On June 20, 2025, the main events of the 2025 Yunnan International Friendship Cities Week were held in Kunming. Yunnan Provincial Governor Wang Yubo attended the event and delivered remarks, and Vice Governor Xu Hao hosted the event. Representatives from subnational governments, friendly organizations, and enterprises from 20 countries participated in the event. Vice President Lu Xiangdong attended the event and delivered remarks.Vice President Lu emphasized that friendly provinces, states, and cities serve as essential channels for strengthening international friendship and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation. In recent years, Yunnan Province has continually expanded its "international friendship city network", with exchanges and cooperation between international friendship cities deepening in various fields, including culture, economy and trade, education, science and technology, tourism, health, youth, and people's livelihoods.Vice President Lu further stated that the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), responsible for guiding, coordinating, managing, and supporting the establishment and development of friendship city relations between China and countries worldwide, is committed to working with all sectors from both China and foreign countries to advance international friendship city exchanges, deepen people-to-people ties, foster the development of national relations, and achieve more practical results in subnational cooperation, thus contributing to the shared goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind.Guided by the CPAFFC, the 2025 Yunnan International Friendship Cities Week was organized by the Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and. The event, themed "Enhancing Friendship for Stronger Partnership", featured friendship cities promotion meetings, signing ceremonies and field visits, among various activities.

On June 20, 2025, Vice President Jiang Jiang met with the delegation of mainstream media journalists from Cyprus at the CPAFFC headquarters. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on strengthening people-to-people friendship between China and Cyprus and enhancing subnational cooperation.Marios Stavrou, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Cyprus in China and Chen Lei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of European and Asian Affairs of the CPAFFC, were present at the meeting.

On June 17, 2025, Vice President Yuan Mindao met with AI Busyra Basnur, the President of the Indonesia-China Friendship Association, and his delegation at the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).Vice President Yuan extended a warm welcome to AI Busyra Basnur's visit to China and commended the positive development of China-Indonesia relations. President Yuan said that, the CPAFFC stands ready to collaborate with the Indonesia-China Friendship Association to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of two countries, and build more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and youth friendship, thus elevating China-Indonesia relations to new heights and contributing to the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future withregional and global influence.AI Busyra Basnur expressed high appreciation for the significant contributions made by the CPAFFC in advancing China-Indonesia friendship and hoped that both organizations work together to carry out activities aimed at promoting mutual understanding, in a way to further strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.Director-General Zhu Dan and Deputy Director-General Zhang Peng of the Department of East Asian Affairs of the CPAFFC were present at the meeting.

In honor of Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis' internationalist spirit and noble character, and to strengthen the mutual friendship, understanding, and trust between the peoples of China and India, the China India Joint Medical Mission VII event, organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), was successfully held from June 8 to 15, 2025, in Guizhou and Beijing.This year's mission brought together 11 Indian doctors, sent by the India China Friendship Association (ICFA), and 11 Chinese doctors from the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University. The joint medical mission conducted free medical consultations, provided donated medications, and held case discussions in Shibing County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture. The Indian delegation also visited the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Longmaster Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (Guizhou), as well as Beijing Tongren Hospital and Beijing Donghuashi Community Health Service Center for exchange programs.On June 14, 2025, Vice President Yuan Mindao met with the Indian delegation in Beijing. Vice President Yuan expressed deep condolences and sympathy for the tragic plane crash involving an Indian aircraft. He reaffirmed that the CPAFFC, in cooperation with the India China Friendship Association, is committed to continue implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of two countries and holding various friendly exchange projects including the China India Joint Medical Mission event, to promote the sound and stable development of China-India relations. Following the meeting, Vice President Yuan Mindao and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, head of the Indian delegation and Secretary-General of the India China Friendship Association, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the CPAFFC and the ICFA, formalizing their cooperation on the China India Joint Medical Mission event.

On June 13, 2025, the Second Liaoning International Friendship Cities Conference opened in Shenyang under the theme "Mountains to Seas, Friendship Thrives." Wang Xinwei, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of Liaoning Province and Governor of Liaoning Province, other provincial leaders, representatives from relevant national ministries and provincial departments, municipal officials, foreign diplomats including ambassadors to China and consuls general stationed in Shenyang, and over 400 Chinese and foreign distinguished guests from governments, business associations, and cultural and tourism enterprises across more than 40 countries, attended the event. Vice President Lu Xiangdong of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) attended and delivered remarks at the opening ceremony.In his remarks, Vice President Lu emphasized that international friendship cities serve as a key channel for subnational exchanges, bearing the important mission of fostering people's friendship, advancing practical cooperation, and promoting mutual learning among civilizations. In recent years, Liaoning has actively pursued its vision of establishing an opening-up cooperation hub in Northeast Asia, making steady progress in building a high-quality network of international friendship cities. As a result, the "circle of friends" of Liaoning has expanded significantly, forming a multi-tiered, wide-ranging framework for international friendly cooperation at the subnational level and contributing to friendly exchanges and cooperation between nations.Vice President Lu Xiangdong noted that the CPAFFC, as China's national people's organization dedicated to people-to-people diplomacy, remains committed to its founding mission of " enhancing people's friendship, promoting international cooperation, safeguarding world peace, and facilitating common development." Long been engaged in promote friendly exchanges between China and other countries, the CPAFFC will continue working with Liaoning to maximize the platform role of friendship cities, innovate cooperation models, broaden areas of collaboration, and strive to deliver more tangible benefits from subnational cooperation, in a way to better serve local economic and social development, grow China's friendly relations with other countries, and contribute to deepening people's friendship, advancing mutually beneficial cooperation, promoting peace and development in the region and beyond, and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

On June 13, 2025, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in China jointly hosted a reception in Beijing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Botswana. Hao Mingjin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Dr. Phenyo Butale, Minister of International Relations of Botswana, attended and delivered remarks at the event. Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the CPAFFC; Liu Yuxi, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs; Batlang Serema, Ambassador of Botswana to China; as well as around 100 representatives from the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other Chinese and Botswanan sectors, and African ambassadors and diplomats in China, were present at the event.In his remarks, Vice Chairman Hao Mingjin noted that over the past five decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Botswana, the two countries have remained committed to solidarity and mutual trust, reciprocal cooperation, and mutual learning. These principles have ensured that bilateral ties enjoy sustained and sound growth. In the new era with emerging opportunities and evolving global dynamics, both sides should work together to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of two states, align development strategies more effectivlely, and uphold the common interests of the Global South. As China and Botswana stand at a new starting point of bilateral ties, China is committed to working with Botswana to enrich the comprehensive strategic partnership and jointly build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.Minister Dr. Phenyo Butale remarked that the foundations of friendship and solidarity between Botswana and China were laid even before the formal establishment of diplomatic ties. Since then, bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful results across various fields, culminating in the elevation of the relationship to a strategic partnership. Botswana appreciates China for its longstanding and valuable support in infrastructure, healthcare, and education and training. Botswana stands ready to advance its own modernization, deepen practical cooperation and jointly address global challenges with China.The reception featured traditional dance performances by the Jinfan Dance Troupe from Wulutong Primary School and Botswanan artists. The performances highlighted the traditional dance of two countries and created a warm and cordial atmosphere.

On June 11, 2025, the China-Europe International Conference on Vocational Education and High-Skilled Talent Development was held in Qingdao. The forum was co-hosted by the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the China-EU Association under the theme "Empowering China-Europe Vocational Education and High-Skilled Talent Development in the Era of Digital Intelligence." Liu Qibao, Vice Chairman of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC and President of the China-EU Association; and Zapatero, former Prime Minister of Spain, attended and delivered remarks at the opening ceremony.In his remarks, Liu Qibao stressed the importance of seizing the opportunity presented by the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the EU to further deepen bilateral cooperation in vocational education. The two sides should enhance mutual learning and explore establishing a regular exchange mechanism to support the high-quality development of vocational institutions in both China and the EU; strengthen the integration of industry and education to cultivate more skilled talents for China-EU economic cooperation; pay attention to technological empowerment in meeting the challenges and opportunities posed by informatization, digitalization, and intelligentization and accelerate the transformation of vocational education by leveraging the momentum of artificial intelligence; bolster international collaboration to support the development of vocational education and high-skilled talents in China and other countries, contributing "China-EU wisdom" and "China-EU solutions" to the global discourse on vocational training.In his remarks, Zapatero noted that economic and trade relations are essential to maintaining sound relations among countries and regions. However, over the medium and long term, education cooperation plays an equally crucial role in deepening and sustaining those relationships. Educational exchanges help build people-to-people connections and foster mutual understanding. He also pointed out that， the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU has provided a strong framework for advancing bilateral cooperation in education.Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on a range of topics including During the forum, participants exchanged views on topics including "Opportunities and Challenges for Applied Technology Talent Education in the Era of Digital Intelligence," "Best Experiences of Industry Participation in Vocational Education," and "Joint Development of International Interdisciplinary Talents for Intelligent Manufacturing." There was broad consensus that deeper cooperation in vocational education is essential to driving forward China-EU relations in the era of artificial intelligence.

From June 8 to 12, 2025, Vice President Jiang Jiang of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) led a delegation to Aklan Province, the Philippines, to attend and delivered remarks at the Session of the 2025 UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau. The session brought together more than 150 representatives from member cities across the Asia-Pacific region.In his remarks, Vice President Jiang emphasized that the CPAFFC, as a national people's organization committed to people-to-people diplomacy, is dedicated to enhance people's friendship, promote international cooperation, safeguard world peace, and facilitate common development. Last year, the CPAFFC grandly celebrated its 70th anniversary. President Xi Jinping met with foreign guests attending the event, spoke highly of the important role of people's friendship in fostering world peace and development, and reaffirmed the Chinese government's unwavering support for the CPAFFC to leverage its unique role to strengthen ties between the Chinese people and people around the world and promote practical international cooperation. He also encouraged the CPAFFC to build more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and youth friendship, which has provided strategic direction for future endeavors of the CPAFFC.Vice President Jiang commended UCLG ASPAC for its important role in advancing city cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region. As a UCLG member, the CPAFFC has been actively fulfilling its responsibilities by organizing a diverse array of programs over the past year. These efforts have significantly enhanced international friendship and youth exchanges, and deepened practical cooperation among local governments. Looking ahead, the CPAFFC stands ready to work with all parties to further strengthen communication and coordination, facilitate common development, and contribute the strength of subnational actors to building a community with a shared future for mankind.On the sidelines of the session, Vice President Jiang held separate meetings with UCLG ASPAC President Dakila Carlo Cua, UCLG ASPAC Secretary-General Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, and representatives from Nepal, the Republic of Korea, and other countries. The discussions focused on enhancing mutual ties, expanding cooperation, and jointly advancing prosperity and development throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

On June 10, 2025, Secretary-General Sun Xueqing of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with a delegation from the Union of Districts and Autonomous Regions of Côte d'Ivoire at the CPAFFC.Secretary-General Sun Xueqing stressed that national cooperation should rely on local regions, be implemented in local regions and benefit local regions. The CPAFFC is committed to working closely with the Côte d'Ivoire side to strengthen subnational exchanges and friendship city partnerships, build more platforms for people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and youth friendship. Secretary-General Sun welcomed Côte d'Ivoire's active participation in CPAFFC-led institutional events.Koné, Member of the Oversight Committee of the Union of Districts and Autonomous Regions of Côte d'Ivoire and President of the Regional Council of Kabadougou, spoke highly of China's significant achievements in economic and social development. Côte d'Ivoire is interested in drawing on China's development experience and willing to, in collaboration with the CPAFFC, leverage complementary strengths and deliver shared outcomes based on subnational exchanges.Following the meeting, Secretary-General Sun Xueqing and President Koné signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote people-to-people friendship and subnational cooperation between China and Côte d'Ivoire.

On June 9, 2025, the Launching Ceremony for the China India Joint Medical Mission VII was held in Guiyang, Guizhou Province. The event was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the China India Friendship Association, and organized by the Guizhou Provincial People's Association for Friendship With Foreign Countries and the Guizhou Provincial Health Commission. Sang Weiliang, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of the Guizhou Province, attended the launching ceremony. Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the CPAFFC; Tao Pingsheng, Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Guizhou Province and Executive Vice President of the Guizhou Provincial People's Association for Friendship With Foreign Countries; YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Secretary-General of the India China Friendship Association, and medical representatives from both countries, delivered remarks. Sumangala Borkar, niece of Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis and a representative of the Kotnis family, delivered a video message. Approximately 50 participants, including representatives from Guizhou's healthcare and media sectors, as well as Indian medical students studying in Guizhou, attended the launching ceremony.Vice President Yuan Mindao noted that, the relaunch of the China India Joint Medical Mission VII project following the COVID-19 pandemic carries particular significance, as it coincides with the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and India. Facing a fluid and turbulent world, he called on both sides to act in line with the important consensus reached by the leaders of two countries, remain true to the original aspirations of establishing diplomatic relations, and jointly work toward the future. It is important that we strengthen and expand the China India Joint Medical Mission Project and carry forward the internationalist spirit of Dwarkanath Kotnis and the Indian Medical Mission to China, thereby injecting fresh momentum into China-India cultural exchanges and contributing positive energy to the development of bilateral relations.Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy reviewed the India China Friendship Association's long-standing participation in the China India Joint Medical Mission Project and highly commended the CPAFFC's efforts to revive the program post-pandemic. He reaffirmed the India China Friendship Association's commitment to promoting friendship with China, upholding the spirit of internationalism, and contributing to regional and global peace and development.In her heartfelt video address, Sumangala Borkar recalled the contributions of Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis and the Indian Medical Mission during China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression, and expressed her family's deep appreciation for the enduring respect and remembrance shown by the Chinese government and its people. She expressed hope that Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis' internationalist spirit continue to inspire lasting friendship between the peoples of China and India for generations to come.Medical representatives from both countries pledged to uphold Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis' internationalist spirit and carry out the noble mission of the China India Joint Medical Mission with dedication and responsibility, together opening a new chapter in China-India people-to-people friendship.(Top: Vice Chairman Sang Weiliang and Vice President Yuan Mindao present the flag to the China India Joint Medical Mission; Bottom: Group photo of key attendees at the launching ceremony)Initiated in 2008 by the CPAFFC and the China India Friendship Association, the China India Joint Medical Mission Project aims to carry forward the internationalist spirit of the Indian Medical Mission to China, uphold the noble character of Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis, and enhance mutual understanding and trust between the two peoples. The China India Joint Medical Mission VII will travel to Shibing County, Qiandongnan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, where it will provide free medical consultations, donate medicines, and engage in exchanges with local hospitals, universities, and businesses.