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.      

Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), attended the opening ceremony, high level meeting and thematic session on People-to-People Connectivity of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing International Convention Center on May 14th. After meeting, President Li arrived at the Great Hall of the People to attend the welcome banquet and then watched the performance named Millennial Road held in National Center for the Performing Arts. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. It was reported that 29 heads of state and government leaders, heads of international organization, and around 1500 distinguished guests from various circles representing over 130 countries, attended the forum.

On May 12th, President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC and other Chinese friendly-to-Vietnam representatives paid a courtesy call to President Tran Dai Quang of Vietnam who was on a state visit to China in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. On behalf of the Communist Party, the country and the people of Vietnam, Tran Dai Quang firstly expressed his gratitude to President Li and other Chinese friendly personnel for their great efforts in carrying forward the Vietnam-China traditional friendship. President Tran said that Vietnam and China were linked by mountains and waters, and the geographic position and common aspiration made the two countries closely connected. In the recent years, the bilateral relations developed in a healthy way which was conducive to the two countries and peoples as well as to the peace and stability of the region and world. Tran hoped that the Chinese representatives will make continuous efforts to contribute more to the further development of the bilateral relations. On behalf of CPAFFC and China-Vietnam Friendship Association (CVFA), President Li welcomed Tran Dai Quang’s visit to China and thanked him to spare time among busy schedule for the meeting. She said that China and Vietnam are neighboring countries connected by mountains and rivers and we attached great importance to the traditional friendship established and cultivated by the older generations of the two countries. As the younger generation, we had the responsibility to inherit and carry forward the traditional friendship. President Li introduced the people-to-people friendship work with Vietnam conducted by CPAFFC in the recent years and expressed willingness to continuously cooperate with Vietnam side to enhance the people-to-people friendship and promote the healthy development of bilateral relations. President Wang Jinshan of CVFA, Vice President Lin Yi of CPAFFC and representatives of veterans or their relatives who once engaged in the wars against French invaders or American invaders to assist the Vietnam from China attended the meeting. Mme. Truong Thi Mai, Member of the Political Bureau of Communist Party of Vietnam(CPV) and Minister of Mass Movement of CPV Central Committee, Mr. Uong Chu Luu, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Mr. Dao Viet Trung, Head of the Office of President of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Chairman of Vietnam-China Friendship Association and President of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Administration were also present at the meeting.

On May 9, 2017, President Li, on a visit to Cambodia met with Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia at Royal Palace. President Li first thanked Norodom Monineath Sihanouk for her warm welcome to the delegation of CPAFFC and introduced the efforts made us in promoting cooperation at nongovernmental and local government between China and Cambodia. She said that China-Cambodia friendship becomes even firmer and thrives as time goes by as it was personally initiated and meticulously fostered by the older generations of Chinese leaders and King Father Norodom Sihanouk. President Li also sang the song which she is familiar with from her childhood. It is wrote by King Father Norodom Sihanouk, which praises the friendship between our two countries: we are like a family, intimate as we always be, and our future is full of light. She pointed out that President Xi Jinping and King Norodom Sihamoni exchanged visits last year, which is of landmark significance to push forward the development of bilateral relations. The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing this week, which Prime Minister Hun Sen will be present. President Li appreciated King Norodom Sihamoni, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk and Cambodian government's support of the "Belt and Road" initiative. and CPAFFC will as always support result-oriented cooperation between China and Cambodia at nongovernmental and local government level under the "Belt and Road" framework. Norodom Monineath extended a warm welcome to President Li on behalf of King Norodom Sihamoni. She said that as the most intimate friends, Cambodia and China enjoy a long-term friendship and smooth development of mutually beneficial cooperation. She thanked CPAFFC for its long-term support in local governments' cooperation between our two countries.She stressed that our two countries should always follow the path of friendship. She and the Cambodian royal family are happy to see that bilateral friendly cooperation has been constantly developed. They stand ready to constantly push forward bilateral relations for more fruitful outcomes. President Li welcomed King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk to visit China at the right time for friendship and cooperation.