The First China Trial of Tango Buenos Aires Festival and Dance World Cup 2013, co-organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and China-Argentina Tango Association lowered its curtain on June, 2nd. Peng Danyang and Jia Lin, the two dancers from Beijing won the championship of Salon Group. They will represent China to compete in the final of International Tango Championship in August in Argentina. At the opening ceremony, Mr. Xie Yuan, the vice president of CPAFFC said in his address, this competition was the first trial of Tango Buenos Aires Festival held in China. Beijing and Buenos Aires were friendship cities. The competition provided not only  a platform of showing talent for the tango lovers, but also an opportunity of harmonious cultural exchange for the two cities. It had made great contribution to enhancing the friendship between the two peoples. H.E. Gustavo Martino, the Argentine Ambassador to China said, he always had a wish of holding the tango competition in China, as well as introducing tango and Argentine culture to the Chinese people; now he was glad to see this wish had come true. Ms. Xu Xuanyi, the president of China-Argentina Tango Association introduced the status of this competition, and gave her best wishes to all the contestants and the success of the competition. Tango was introduced to China in the beginning of 21st century. Now, there have been many promoting organizations and fans in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Taipei. It has become of new civilized and elegant way of social life. The success of China Trial in Beijing, promoted the tango’s development in Beijing, strengthened the cultural exchange between China and Argentina, enhanced the friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples. 

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of cooperation between the CPAFFC and Villa Musica of Germany, a 9-member group of musicians headed by Mr. Walter Schumacher, the State Secretary, Deputy Cultural Minister of the state of Rheinland-Pfalz and President of Villa Musica Foundation visited China from May 26 to June 3 at the invitation of the CPAFFC. They took part in the celebrations in Beijing, and the musicians gave chamber music concerts in Beijing, Chengdu and Xiamen. Tanzania’s Zanzibar President, A.M.Shein and his wife, diplomats from 34 countries and municipal officials of Xiamen were presented at the concert in Xiamen. While in China, the delegation held a working meeting with the CPAFFC. Both sides agreed to further expand the fields of exchanges and deepen cooperation. The delegation also visited cultural institutions and venues, including the National Museum of China, the National Center for the Performing Arts, the China Conservatory, the Jinsha Site Museum, the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, the Sichuan Modern Art School and the Shanghai International Culture Association.

At the invitation of Mr Rainer Dold from Stuttgart Germany-China Friendship Association, a delegation headed by Han Guangming, the deputy secretary-general of the Chinese People‘s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) visited Baden-Wurttemberg State in Germany during May. 20 to 25，2013. During the visit, the delegation inspected the Nursing-for-Aged institute in Mannheimer City, visited the administration of Tubingen, as well as had exchanges with Manheimer Academy for Social Occupation, Paritatische Vocational School for Social and Care Professions, etc.. When the delegation had the working meeting with the Paritatische Welfare Association in Baden-Wurttemberg, the both sides reached the initial intention on dispatching trainees of Nursing-for-Aged profession to Baden-Wurttemberg and their employment afterwards.

Vice Presiden Feng Zuoku expressed his congratulations to HE Omer Eisa Ahmed on his new position as the Ambassador to China during the meeting with him on 27 May, 2013. The two sides held discussion on the cooperation between CPAFFC and the embassy. Next year is the 55th Anniversary of the China-Sudan diplomatic relations, the two side agree to hold relating celebrations.  

At the invitation of CPAFFC, the delegation of Kuwait-China Friendship Association headed by its president Mr. Yousef Alamiri visited China from May 16 to 24. During their visit in Beijing, the delegation met with CPAFFC’s Vice President Mr. Feng Zuoku on the exchanges and cooperation between the two organizations. The delegation also met with the leaders of China National Petroleum Corporation(CNPC) and China Civil Engineering Construction Cooperation, discussing the business cooperation between the two countries. The delegation also visited Shanghai and Yiwu International Trade Center, Zhejiang Province.

"China-Germany Friendly Night" outdoor Jazz concert was held in the courtyard of the Chinese People’ Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). Vice president Li Jianping of the CPAFFC and Chairman Peter Schneckmann of German Dragonbridge Society attended the activity and delivered speeches. About 200 spectators, from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Culture, China Radio International, Beijing Performance & Arts Group, University of International Business and Economics, The German Embassy in China, The Turkey Embassy in China and Goethe Institute Peking, attended the concert which was held in CPAFFC''''''''''''''''s courtyard with more than 110 years history. In addition, the CPAFFC also invited 10 fans to attend the activity by the microblog of the German Embassy in China, which drew the distance between general public and people-to-people diplomacy nearer. The speech of vice president Li Jianping referred to that world cannot be in peace, the countries cannot develop and the people cannot feel happy without friendship and reliance among the people. The friendship could be acquired by various ways, and music is an elegant and joyful way. When musicians bring us the beautiful enjoyment, friendship and reliance was spread in people’ s mind at the same time. This is the purpose of the CPAFFC holding the China-Germany Friendly Night concert. In his speech, Mr. Peter Schneckmann joyfully recalled the cooperation with CPAFFC and appreciated CPAFFC’s support to this activity. He expressed that mutual understanding was formed by listening and communication, and music brought us a great opportunity to listen to each other’s culture. Frankfurt Colours Quartet (FCQ) was formed by 4 prominent musicians. Their music is branded with the feature of the musicians’ hometowns. The pianist Matthias Frey is from Germany; bajan player Vassily Duck is from Siberia of Russia; percussionist Angela Frontera is from Brazil; saz player Deniz Koseoglu is from Turkey. Each of them once served as solo in other wellknown band and became famous for playing world famous chapter. FCQ was initiated by senior musician Peter Schneckmann, who had devoted himself to China-Germany cultural exchange for 40 years. They blended many ethnic characteristics in modern styles. A modern tango with quick chord progressions, soothing the homesickness in gentle music. Frankfurt Colours Quartet’s music also can be gentle and passionate, reflecting the diverse cultures in Frankfurt. The quartet can transport audience to bustling Frankfurt, the exotic Bosporus Strait, the pulsing Amazon and the vast Siberian forest. At the concert, the band also adapted the Chinese ethnic music Gold Snake Dancing Passionate. The melody with ethnic characteristics in jazz style endued this classic traditional chapter a different feature, that won warm applause from the audience.

The 2013 China-ASEAN Ambassadors’ Friendship Golf Tournament was held in Beijing, sponsored by the CPAFFC and China-ASEAN Association and organized by China-ASEAN Ambassadors’ Golf Club and CIMGROUP (China) Ltd. Around one hundred players, including ambassadors and diplomats from embassies of Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and other ASEAN countries as well as friends from the diplomatic corps, participated in the event together with Chinese delegates. CPAFFC Vice President Jing Dunquan made a speech and said that the Tournament had been held four times with growing significance and wider participation, serving as a bridge for the promotion of understanding and friendship between Chinese people and diplomats from ASEAN countries as well as from other parts of the world. H.E. Nguyen Van Tho, Ambassador of Vietnam in Beijing expressed sincere gratitude for the sponsors’ kind invitation and arrangements. He said that in the past years ASEAN and China had deepened cooperation in various fields as politics, economy, trade and people-to-people exchanges. ASEAN has now become the third largest trade partner with China. The year 2013 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership between ASEAN and China. The two sides are expected to join efforts to push forward the friendship and cooperation to a higher level.

At the invitation of Therence Sinunguruza, First Vice President of Burundi and Hawa Ghasia, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government of Tanzania (PMO-RALG), Abdul’ahat Abdurixit, former CPPCC Vice Chairman and President of the Chinese-African People’s Friendship Association (CAPFA), led a delegation to visit Burundi and Tanzania from May 5 to 14, 2013. During the visit to Burundi, Abdul’ahat Abdurixit met with Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza and First Vice President Therence Sinunguruza, attended the welcoming banquet hosted by Minister of Interior Edouard Nduwimana, and made donations to Superior Normal School of Burundi and University of Burundi respectively. During the visit to Tanzania, Abdul’ahat Abdurixit met with Tanzanian Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, and held talks with Hawa Ghasia, Minister of State of PMO-RALG. After the talks, the two sides signed an MOU on the cooperation between CAPFA and PMO-RALG. In addition, the CAPFA also made a donation to Michenji Primary School in Mtwara Region in southeastern Tanzania.        

Vice President Jing Dunquan met with Mr. Lee Si-young, Vice President of Korea-China Friendship Association on 7 May 2013. Mr. Lee spoke highly of the job done by the CPAFFC and China-Korean Friendship Association. While extending condolences and sympathy to the victims and affected people of the earthquake at Ya’an of China’s Sichuan Province, Mr. Lee handed over to Mr. Jing an amount of 100,000 RMB, on the purpose of encouraging the people in Ya’an to rebuild their homes at an early date. Mr. Jing expressed sincere gratitude to the donation on behalf of the CPAFFC, the China-Korean Friendship Association and the people in disaster areas.  Mr. Jing said that China and Korea were good neighbors across the sea and the two peoples had a long history of mutual exchanges. The CPAFFC highly appreciated the Korea-China Friendship Association’s unremitting efforts for promoting the development of China-ROK relations and is willing to strengthen the bilateral cooperation on pragmatic terms in repaying the kindness of Korean friends.

At the invitation of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC), Richard Nixon Foundation Delegation paid a visit to China from May 2nd to 10th , retracing former U.S. President Nixon’s first visit to China in 1972 , to commemorate the 100th anniversary of President Nixon’s birth and 41th anniversary of his first visit to China. On May 3rd , the welcome reception entitled “Retracing Richard  Nixon’s step in China, Strengthening forty years of friendship” was held by the CPAFFC at the Great Hall of People. State Councilor Yang Jiechi attended the reception and delivered a speech. Before the reception, he met the delegation in the Shannxi Hall. Mr. Xu Kuangdi, Vice Chairman of the 10th CPPCC National Committee and President of China-U.S. Friendship Association; Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC; Mr. Zhai Jun, Vice Foreign Minister; Mr. Zhou Wenzhong, Secretary-General, Boao Forum for Asia and Vice President of China-U.S. Friendship Association attended the meeting and the welcome reception.  State Councilor Yang Jiechi extended warm welcome to the delegation, and expressed his appreciation for the Nixon family and Richard Nixon Foundation’s great efforts in promoting China-U.S. relations and the friendship between the two peoples. He said that the China-U.S. relationship was at a critical stage of development and the two countries need to advance friendly communication at all levels, work together to strengthen  cooperative partnership and build a new type of relationship. Mr. Christopher Cox, Grandson of President Nixon said he was proud of the development of the two countries’ relationship during the past four decades and would continue to work for the healthy progress of the bilateral ties. Prior to the meeting, a seminar in commemoration of President Nixon’s first visit to China in 1972 was held by CPAFFC at the Great Hall of the People. The grandson of President Nixon, members of Richard Nixon Foundation, and both the Chinese and American witnesses of President Nixon’s first visit to China gathered together, to review this historic event and provid their suggestions on the future development of China-U.S Relations.