President Li Xiaolin visited the U.S. from June 21 to 25. During her visit, President Li attended the 25th Carter Center Weekend in Olympic Valley, California, and had a meeting with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Mrs. Carter. She also met with California Governor Jerry Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown in Sacramento, and Speaker Anthony Rendon of the California State Assembly and California State Representative Al Muratsuchi in Los Angeles. They all stressed the importance of developing relations with China, hoping to further sub-national exchanges and win-win cooperation between the two countries.  

President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC met with California Governor Jerry Brown on June 6. Governor Xu Qin of Hebei Province, Secretary General Zhu Haowen of Hebei Provincial Government, Chairman Robert Weisenmiller of California Energy Commission and Chairwoman Mary Nichols of California Air Resources Commission also attended the meeting. President Li Xiaolin extended her welcome to Governor Brown. She said, as an old friend of the Chinese people, Governor Brown made positive contributions to China-U.S. subnational exchanges and cooperation. She also hoped Governor Brown exerts his influence in the United States to enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples and further promote healthy and steady development of China-U.S. relations. Governor Xu Qin said, California is the largest state in the U.S., and an economic powerhouse. There is huge potential for cooperation between Hebei and California. Hebei wishes to strengthen its cooperation with California in high-tech industry, clean energy, low-carbon development and environmental protection, climate governance, education, tourism and culture, bringing about benefits to people of both sides. Governor Brown said, the U.S. and China has more consensus than differences. Although the two countries have different culture, history and political institutions, they coexist on the same planet and can maintain cooperation in areas such as trade and economics and response to climate change. The relationship between the U.S. and China, and between California and Chinese provinces are now operating on the right track, which, with concerted efforts of both sides, will continue to grow. Governor Jerry Brown was invited by the CPAFFC to visit China from June 3 to 8. It is his second trip to China as California Governor.

At the invitation of Greece China Friendship Association, President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC led a delegation to visit Greece from May 24th to 26th. During the stay in Greece, President Li met with the President of Greece China Friendship Association Potaminos Andreas, Piraeus Mayor Yiannis Moralis, Santorini mayor Nikos Zorzos, and Mr. Pitstorlas the Vice Director of Ministry of Economic Affairs. The Greek side warmly welcomed the delegation, and thanked its efforts to promote the friendship between Greece and China. They also expressed the strong desire to cooperate pragmatically with the Chinese side in local government exchanges, bilateral trade and culture fields. Moreover, President Li introduced the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing several days ago. She pointed out that this Forum is not only to show the achievement of One Belt and One Road initiative but also to consolidate the further international consensus, enhance the international influence, clarify the direction of cooperation and implement the follow-up action. She also claimed that CPAFFC has cooperated with many worldwide friendly organization co-sponsored two projects called "Perception of China" and "Listen to China" , which welcomed the Greek friends to actively participate.

On May 26th, President Li Xiaolin visited Malta and met with Madame Preca, President of Malta. President Li briefly introduced the functions of CPAFFC in promoting people-to-people exchange and local government cooperation. This year marked 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Malta, CPAFFC would like to take this opportunity to further expand people-to-people exchange between the two countries. Meanwhile, President Li introduced the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. President Preca highly valued the development of Malta-China relations, and expected to see more strengthened cooperation in culture, tourism and education on people-to-people level. President Li visited Malta on the invitation of Malta China Friendship Society. Ambassador Jiang Jiang from China to Malta and Chairman of MCFS Mr. Calleja attended the meeting.

On May 26th, President Li Xiaolin met with Mr. Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta. President Li briefly introduced the functions of CPAFFC in people-to-people exchange, friendly cities and local government cooperation. On the occasion of 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Malta, both agreed to jointly promote people-to-people exchange between the two countries. President Li introduced the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The forum was held on May 14 in Beijing, and it was the highest standard international conference held in China since the initiative came up in 2013. International society including Malta responded to the initiative with strong support. The forum aims to strengthen international cooperation for mutual benefits, and therefore thematic sessions focus on policy, infrastructure, financial, trade and people-to-people connectivity. CPAFFC gets involved in the thematic session on people-to-people connectivity. CPAFFC would follow President Xi Jinping’s words to build a road for peace, a road of prosperity, a road of opening up, a road of innovation and a road connecting different civilizations. It would be our ultimate goal to strive for people-to-people connectivity, for friendship and understanding between Chinese people and people from the rest of the world. Muscat said that Malta-China relation remained as a priority of his foreign policy in his administration, he would like to further explore opportunities for cooperation in culture, tourism and education, and people-to-people exchange. President Li visited Malta on the invitation of Malta China Friendship Society. Ambassador Jiang Jiang from China to Malta and Chairman of MCFS Mr. Calleja attended the meeting.

President Li Xiaolin met with Neil Bush, the third son of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush, third sibling of former U.S. President George W. Bush and chairman of Points of Light on May 16th. The two sides held discussion on topics such as how to advance China-U.S. people-to-people friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.

On May 15, President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC met with leaders of friendship associations invited by CPAFFC to attend Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The guests are: Mr.Gianfranco Terenzi, Former Captain Regent of San Marino; Mr.Dmitry Mezentsev, President of Russia-China Friendship Association, Former General Secretary of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Member of Federation Council of Russia; Mr.Narson Rafidmanana, Minister of State for Presidential Projects, Land Management and Equipment of Madagascar; Mr. William Marlin,Prime Minister of St Maarten; Mr.Adnan Samarah, Chairman of Palestinian-Chinese Friendship Society, Advisor to President; Mr. Sayed Makhdoom Raheen, Chairman of Afghanistan-China Friendship Association; Mr.Chkhartishvili, President of Georgian-Chinese Friendship Association; Dr.Berndia, Secretary General of United Cities and Local Government, Asia-Pacific; Mr.Edmundo Galiza Matos, Chairman of Mozambique-China Friendship League of the Assembly of the Republic Mozambique; Mr.Lee Shiyung, President of The Korea Foundation; Mr. Thomas Wagner, President of Swiss-Chinese Association, Former Mayor of Zurich; Mr. Jesus Osuna, President of Spain China Friendship Association. Vice President Lin Yi and Song Jingwu of CPAFFC attended the meeting. President Li said that it was a great honor to invite som many representatives from abroad to attend Belt and Road Forum, and expressed sincere gratitude to their close attention and support of Belt and Road construction. She hoped that a joint effort can further promote the friendship and practical exchange between China and the rest of the world. The foreign guests all warmly congratulated on the success of the forum, and remarked highly on the important speech on President Xi Jinping’s speech. They wished to work together with CPAFFC for more cooperation, and got involved with Belt and Road Initiative to bring benefits to people of all countries.

On 15th May, President Li Xiaolin of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC) met with Special Representative of the Danish Prime Minister, Danish Minister for Gender Equality and Nordic Cooperation Karen Ellemann who visited China to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and the accompanying Danish Ambassador to China, Mr A. Carsten Damsgaad. President Li Xiaolin pointed out that Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted in his keynote speech at the Opening Ceremony of the BRF that we should build the Belt and Road into a road for peace, road of prosperity, road of opening up, road of innovation, and road connecting different civilizations. As 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of China-Denmark Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, CPAFFC would like to take this opportunity to work with the Danish side and promote the China-Denmark Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to a new height. Minister Karen Ellemann said that the Inaugural China-Denmark Regions and Cities Forum co-hosted by the CPAFFC and the Royal Danish Embassy in Beijing has achieved great success. The Danish side would like to deepen the two countries people-to-people exchanges and local government cooperation with CPAFFC under the framework of China-Denmark Joint Work Program (2017-2020). CPAFFC’s Vice President Song Jingwu, Deputy Director General of the European and Asian Department, Mr Lv Hongwei attended the meeting.

On 15th May, President Li Xiaolin of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC) met with Mr William V. Marlin, Prime Minister of Saint Martin who visited China to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF). President Li Xiaolin briefly introduced CPAFFC’s functions and expressed willingness to promote mutual understanding among Chinese people and people from all countries including Saint Martin. Prime Minister Marlin spoke highly of the BRF. He said that only when people from different nationalities, cultures and countries working together can we solve problems facing the world today. CPAFFC’s Vice President Song Jingwu, Deputy Director General of the European and Asian Department, Mr Lv Hongwei attended the meeting.  

On May 14th, Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, jointly attended the opening ceremony, high level meeting and thematic session on people-to-people connectivity of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing International Convention Center. On the thematic session on people-to-people connectivity,  CPAFFC and Hangzhou Municipal Government jointly launched and established Belt and Road Local Cooperation Committee in the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). Also, CPAFFC and Fuzhou Municipal Government jointly established Maritime Economic and Cooperation Committee in UCLG. Vice President Song Jingwu and Secretary-General of Asian-Pacific region of UCLG Tjandradewi commonly unveiled for the two committees. Vice President Lin Yi announced on the session that CPAFFC starts up Listening to China, Experiencing China program. Additionally, as one of the foreign representatives invited by CPAFFC, Mr. Mezentsev, President of Russia-China Friendship Association, delivered a speech on the thematic session on People-to-People Connectivity. Representatives of friendly organizations and leaders for Asian-Pacific region of UCLG representing 13 countries, attended the related activities of BRF at the invitation of CPAFFC.