At the invitation of Japanese Embassy in China, Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Mr. YOKOI YUTAKA, Japanese Ambassador to China on December 19th. President Li said, China and Japan are close neighbors linked by a narrow strip of water. Both sides should choose peaceful and friendly cooperation path which is in line with the interests of the two peoples and also is beneficial to the peaceful and stable development in local region. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of  treaty of peace and friendship between China and Japan. CPAFFC and CJFA (China-Japan Friendship Association) would like to work with the Japanese personages from all walks of life to catch the important opportunities to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation of the two countries in the fields of economic, culture, local government, youth and etc.. The two organizations are also willing to make efforts on enhancing the friendly feelings of the two peoples and improve the bilateral relations.  YOKOI YUTAKA said that CPAFFC and CJFA had made active contributions to developing the bilateral ties for a long time and also gave the Japanese Embassy in China a lot of support and assistance. Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of treaty of  peace and friendship between China and Japan. The Japanese Embassy in China would like to continue developing various exchange activities with Chinese side to improve the Sino-Japanese relations. Mme. Zhu Dan, Deputy Director-General of Department of Japanese Affairs of CPAFFC, Mr. UENO ATSUSHI, Minister of Japanese Embassy in China, attended the meeting.

On December 18, President Li Xiaolin met with the newly appointed Spanish Ambassador to China Alberto Carnero. Mme Li welcomed Ambassador Carnero on his assumption of office in China and gave a brief introduction of CPAFFC. She hoped to continue to work with the Spanish embassy to build a stronger bond between the two peoples. Ambassador Carnero spoke highly of the important role that CPAFFC plays in people to people diplomacy. He said in the future, the Spanish embassy will work closer with CPAFFC to enhance cooperation between the two countries. The two sides also discussed the preparation for the ninth conference of China-Spain Forum which is to be held next year.  

On December 15, President Li Xiaolin met with Neil Bush, the third son of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, President of Points of Light Foundation, and Co-chairman of the Board of CIIC Group. Bush introduced the World Health Center project, which is jointly initiated by CIIC Group and the U.S. Texas Medical Center.  President Li spoke highly of the Bush family for their care and support for the development of China-U.S. relationship over the years, and hoped both sides continue to work together and  contribute to China-U.S.relations.  

Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Mr. B.Saidov, Uzbekistan Ambassador to China on December 15th, 2017. President Li Xiaolin congratulated Ambassador B.Saidov on taking his new post in China and made an introduction about the 19th National Congress of Communist Party of China, the Belt and Road Initiatives, the basic functions of CPAFFC and the work developed with Uzbekistan in recent years. President Li also expressed that CPAFFC would like to make joint efforts with Uzbekistan Embassy in China and Uzbekistan friendly organizations to continuously enhance the mutual understanding and the traditional friendship between the two peoples through the cooperative programs. Ambassador B.Saidov thanked President Li for taking her time to meet them and expressed that it is an honor to be Uzbekistan Ambassador to China. He would actively implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of states and make all-round efforts on further developing people-to-people pragmatic cooperation, humanity and culture exchanges between the two countries, so as to improve the local cooperation. Ambassador B. Saidov spoke highly of the important role CPAFFC had played in developing  people-to-people exchanges with foreign countries and the outstanding contributions President Li Xiaolin had made. Ambassador B.Saidov specially mentioned that he had studied the report delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping to the 19th National Congress and agreed with  the thought about improving living standards stressed in the report for several times. He believed that the two countries would make new contributions to the development of the regions and the world after the cooperation developed within the framework of the construction of the Belt and Road. Mme. Hu Chunmei, Associated Counsel of the Department of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, Mr. Nurkin, Counselor of the Uzbekistan Embassy in China, attended the meeting.

President Li Xiaolin had a meeting with U.S. Ambassador Terry Branstad on December 14. Mme. Li reflected that, in the year of 2017, CPAFFC was delighted to see the prosperous development of China-U.S. subnational exchanges and cooperation, and hoped to have the continuous support from the US Embassy in 2018. Ambassador Branstad said that during the past six months since he took office, he witnessed the frequent and positive interactions between the United States and China, and believed that the two sides will embrace greater opportunities for cooperation in the years to come.

At the invitation of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Mme, Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation to visit Germany from December 5th to 7th . During in Germany, President Li Xiaolin met respectively with Mr. Christian Wilhelm Walter Wulff, former Germany President, Mr. Hans-Gert Pottering, the Chairman of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and the former President of European Parliament and Mr. Hans-Peter Friedrich, Vice President of the German parliament. Both sides exchanged their views on the issues of the 19th National Congress of CPC, China-German relations, European integration and etc.. Professionals and scholars including Mr. Ma Canrong, the former Chinese Ambassador to Germany and the former Assistant Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Mr. Zhang Taiyuan, Deputy Director-General of Department of Communist Party of Chinese History of Party School of the Central Committee of CPC,  Mr. Cui Hongjian, Director of Department of European Studies of China Institute of International Studies,  Mr. Wang Huiyao, the Vice President of Western Returned Scholars Association and Chairman of Center for Globalization, attended the above activity.

On December 4, CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin attended the celebration of UK-China Regional collabration held in Edinburgh together with the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon. Vice Governor of Hubei Province Guo Shenglian, Deputy Mayor of Shanghai City Weng Tiehui, Vice Governor of Liaoning Province Wang Dawei, Deputy Mayor of Dalian City Lu Lin, Vice President of CPAFFC Song Jingwu, Cabinet Secretary of Scotland Fiona Hyslop, Lord Provost of City of Edinburgh Council Frank Ross, Lord Provost of City of Glasgow City Council Eva Bolander as well as representatives from Northern Ireland and Welsh attended the meeting.  President Li mentioned in her speech that as a cornerstone in the “golden era” of China-UK relationship, local cooperation between the two sides had enhanced understanding, deepened friendship and improved the lives of the two peoples. She gave three suggestions for future China-UK local cooperation. Firstly, making the alignment of local development strategies a priority of local cooperation; secondly, driving forward local cooperation both through people-to-people exchange and economic cooperation; thirdly, improving China-UK local exchange mechanism through pragmatic cooperation. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon extended warm welcome to the local government representatives of the two countries. She pointed out that culture and education are the two key sectors in China-Scotland cooperation and she hoped this meeting could further promote exchanges between the local governments of the two sides. She also recalled her visit in China at the invitation of CPAFFC in 2015 and expressed wish for another visit in next year. Since local cooperation was made part of China-UK high level people-to-people exchange mechanism and UK-China Regional Leaders Summit was first held in 2015, CPAFFC had held three meetings with the UK side.   

President Li Xiaolin met with President Ahad Mohammodi of the Iran China Friendship Association (ICFA) on November 29, and witnessed the signing of Memorandum of Understanding of Friendly Cooperation between the CPAFFC and ICFA. President Li welcomed President Mohammadi to visit China again. She briefed President Mohammodi about the important propositions of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the Construction of a community of a shared future for mankind, and said that the CPAFFC is willing to work hand in hand with the ICFA for constant development of bilateral relations as well as the peaceful and good life shared by the whole humankind in the new era. President Mohammadi warmly congratulated on the successful convening of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the re-election of Xi Jinping as the CPC General Secretary, and spoke highly of the significance of Xi’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. He also expressed the ICFA’s willingness to join hands with the CPAFFC to promote pragmatic cooperation of the two countries in all fields and deepen our friendly relations. Vice President Lin Yi was present at the meeting.  

On 23, November, president Li Xiaolin of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met Anar Alakbarov, Executive Director of Heydar Aliyev Foundation from Azerbaijan. It was his first China-visit at the invitation of CPAFFC. President Li welcomed the visit of Executive Director Alakbarov at the invitation of CPAFFC, and introduced the successful Opening of the 19thNational Congress of the CPC, the main Functions of CPAFFC and work towards Azerbaijan in the past few years. She said that CPAFFC would work together with the Heydar Aliyev Fundation to activate the China-Azerbaijan cooperation in culture, Education, Health, teenager and local government etc, aiming to improve the bilateral understanding and the traditional friendship of the people of both countries. Executive Director Alakbarov conveyed firstly the regard of Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, chairperson of the Heydar Aliyev Fundation to president Li and thanked President Li for the meeting. He congratulated the successful Opening of the 19th. National Congress of the CPC and spoke highly of the important meaning of the Nation Congress and said  that two organizations have many similarities in working areas and functions. In the next phase, the Foundation will seek for opportunities of cooperation with CPAFFC and co-organize the relevant activities. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been established on the grounds of the nation’s wish to express its esteem for the memory of former President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev since 2004.Starting its activity since 2004, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation   has been actively participating in building a new society and contributing to the social and economic development of the country, by implementing various projects in spheres such as education, public health, culture, sports, science and technology, environment, and social and other spheres. President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation is Azerbaijan's First Lady, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva.  Vice-President Song Jingwu of CPAFFC, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to China were present at the meeting.  

President Li Xiaolin met with Gov. Bill Walker of Alaska on November 7. President Li briefed about the major projects carried out by CPAFFC in recent years in promoting China-U.S. subnational exchanges and cooperation, and invited Governor Walker to come to China next year to attend the Fourth China-U.S. Governors Forum. Governor Walker spoke highly of the achievements made by CPAFFC, and expressed his commitment to connecting the rich natural resources of Alaska to the huge market potential of China, so as to further deepen the practical cooperation between Alaska and China within his term in office.