On September 10, CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin met with Mr. Dang Minh Khoi, Ambassador of Vietnam to China. President Li praised Ambassador Dang’s efforts to promote the bilateral relations in past 4 years . She said that China and Vietnam should inherit the traditional friendship, further the exchanges and cooperation and join the hands to open the new chapter of China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperation. Dang Minh Khoi said that Vietnam-China relations has developed quickly in recent years. At present, The investment from China ranked the fourth, the total bilateral trade volume reached 150 billion US dollars and there were nearly 10 million people visited each other every year, which laid a solid foundation for the relations development. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Founding of P.R.China and next year is the 70th anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic ties, the bilateral relations should take the opportunities to get more momentum. The two sides also exchanged views on China-Vietnam people-to-people diplomatic work and the international and regional issues of common concern. Director General Yuan Mindao of East Asian Affairs Department of CPAFFC, Minister Pham Thanh Binh of Vietnam Embassy to China attended the meeting. Photographed by Dong Dandan

President Li Xiaolin met in Beijing with Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on September 9th.   President Li said that as the two largest economies in the world, China and the U.S benefit from cooperation and suffer from confrontation. At present, the bilateral relations are at a critical stage. Local governments of the two countries should further strengthen dialogue and cooperation, enhance mutual trust and , so as to boost the sound development of bilateral relations. Photographed by Jin Hanghang

On August 28, President Li Xiaolin met with Neil Bush, the third son of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush. Mme. Li Xiaolin said that CPAFFC has long been committed to promoting China-U.S. relationship and hopes to work with U.S. friends to advance bilateral cooperation in various fields. Neil expressed his hope to support sound and steady development of U.S.-China relationship and exchanged views with Mme. Li Xiaolin on further strengthening people-to-people friendly exchanges between the two countries. Photographed by Wang Yang

On August 26th, President Li Xiaolin met with David Haubert, Mayor of Dublin, California, U.S., and founder of the Sino-American Friendship City Association. President Li extended a welcome to David. She said, though faced with some challenges, China-U.S. relations are the most important bilateral relations in the world, and China has never regarded the United States as an enemy. Healthy and stable China-U.S. relations are in the interests of both countries and the shared aspirations of the international community. It has been a main task of CPAFFC to advance the sub-national exchanges and friendly relations between China and the U.S.. In essence, bilateral sub-national government cooperation is mutually beneficial and win-win, and also conforms to the two peoples’ common aspirations for a better life. She hoped that both sides could work together to play an active role in promoting the development of China-U.S. friendship cities and sub-national government exchanges. David thanked President Li for meeting him. He said, despite the ups and downs of U.S.-China relations, the exchanges and cooperation between the local governments never stop. Many U.S. local governments express a strong willingness to cooperate with China in a wide range of fields, such as economy, trade, education, culture and environmental protection. The Sino-American Friendship City Association is ready to help with the match-making of friendship cities between the two countries, to enhance mutual understanding, and to strengthen bilateral communication and collaboration, so that through complementation and mutual learning, we can make positive contributions to the development of bilateral relations. Director General Zhang Heqiang of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs attended the meeting. Photographed by Liu Yi

On August 22, President Li Xiaolin took an interview by Vietnam Television (VTV) at CPAFFC. President Li introduced CPAFFC and its recent important work on China-Vietnam people-to-people diplomacy and made outlook on the activities celebrating the 70th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties next year. President Li said that the China-Vietnam traditional friendship of “Comrades and Brothers”, carefully nurtured by Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, President Ho Chi Minh and other leaders of older generation, is the precious treasure for two countries to cherish, inherit and carry forward. CPAFFC would join with the Vietnam union of Friendship Organizations to take the opportunity of 70th Anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders from two countries, and make contributions to the development of China-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership Relations. The interview is an exclusive one by VTV to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic ties and will be broadcast on the National Day of Vietnam this year. Photographed by Wu Jiong

On August 12, President Li Xiaolin met with Mr. Ahad Mohammadi, President of Iran-China Friendship Association. President Li welcomed Mr. Ahad Mohammadi to visit China again. She said, China attaches great importance to developing ties with Iran and she shall always keep firmly in mind the original aspiration of enhancing China-Iran people to people friendship and the mission of promoting common development. We had insisted on carrying out friendly exchanges with Iran in spite of the vicissitudes of international situation. Li highly appreciated Iran-China Friendship Association’s contribution on the development of bilateral ties between the two peoples. She hoped the annual conference mechanism could play a bigger role in deepening cooperation and we could have more practical projects in the days to come. President Ahad Mohammadi expressed gratitude to the hospitality of Chinese side and the great importance CPAFFC attached to Iran-China friendly cooperation for a long time. Ten years ago, President Li visited Iran and launched annual conference mechanism, setting up an effective platform for bilateral people to people friendly exchanges. He mentioned that there are many uncertainties in current international and regional situation, which need us to deepen Iran-China traditional friendship, strengthen practical cooperation, face up to all sorts of challenges so as to achieve common development. Mr.Li Hai, DDG of Asian-African Affairs Department attended the meeting. Photographed by Ren Xin

On 16th July, President Li Xiaolin met with chairman of Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples（ICAP） Fernando Gonzales, who visited China at the invitation of CPAFFC. Deputy Director General of Department of American and Oceanian Affairs Ji Yongjun and Charge D'affaires of Cuba Embassy in China Lisbet attended the meeting. President Li Xiaolin briefly reviewed the history of friendly exchanges between CPAFFC and Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples（ICAP） and said that both parties have good cooperation relations and CPAFFC is willing to further strengthen the mutual exchange and cooperation positively and to promote mutual understanding and trust, passing the China-Cuba friendship to the next generation. 2020 would be the 60th anniversary for establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cuba, both parties should actively organise series of celebration events. Chairman Gonzales thanked president Li Xiaolin for the meeting and said, it was his first visit to China and he had seen the rapid development of chinese economy and society as well as the solid foundation of Cuba-China friendship.He would work with chinese side to hold series of celebration events for 60th anniversary of establishment of Cuba-China diplomatic relations according to the results of this visit, in order to deepen the people’s friendship between both countries. President Li Xiaolin and chairman Gonzales had also signed the Friendly Cooperation Agreement between CPAFFC and ICAP. Photographed by Sun Tao

On July 8, President Li Xiaolin Meets with Mr. Igal Amedi, Chairman of the Israeli Council of Culture and Art.   Ms. Efrat Perri, Press Officer of the Israeli Embassy in China and Ms. Han Xue, representative of Department of Culture & Academic Affairs of the Israeli Embassy in China attended the meeting. Mr. Ji Wei and Ms. Jia Ling, who are Deputy Director-Generals of the Cultural Exchange Department of CPAFFC were also present at the meeting.  Photo of President Li Xiaolin (left) and Mr. Igal Amedi Photographed by Sun Yajing

Photo exhibition titled Trans-Pacific Exchange and Cooperation, which marks the 40th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations, was held in Shanghai on July 3rd. Around 100 guests attended the opening ceremony, including Vice Chairman of the 10th CPPCC National Committee, President of China-US People’s Friendship Association Xu Kuangdi, President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC, Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipality Xu Kunlin and American Consul General Sean Stein in Shanghai . The exhibition was jointly hosted by Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai, Shanghai Municipal Archives, Information Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, and the city’s online news portal Eastday, organized by Shanghai Municipal Archives, Shanghai Institute of American Studies and Shanghai Foreign Affairs Editorial Department and supervised by CPAFFC. Shanghai is an important window of China’s reform and opening up. The exhibition demonstrates the significant role of people-to-people exchanges in advancing bilateral relations by presenting more than 300 photos which reflect the exchanges and cooperation between Shanghai and the U.S. in areas of economy, sister cities and culture. The exhibition will be opened to the public until August 15th. It will also be held in Houston this month during the Fourth China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference which is co-hosted by CPAFFC and Sister Cities International.         Photographed by Pan Jiandong

  On 1st July, President Li Xiaolin and Vice President Song Jingwu of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC) met with Mr Ivan McKee, the visiting Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation of Scotland, the UK. President Li Xiaolin pointed out that the CPAFFC has fruitful cooperation with the British local governments and people from all walks of life. We are willing to conduct in-depth discussions and cooperation on areas of common interest to China and Scotland. In today’s world, all countries should support multilateral trade and promote mutually beneficial cooperation. Vice President Song Jingwu highlighted that China and Britain are big countries with an open tradition and a spirit of cooperation. He welcomed high-level representatives of Scottish local governments to participate the second "China International Import Expo" , which will be held this year in Shanghai and its supporting forum and the next "Belt and Road International Cooperation Forum". Minister Ivan Mckee said Scotland is making every effort to build ties with the world, especially exchanges and cooperation with China across the board. Scotland is willing to promote Scottish representatives’ participation in China's activities and promote China-Scotland joint development. Deputy Director General of the European and Asian Department, Ms Zhang Ruoning attended the meeting.         Photographed by Wang Fan