CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin and Secretary General Li Xikui met with Mr. Lorenzo Ku in the morning of July 18th. He is the President of Philippine-China Association for Promotion of Economy and Trade, and also the People’s Friendship Contribution Award Winner. During the meeting, Mr. Lorenzo Ku introduced his new book, Patriotic Peace Escort, which was published recently. Using a large number of precious historical materials, the book described his contributions to promoting the cause of friendship and, the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries for several decades. President Li Xiaolin wrote the preface for the book and congratulated him on the publishing of the book. The both sides also had a discussion on the topics of how to strengthen the friendship of the two peoples and the exchanges of the friendly cities between the two countries. Mr. Zhang Juxiang, Director General of China Service Center for Friendship and Cooperation with Foreign Countries (CSC), was present.

“One Belt and One Road in China: Beirut to Beijing”Activities cohosted by the CPAFFC and the Fransabank Group of Lebanon kicked off at Minzu Hotel of Beijing on 15th July. CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin and Vice President Lin Yi attended the opening ceremony together with Fransabank Group Chairman Adnan Kassar, Lebanon Charge D'Affaires Hatem Nasrallah and diplomats from other Arab countries. After the opening ceremony, President Li Xiaolin, accompanied by Chairman Adnan Kassar, visited the exhibition of Lebanese goods. Special local products from a dozen well-known Lebanese exhibitors, including wine, chocolate, olive oil, dairy products, dry fruits, and beverages were shown there.   Meanwhile, the Lebanese Gourmet Festival was also launched, at which traditional Lebanese food prepared by famed chefs from the Phoenicians Hotel of Lebanon were provided to all guests. Composed of Lebanese Gourmet Festival, Lebanese Products Exhibition, China-Lebanon Business Forum, the series of activities will last for two weeks, with the aim of following the “Belt and Road” Strategy to further exchanges and cooperation between China and Lebanon in the fields of culture, tourism, trade and investment.

President Li Xiaolin met with Mr. Adnan Kassar, Honorable President of General union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture for Arab Countries and President of Fransabank Group on 14th July. Vice President Lin Yi and Lebanon Charge D’Affairs Hatem Nasrallah were present at the meeting. President Li Xiaolin welcomed Mr. Adnan Kassar’ visit to China and conveyed the greetings from President Xi Jinping to Mr. Kassar. She once again congratulated Mr. Kassar on being conferred the “China Arab Friendship Outstanding Award” and thanked his outstanding contribution to the development of the friendship between China and Arab Countries including Lebanon. She expressed her willingness to actively cooperate with Mr. Kassar to promote the people-to-people friendship exchanges between China and Arab Countries including Lebanon in the fields of culture and academy. Mr. Kassar said, he began the cooperation with China since 1953 and he witnessed the development of China. In January of this year, He met with President Xi and being conferred the “China Arab Friendship Outstanding Contribution Award ” which is the most precious experience in his life, this honor will be kept in his heart forever. He will actively support the activities of the association to further enhance the friendship between China and Arab countries including Lebanon. At the invitation of the CPAFFC, During Mr. Kassar’s visit in China, he will attend “One Belt and One Road in China: Beirut to Beijing” series of activities cohoste by the CPAFFC and Fransabank in Beijing Minzu Hotel.     

In the morning of July 7th, Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC, met with Japanese film industry delegation led by Mr.  KADOKAWA TSUGUHIKO, Consultant of Japan and China Culture Exchange Association (JCCEA) and Chairman of the Board of Kadokawa Corporation, and Mr. HAGIUDA KOICHI, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary in CPAFFC. Mr.Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. YAMAMOTO YASUSHI, Minister of the Embassy of Japan in China, were present. President Li extended her warm welcome to the delegation and spoke highly of the efforts made by the personages from Japanese film industry for promoting the culture and art exchanges between the two countries. President Li said that an excellent film makes no border between two countries and could inspire the resonance of the two peoples in the mind and emotion. In the 1970s and 1980s, a large number of Japanese films and television programs were released in China and were very popular with Chinese audience, which played an important role in enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. Developing the Sino-Japanese relations require us to treat it from the overall situation and the long term and require all walks of life of the two countries to work together and make unremitting efforts for it. She also expressed, CPAFFC and JCCEA are willing to work together with Japanese personages from all sectors of the society to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including film industry, deepen the mutual understanding of the two peoples and improve the bilateral ties by the way of developing rich and colorful and excited culture exchange activities. Mr. KADOKAWA TSUGUHIKO thanked President Li for taking her time to meet them. He said that it is the first time for Japanese film industry to visit China jointly with governmental departments, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan. Japanese film industry is willing to closely cooperate with Chinese relevant organizations to further strengthen the coordination of the films and television programs of the two countries. It also would like to make contributions to improving the feelings of the two peoples and promoting the friendship of the two countries. Mr. HAGIUDA KOICHI thanked CPAFFC and CJFA for making efforts to promote the culture exchange of the two countries, especially the youth exchange. He expressed, the dance drama, Crested Ibis, made a successful tour in Japan. The Kabuki and the Beijing Opera jointly performed in Beijing. The activities of culture exchange between China and Japan developed increasingly. Film is a kind of cultural entertainment style which is popular with the two peoples and is also an effective method to improve the feelings of the two peoples. He hoped that the film industries of the two countries should strengthen the exchange and cooperation to provide more chances for the two peoples to enjoy more excellent films and television programs, so as to deepen the mutual understanding and friendship and improve the bilateral relations. At the invitation of CPAFFC, the Japanese film industry delegation visited Beijing on July 6 to 8. The members of the delegation came from Kadokawa Pictures, Inc., Toei Tokyo, Shochiku Company Limited and Toho Company, Limited, which are four of the five famous Japanese film production and distribution companies. In the evening of July 6th, Vice President Song Jingwu gave a banquet for the visiting delegation. During their staying in Beijing, the delegation also visited State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China, China Film Group Corporation Film Import and Export Branch, China Film Production Corporation and Huaxia Films.

President Li Xiaolin met with H.E. Mr. Pedro Pires, Former President of CaboVerde in the morning of July 4th in the CPAFFC. Vice President Lin Yi was present at the meeting. Mme. Li extended her welcome and thanked to Pires for leading a delegation to China on the 40th anniversary of China-CaboVerde diplomatic relations. She introduced the CPAFFC’s people-to-people exchanges with foreign countries, and hoped that Pires could continue to show concern and support for China-CaboVerde and China-Africa people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. Pires said that the CPAFFC plays an important role in safeguarding world peace and enhancing people’s friendship. He hoped that the two friendship associations of both countries could promote pragmatic cooperation by conducting exchanges in areas of trade, culture, youth and so on.  H.E. Mr. Pedro Pires paid a visit to China from July 1st to 6th at the invitation of the CPAFFC.

On June 15, President Li Xiaolin met with Ms. Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Deputy Secretary General of United Nations. President Li Xiaolin meets with Ms. Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand President Li welcomed Ms. Clark to visit CPAFFC again and expressed that China and New Zealand were enjoying a close relation at present and CPAFFC as a national people’s organization engaged in people-to-people diplomacy, had carried out rich activities with our partners in New Zealand. Significant results had been achieved in the area of promoting local government cooperation between our two countries. In November 2014, at the witness of President Xi Jinping and New Zeland Prime Minister John Key, CPAFFC and Local Government New Zealand launched the Exchange and Cooperation Mechanism of Mayors of New Zealand and China and successfully held the first China New Zealand Mayoral Forum in Xiamen in September 2015. President Li briefed that as a non-governmental organization in general consultative status with UN Economic and Social Council, CPAFFC enjoyed a good relationship of cooperation with UN. Last September, as its Chinese partner, we attended the “Every Woman Every Child” High-level Meeting in UN headquarter hosted by the UN Secretary General’s Office and discussed with attendees from all over the world on supporting and promoting the development of global women and children’s health.  Ms. Clark extended her appreciation for CPAFFC’s work in furthering friendly exchanges and cooperation in every aspect between China and New Zealand. She emphasized that China had played a remarkable role in the fields of implementing UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supporting UN peace-keeping operations and women and children’s health as well as coping with global climate change. She expected China would join more UN programs on promoting sustainable development of mankind. New Zealand Ambassador to China H.E. John McKinnon attended the meeting.

President Li Xiaolin met with Mr. Jean Pierre Raffarin, former French Prime Minister, on May 27. President Li spoke highly of the outstanding contributions made by Mr. Jean Pierre Raffarin to promoting the two countries’ relations over years. She also emphasized that Chinese People viewed Mr. Jean Pierre Raffarin as a hero and true friend, since he visited China as French Prime Minister during the SARS period in 2003. President Li invited Mr. Jean Pierre Raffarin to attend the 5th Top Leaders Forum for Chinese and French Local Governments Cooperation which will be held in Chengdu, October. Mr. Jean Pierre Raffarin positively evaluated the efforts and achievements made by the CPAFFC and its President Li in enhancing the local governments cooperation between the two countries, and accepted the invitation. Vice President Song Jingwu attended the meeting.

President Li Xiaolin met with YOKOI YUTAKA, new Japanese Ambassador to China on May 25. Vice President Song Jingwu attended the meeting. President Li Xiaolin first extended her warm welcome to Ambassador YOKOI YUTAKA for his visit in the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) as soon as he took his new post. President Li said that since the CPAFFC was founded in 1954, it had been working for developing the friendly exchanges and cooperation with the peoples all over the world and had established relationship of friendly cooperation with nearly 500 non-governmental organizations and institutions in 157 countries. President Li also said, the people-to-people friendly exchange with Japan is one of the important tasks of CPAFFC. Whether the bilateral ties develop stably or difficultly, the CPAFFC would insist on the people-to-people friendship of the two countries and actively make great contributions to enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship, and furthering the healthy and stable bilateral relations. President Li said, China and Japan are close neighbors with homologous culture, the two countries’ economy are complementary to each other. Since both of the countries are all of the important influence in the region and the world, the cooperation between China and Japan is the most conformed to the  basic interests of the two countries and their peoples. Although the bilateral ties are still difficult and fragile, they have chances to be improved. Next year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations. She hoped that the both sides would take this as an opportunity to further develop the pragmatic exchanges in various fields and improve the bilateral relations. At last, President Li Xiaolin wished Ambassador YOKOI YUTAKA would have a good start for his work as Ambassador in China. Ambassador YOKOI YUTAKA thanked President Li Xiaolin for taking her time to meet him. He agreed with President Li’s opinion on the bilateral relations and the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. He said, the two countries’ relations faced some difficulties in the past years, but the exchanges in the fields of humanity and personnel still keep forward, which the people-to-people exchanges played  an important role. In the long term, keeping the friendly relations between the two countries is the best and the only one choice. Ambassador YOKOI YUTAKA also said that he felt a great responsibility as the Japanese Ambassador and he would like to grasp the opportunity of the 45th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, work together with the CPAFFC and other relevant Chinese organizations to promote the exchanges and cooperation in different fields between the two countries, and to make efforts on realizing the friendship from generation to generation of the two countries. Cheng Haibo, Deputy Director General of the Department of Japanese Affairs, ISHIKAWA HIROSHI, Minister of the Embassy of Japan in China, YAMAMOTO YASUSHI, Minister  of the Embassy of Japan in China, attended the meeting.

President Li Xiaolin met with Simon Pang, president of U.S.-Sino Friendship Association (USFA)，on May 24. President Li spoke highly of the work of USFA in advancing local government exchanges and promoting sister city relations between China and United States. Simon Pang extended sincere thanks to the CPAFFC for its continuous support to the USFA, and briefed about the preparation work for the visit of this year’s US Western Region Mayors Delegation.

On May 14 to 18, CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin leading a delegation visited New Zealand for attending the Second Annual Summit of Tripartite Economic Alliance between Auckland, Guangzhou and Los Angeles. During the summit, President Li Xiaolin met with His Honorable Prime Minister John Key. President Li Xiaolin meeting with His Honorable Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand President Li briefed that at the witness of Chinese President Xi Jinping and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, the Mechanism of New Zealand China Mayoral Forum was launched in November 2014. In 2015, CPAFFC successfully hosted the 1st New Zealand China Mayoral Forum in Xiamen and 25 mayors from both China and New Zealand were present at the Forum, which greatly strengthened cooperative relations of local governments of the two countries. The “Tripartite Economic Alliance” started a new model of practical cooperation between local govenments. Prime Minister John Key spoke highly of the achievement in the exchange and cooperation of local governments between the two sides. He expressed his appreciation for CPAFFC’s active promotion of the work of friendship cities and believed the “Tripartite Economic Alliance” would bring concrete benefits to the development of the three cities. President Li delivering her speech at the summit opening ceremony At the opening ceremony, President Li Xiaolin extended her warm congratulations to the convening of the summit. She pointed out the Chinese govenment encouraged to carry out regional cooperation between cities, both domestic and international. The “Tripartite Economic Alliance” was a very successful case in terms of friendship cities cooperation. President Li meeting with Mayor Brown of Auckland During the visit, President Li respectively met with Mayor Brown of Auckland, Mayor Garcetti of Los Angeles, Executive Director Draper of Asia New Zealand Foundation and Principal Policy Advisor Shackleton of Local Government New Zealand. President Li also attended the welcoming receptions hosted by Mayor Brown as well as Consul General Melanie Higgins of US to Auckland. President Li meeting with Mayor Garcetti of Los Angeles More than 700 people including H.E.Chinese ambassador Wang lutong to New Zealand, Chinese Consul General Xu Erwen to NZ, H.E.US ambassador Gilbert to NZ, NZ Consul General Rebecca Needham to Guangzhou, NZ Consul General Grice to LA and delegations from the three cities in areas of economy and trade, science and technology and media attended the summit.