Friendship Association (CAFA), especially the China-Morocco Friendship Forum and the China-Arab Cities Forum. She also exchanged views with Ambassador Mekouar on specific issues regarding co-organizing the 2nd China-Arab Cities Forum later this year. Ambassador Mekouar thanked Lin Yi for sparing the time to meet him, and expressed his willingness to cooperate closely with the CPAFFC and the CAFA to promote the friendship between China and Morocco. Li Hai, Deputy Director General of Asian and African Affairs, was also present at the meeting.       Photographed by Ai Lin

 On July 18th, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the celebration reception co-hosted by the CPAFFC and the Royal Embassy of Cambodia to China for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia  . Wang Yi and the Cambodian ambassador, Mme. Khek M Caimealy, both spoke at the reception. Up to 300 people attended the event, including President EK Sam OL of Cambodia-China Friendship Association, President Li Xiaolin and Vice President Lin Yi of CPAFFC, friendly personnels of all trades from both nations, and foreign diplomatic envoys to China. Li Xiaolin hosted the reception. Wang Yi said that China and Cambodia go through thick and thin together as great neighbors, friends, partners, and brothers. Constructed by the older generation of leaders, the two nations’ legacy of traditional friendship grows stronger with time. In the past 60 years, both sides adhered to leadership directions, deepened pragmatic cooperation, increased coordination on regional and international issues, and promoted the further development of China and Cambodia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation . Wang Yi pointed out that, at the new starting point of history, China is willing to advance strategic coordination, quicken the construction of major projects and the implementation of humanitarian aid, and build a strategically important community of shared future with Cambodia. Wang Yi stressed that the two countries’ relationship can’t progress without the effort of both countries’ people-to-people friendly personages. Thus he hoped for greater effort from both nations’ friendship associations to build a firmer foundation of public opinion for bilateral relations. Mme. Khek M Caimealy noted that the last 60 years have witnessed the unceasing growth of China and Cambodia’s friendship. The two nations have full-heartedly supported and cooperated with one another in each’s process of defending state sovereignty and territorial integrity. In recent years, various stratum of the two nations frequently exchanged visits; collaborations in skills including agriculture, energy, telecommunication, transportation, infrastructure, information and communication rapidly developed; exchanges of culture and tourism remained vibrant; and the two’s bilateral strategic partnership continued to proceed forward. Mme. Caimealy voiced that Cambodia thanks China’s contribution in protecting regional and global peace, stability, and safety. Cambodia also strongly supports initiatives proposed by China including “One Belt One Road”, Silk Road Fund, and AIIB. Furthermore, Cambodia wishes to continue the long standing cooperative and friendly neighboring ties, and deepen the two nations’ bilateral strategic partnership.  At the reception, the Cambodian Royal Ballet Troupe and Chinese artists shared the stage in delivering wonderful performances.       Photographed by Ren Xin    

On July 16th, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Prof. Ursula M?nnel, President of Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) of Germany. Mr. Song said that, HSF is one of the most important political foundations in Germany that was among the earliest to carry out cooperation in China, and CPAFFC was its first Chinese partner. Since 1979, the two parties have cooperated practically in areas such as PM exchanges, rural development and educational training, witnessing China’s achievements of 40 years’ reform and opening-up. Currently, with the China-Europe relations facing new challenges and opportunities, CPAFFC is committed to closer cooperation with HSF. Prof. M?nnel spoke highly of the 40 years’ cooperation with CPAFFC. She said that Germany and China should strengthen cooperation and make further contributions to protect Europe-China relations, liberalization of world trade and multilateral world governance. HSF is ready for further cooperation with CPAFFC, and extends its invitations to CPAFFC and Chinese local governments to visit the headquarter of HSF in Germany. Mr. Shen Xin, Director General of European and Asian Department of CPAFFC, and Mr. Lyu Hongwei, Deputy Director General of European and Asian Department of CPAFFC, were present during the meeting.        

On July 13, Vice President Lin Yi met with José Correia, President of Cabo Verde- China Friendship Association in Beijing, with the presence of Deputy Director General Li Hai of the Asian and African Affairs Department of CPAFFC, and Counselor Francisco Mendes of the Cabo Verdian Embassy in China. Lin extended her warm welcome to José and affirmed the years of good cooperation with Cabo Verde-China Friendship Association. She stressed that CPAFFC was willing to work with Cabo Verde to make new contributions to the consolidation and development of the traditional friendship between China and Cabo Verde. José expressed the affirmative will of Cabo Verde-China Friendship Association on its continuous effort in enhancing the people-to-people exchange between the two countries with the concerning Chinese institutions and proposed Lin to pay a visit to Cabo Verde. They also exchanged views on some specific cooperation projects in the fields of youth, culture and education.       Photographed by Yang Huiwen

The third World Philanthropy Forum (WPF) will be held on September 5th-7th in the city of Shanghai, China. This Forum is organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Tsinghua University, the University of Hong Kong, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and co-hosted by the China Welfare Institute. Forum sponsors include the Institute for Philanthropy of Tsinghua University, Tsinghua University's Social Work Education Center, and China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development. Under the theme of “building a sustainable Community of Shared Future for Mankind,” the third WPF will focus on content concerning poverty eradication, health and well-being, quality education, sustainable cities and communities, and the partnership to promote the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Meanwhile, discussions at the Forum will revolve around the following issues: sustainable development concept & education contribution, global partnerships for sustainable development, world city 2050, vocational education and youth development, arts & humanities and philanthropy, global and regional poverty eradication and governance under the new era, women and children protection and Soong Ching Ling’s thought, and resource partners for sustainable development, among others. The Fourth Session of the 12th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China passed the Charity Law of the People’s Republic of China in 2016, and designated September 5th (the International Day of Charity, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly) as “Chinese Charity Day”. In the same year, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Tsinghua University initiated and invited the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation to co-organize the first WPF. Based in China and open to the world, the Forum is committed to promoting philanthropic practices, social services, academic exchanges, policy advocacy, personnel training, experience sharing as well as international cooperation around the world. It focuses on the hot issues and difficulties in human progress, respects for differences, equal participation and consensus gathering, actively implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and promoting the building of a Community of Shared Future for Mankind. The two UN Secretary-Generals successively sent letters to celebrate the holding of the Forum. It is reported that this Forum will also hold a series of activities to announce achievements, including the signing ceremony for “The Belt& Road” personnel training plan, the formal establishment of the academic committee, and the launch of the WPF Philanthropy Index Research. The Forum will also announce the venue and theme for the 2019 Forum. In addition, the Forum will also hold the “Annual Meeting of Collaboration Network For Philanthropy and Social Services” and organize visits to Shanghai-based charity organizations.      

On July 10th , Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with H.E. Darko Pajovic, New Montenegrin Ambassador to China. Vice President Song Jingwu welcomed Ambassador Darko for taking his new post in China and expressed the wishes to cooperate widely with the Embassy of Montenegro in China in multiple fields, making greater contributions for the continuous development of bilateral relations. Ambassador Darko spoke highly of CPAFFC’s hard works to promoting the development of the friendly relations between the two countries, hoped to work together closely with CPAFFC to enrich further the bilateral friendship. The Vice Director of The Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, Ms. Zhang Ruoning, was present at the meeting.       Photographed by Yang Yingzi 

On July 4, Madame Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC, met with Mr. Edmundo Galiza Matos, President of the Mozambique-China Friendship, Solidarity and Cooperation League of the Parliament of Mozambique in Beijing. Mr. Matos said that the Mozambique-China Friendship Association has been officially registered and established in Mozambique recently, with he himself serving as the President. The Association, committed to spreading Chinese culture and learning from China’s experience of economic development, is willing to work closely with the CPAFFC to enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples. Vice President Lin extended her warm welcome to Mr. Matos and her congratulations to the establishment of the Mozambique-China Friendship Association. She said that China and Mozambique are all-weather friends and have broad prospects for bilateral relations. CPAFFC is willing to work with the Mozambican side to continuously deepen the friendship between the two peoples by carrying out more pragmatic cooperation in the fields of youth, charity and local governments.           Photographed by Yang Huiwen    

Mr. Li Xikui, Secretary General of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and Director of China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development (CFFPD), met in Beijing with Mr. Benjamin C.Y. FOK, Chairman of the board of Henry Fok Ying Tung Group Company Limited, and his delegation on July, 3rd. Secretary General Li Xikui extended his welcome to the delegation and made an introduction about the main functions and the tasks of the CPAFFC and CFFPD. Secretary General Li also invited Mr. Benjamin C.Y. FOK to attend Third World Philanthropy Forum to be held in Shanghai in September this year. Secretary General Li also said, two sides should keep close contact and establish cooperative relationship, so as to work together to develop the cooperation and exchanges in the field of philanthropy.  Mr. Benjamin C.Y. FOK hoped that two sides should strengthen the cooperation in the fields of philanthropy, ecology and environmental protection.           Photographed by Zhang Chuyan    

Vice President Xie Yuan met with a delegation led by Tim Quigley, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sister Cities International on July 2nd. Both parties carried out conversations on the topics of the Belt &Road Initiative and commemorating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S. next year, agreeing to strengthen communication in a bid to further promote China-U.S. subnational exchanges and cooperation.            Photographed by Chen Ke