The signing ceremony of Muscatine Visiting Scholars Program was held in Beijing on August 8th. President Li Xiaolin, Vice President Xie Yuan, President and CEO Wang Lu of Walmart Global eCommerce - Asia, Executive Vice President Lan Ye of JD Group attended the ceremony.In his speech, VP Xie briefly recalled the anecdotes about China-US friendship between China’s President Xi Jinping and the State of Iowa of the United States. He said, the year of 2015 marked the 30th anniversary of President Xi’s visit to the city of Muscatine in Iowa. In order to pass people’s friendship between the two countries and train more personnel for the cause of people-to-people diplomacy, the CPAFFC set up the Muscatine Visiting Scholars Program under the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development. This program aims at providing a platform for short-time training and visit for English-speaking personnel of the CPAFFC and employees of different companies. Mr. Xie said, both Chinese and foreign corporations, including Walmart, have long been dedicated to China’s public welfare and charity. Companies involved in the Muscatine Visiting Scholars Program should explore new channels based on their own advantages, and thus make new contribution to building the people-to-people friendship bridge between China and the United States. President Wang Lu briefly introduced Walmart Global eCommerce’s development in China and expressed his gratitude towards the CPAFFC’s support. He looks forward to further enhancing the cooperation between the two sides and Walmart will contribute more to promote the development of China-US relations. Secretary General Jia Ling of China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development and Senior Vice PresidentGao Huandongof Walmart’s Yihaodian signed the agreement on behalf of the two sides. President Li Xiaolin, Vice President Xie Yuan and President Wang Lu witnessed the ceremony.  

 To prepare for the 1st China-U.S. Sub-national Legislatures Cooperation Forum, Vice President Xie Yuan led a working group to visit Hawaii from May 17 to 18, and paid visits to Hawaii House Speaker Joseph Souki, Vice Speaker John Mizuno, Majority Leader Scott Saiki, Majority Floor Leader Cindy Evans, and Chief of Staff Mike Cartney from Governor’s Office. Vice President Xie introduced that the CPAFFC has been actively promoting China-U.S. sub-national relationship since its establishment. Over 250 pairs of sister state/provinces and sister cities have been twinned between the two countries. CPAFFC is also implementing several sub-national exchange mechanisms such as China-U.S. Governors Forum, and plays host to about 10 U.S. governors to visit China each year. The 1st China-U.S. Sub-national Legislatures Cooperation Forum is going to be held in Hawaii this June, and the legislative leaders from both sides will hold talks and reach agreements on the theme of tourism cooperation during the Forum. It is hoped that under the support of Hawaii State Government and Legislatures, this Forum will achieve complete success. Xie also sent an invitation to Governor David Iger for him to attend the Fourth China-U.S. Governors Forum, which will be held in Chengdu this August.  The Hawaii House leadership warmly welcomes the upcoming Forum. They said that tourism is the largest industry for Hawaii, and the Forum will not only draw more Chinese tourists to the state but promote sub-national exchange and cooperation between the two sides. The Hawaii legislature is working closely with U.S. State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF) for this Forum, and will provide continuous support. Chief of Staff McCartney agreed to pass the invitation message to Governor Iger, and promised that the Hawaii State Government will actively promote the state to achieve more practical results with the Chinese side at the Forum. During the visit, Vice President Xie Yuan also met with the leadership of the U.S.-China People’s Friendship Association Honolulu Chapter and the two sides reached agreement on future exchange programs.

On February 1st, 2016 New Year Concert & China-Japan Friendly Annual Meeting held by CPAFFC in Beijing. Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, President of China-Japan Friendship Association, Ms. Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Ye Xiaowen, Chinese Member of the Fifth 21st Century Committee for China-Japan Friendship, Mr. Zhou Mingwei, Director of  China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, Mr. KITERA MASATO, Japan's Ambassador to China, and Mr. kawaihirotaka, General Manager of KAWAI Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd., attended the concert. President Tang Jiaxuan and Japan’s Ambassador KITERA MASATO made speeches, respectively.   President Tang said that, with the effort of China and Japan, China-Japan relationship is gradually recovered and improved in 2015. High level meetings between two countries have been held many times. Two countries’ communication and cooperation in different fields are orderly recovered, as well as, the two countries’ personnel exchange keeps growing. Achieving such situation is so hard, and it should be valued by both sides. However, relevant conflicts between the two countries have not yet been solved essentially. The improvement of the two countries’ relationship is still not very promising. It still requires both sides to keep their commitments, and make long-term effort to promote friendly bilateral relations.  President. Tang Jiaxuan emphasized that, the friendly relationship between China and Japan is not only important for fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, but also important for the stability and prosperity of Asia and even the whole world. China is willing to work together with Japan, in the spirit of learning from the history and facing up to the future on the basis of the four documents between the two countries, to implement the four-point principled agreement, advance China-Japan strategic and mutual beneficial relationship, and promote the two countries’ relationship returning to normal development track as soon as possible.President. Tang Jiaxuan also expressed, no integration of streams, can't result in seas and oceans. Without constant hard working for the cause of friendship between China and Japan in practice, the two countries’ relations cannot be kept steady and forward. In the new year, the China-Japan Friendship Association would like to keep active cooperation with Japanese friends in various circles so as to enhance the mutual understanding and trust between the two countries’ people and improve the China and Japan’s relations. We wish our effort would contribute to providing good conditions for the 45th anniversary of Chinese-Japanese Normalization of Diplomatic Relations.Mr. KITERA MASATO thanked the CPAFFC for making contributions to promoting the friendly exchanges between the two countries and for giving great support to the Embassy of Japan in China. He said that, the China-Japan relations had developed better and better through the top leaders’ meetings in the last year. He expected to take opportunities of the G20 Summit and Meeting of Japan, China and Korea leaders in this year, to improve and develop China-Japan relations. He said, I am confident about the Chinese economy although someone is worried about it. There will be a broader space for the cooperation between the two countries, since the economic relations between the two countries is very close. The Embassy of Japan in China would like to make efforts on developing the China-Japan relations together with CPAFFC and China-Japan Friendship Association.During the concert, Ms. Chen Manchun and Ms. ENTAI AYANO, the Chinese and Japanese youth pianists, Mr. Du Cong and Mr. Fang Jinlong, the folk music artists, and Mr. Ye Xiaowen, the Chinese Member of the Fifth 21st Century Committee for China-Japan Friendship, performed the beautiful folk and western music. The environment was warm and excited in the concert.About 150 persons, from related ministries, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International Liaison Department of CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Youth League and organizations concerned, and representatives from related units in Beijing, the Japanese Embassy in China, Japanese organizations and enterprises in China, and the media of the both sides, attended the above activity.   

On 5 November, Ms Lin Yi, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Mr John Le Fondré, Chief Minister of Jersey Island and his delegation at the CPAFFC. Vice President Lin Yi extended warm welcome to Mr John Le Fondré, and briefed him on the activities carried out by the CPAFFC including people-to-people exchanges and local government cooperation. Lin said the CPAFFC attached great importance to friendly exchanges with the UK including the Jersey Island, and hoped to deepen China-Jersey exchanges and cooperation in the fields of financial services, culture and education, and tourism through this visit. Mr John Le Fondré thanked the CPAFFC for helping arrange his visit in China, and expressed willingness to work with the CPAFFC to promote the two sides’ exchanges and cooperation. Deputy Director General Zhang Ruoning of the European and Asian Department attended the meeting. Photographed by Wang Fan

Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC, met with H.E. Mr. Baba Jidda, Ambassador of Nigeria to China on November 1, 2019. Mme. Lin Yi expressed thanks to Ambassador Jidda for his long-term support to the CPAFFC. She said that Nigeria is China’s important strategic partner in Africa. In recent years, China-Nigeria people-to-people and cultural exchanges have been increasingly close, and pragmatic local government cooperation has enjoyed vigorously development as well. The CPAFFC will maintain its close contact with the Embassy, to jointly promote continuous development of China-Nigeria strategic partnership. Ambassador Jidda spoke highly of the CPAFFC’s work in enhancing Nigeria-China people-to-people exchanges. He looked forward to strengthening ties with the CPAFFC, so as to promote pragmatic cooperation in areas such as local government and agriculture between the two countries.  The two sides also discussed on future cooperation programs.  Photographed by Pei Xingchen

On the morning of Oct. 22nd, Palestine Ambassador H.E. Mr. Fariz Mahdawi paid a visit to the CPAFFC. Two sides reached a consensus on holding events on the international day of solidarity with Palestine people, and made a discussion for promoting people-to-people friendly exchanges in the future. Photographed by Gong Xu

CPAFFC representatives participated in the Internet Public Welfare and Charity Forum of the 6th World Internet Conference in Wuzhen on October 21. With the theme of Inclusiveness and Common Development, the forum invited representatives from government divisions, international organizations, ngos, enterprises and think tanks from home and abroad to discuss on the best practices and future development of internet philanthropy. Mr. Ji Yongjun, Deputy Director General of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs of CPAFFC, spoke at the forum. He said that philanthropy has always been an important part of the work of CPAFFC. In 2015, we established Every Woman Every Child China Partnership Network, in support of the United Nations Every Woman Every Child project. Through programs such as sending overseas medical teams and training doctors and nurses in African countries, we played an active part in the global cooperation in improving women and children’s health. Next up, we plan to carry out online training for doctors and teachers in remote rural areas based on internet resources. In the meantime, we wish to share the Chinese models and experiences with developing countries and regions such as African countries, so that more people could benefit. Photographed by Zhang Yang

At the invitation of CPAFFC, Professor Alexander Hulshoff, Chairman and Artistic Director of Villa Musica of Germany, led a Trio to visit China from Oct. 12th-19th, holding chamber music concerts in Fuzhou, Nanchang and Chengdu. Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of CPAFFC, met the delegation on Oct. 18th. Mr. Hu Sishe firstly expressed warm welcome to the delegation and sincere congratulations on their successful concerts. Villa Musica and CPAFFC had maintained exchange of visits for many years, forging a deep friendship and enjoying steady relations. At the meeting, both sides had an in-depth discussion on further strengthening the exchange and cooperation between young musicians in China and Germany. The musicians of Villa Musica played Trio and Duo of Mozart and Beethoven and won warm applauds from the Chinese audiences. Attending Fuzhou Concert were Madame Malu Dreyer, Governor of Rheinland-Pfalz State, Germany and Ms. Guo Ningning, Vice Governor of Fujian Province, China; Nanchang Concert Mr. Zhen Xiang, Party Secretary of Jiangxi Pronvincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Mr. Yu Xiaoshe, Party Secretary of Nanchang University, and Mr. Li Yuqiang, Vice President of Jiangxi Provincial Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Chengdu concert Mr. Chen Min, Vice President of Sichuan Provincial Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Ms. Yun Wenying, Vice President of Sichuan Conservatory of Music. Fuzhou, Nanchang, Chengdu Concerts The delegation also held a Master Class in Art and Design Department of Nanchang University and Sichuan Conservatory of Music, having interactions with musical students. The delegation visited Chengdu Tianyashi Primary School and provided insights on art education and musical learning. Interactions with musical students Media coverage： Fujian TV  China News Service, Jiangxi branch Photographed by Wu Yuxuan

On October 19, the 2019 Tang Xianzu Theatre Festival & International Theater Exchange Month (Tang Xianzu Festival), jointly held by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), People’s Government of Jiangxi Province and the China Theatre Association, saw its grand opening in Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province. Mme. Li Bin, Vice Chairwoman of the CPPCC, Mr. Yao Zengke, Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC, Mr. Wang Xiaoying, Vice President of the China Theatre Association, Mr. Xiao Yi, Vice Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the CPPCC and Secretary of the Fuzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC, H.E. Mr. Teshome Toga, Ethiopian Ambassador to China, Mr. Eduardo Escribano, Counsellor of Spanish Embassy in China and Mme. Jo Hawley, British Consul General in Guangzhou attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. H.E. Mme. Winnie N. Chibesakunda, Zambian Ambassador to China, Mme. Ivana Grollová, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of Czech Embassy in China, Jamie Fouss, US Consul General in Wuhan and other foreign diplomats as well as delegations sent from Shakespeare's hometown of British Stratford District, Livingstone City of Zambia and U.S. Sister Cities International, along with more than 300 representatives from home and abroad, also attended the opening ceremony. Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province Mme. Wu Zhongqiong moderated the ceremony. Vice Chairwoman Mme. Li Bin delivered a speech on the opening ceremony Vice Chairwoman Mme. Li Bin stressed in her speech that from the joint commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the death of playwrights Tang Xianzu, Shakespeare as well as Cervantes, to the annual Tang Xianzu Festival, Tang Xianzu theatre culture has gradually expanded nationwide and worldwide, becoming one of hallmarks of Chinese traditional culture and a name card for foreign cultural exchanges of Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province and even of China. By this platform, which helps China open dialogues with the world by theatre and showcases Chinese culture’s aesthetics, we can continuously promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and foreign countries and enhance Chinese people’s friendship with foreign countries. Vice President Mme. Lin Yi delivered a speech on the opening ceremony Vice President Mme. Lin Yi pointed out that the CPAFFC will make efforts to further Fuzhou City’s exchanges with British Stratford Distrct and Spanish Alcala City so as to foster economic and cultural cooperation among the three theatre masters, Tang Xianzu, Shakespeare and Cervantes’ hometowns, to deepen exchanges and mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign people, and to embrace the bright prospect of a community with a shared future for mankind together. H.E. Mr. Teshome Toga delivered a speech on the opening ceremony H.E. Mr. Teshome Toga expressed that by exchanges and mutual learning, we can explore others’ cultures, traditions, customs and languages, opening our horizons and strengthening our understanding of different societies and tolerance of others’ cultures, which promotes inter-cultural dialogues among countries, world peace and common development. It is in my hope that Tang Xianzu Festival will continuously play the role as a window for culture promotion and cooperation and that friendship provinces and cities shall have more exchanges and cooperation. Opening ceremony and parade of Tang Xianzu Festival The opening ceremony consisted of cultural and art performance and Chinese and foreign theatre parade, which included U.K. and Spain’s performances as well as domestic ones with strong local or national characteristics. It is also the first time for Tang Xianzu Festival’s opening ceremony that it connected to the Peony Pavilion in British Stratford and in Russian Perm City by converged media on site. This year witnesses the fourth year of Tang Xianzu Festival, starting from October 19th to the end of November. It organizes eleven main events this year, among which are Tang Xianzu International Academic Symposium, Chinese and Foreign Classic Theatre Performances, Jiangxi Tour for Foreign Diplomats and Experts in China, China and U.K. Week of Culture and Tourism. Excerpt of Media Coverage: CCTV1 (XINWEN LIANBO), CCTV13 (MIDNIGHT NEWS), CCTV4 (CHINESE NEWS) and other reports XINHUA NEWS GUANGMING ONLINE CHINA NEWS CHINA DAILY TENCENT  Photographed by Li Yong

On Oct 18, H.E. Arken Imirbaki, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress (NPC) , met with H.E. Mohamed Al-Dehaimi, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the PRC, at CPAFFC. H.E. Arken Imirbaki expressed warm welcome to H.E. Mohamed Al-Dehaimi for his assumption of office in China and thanked him for his congratulation letter on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. Nowadays, Chinese people are closely uniting around the CPC Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core and striving to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. China attaches great importance to developing strategic partnership with Qatar. We are willing to work jointly with the Qatari side to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields within the framework of co-construction of the “Belt and Road”. H.E. Arken Imirbaki hoped the new ambassador could continue to support China-Qatar friendly relations and push our strategic partnership to a new level. H.E. Mohamed Al-Dehaimi thanked H.E. Arken Imirbaki for taking time to meet him. He said that Qatar values its relations with China and supports the “Belt and Road” Initiatives proposed by China. Qatar would like to carry out all-round cooperation in various areas with China, including to increase investment in China and enhance personnel exchanges. Qatar Embassy in China will continue to support all friendly activities and make concerted effort with the  Chinese side as always to make positive contribution to bilateral  friendly exchanges. CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi also attended the meeting. Photographed by Gong Xu