President Li Xiaolin met with Vice President Thomas Banchoff of Georgetown University on February 29, 2016. Vice Minister Hao Ping of Ministry of Education, Vice President Yang Bin of Tsinghua University, Vice Chairman Yang Xiaoping of Charoen Pokphand Group and First Officer Xu Yicheng of the Partnership Executive Office of the Secretary General of the UN attended the meeting. President Li Xiaolin said that the cooperation between CPAFFC and Georgetown University dates back from the years before the official establishment of diplomatic ties between China and U.S. By expanding people-to-people and academic exchanges, both organizations have helped enhance mutual understanding and trust between the two countries. CPAFFC has the wishes to strengthen the cooperation with Georgetown University by holding small-scale, high-level and in-depth discussions and dialogues, to advance intellectual and institutional support for the development of bilateral relations and global governance. Vice President Banchoff introduced Georgetown University’s new Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues, which aims at solving global problems and challenges by promoting dialogues in public policies, business and academics between the two countries. He also hoped the university actively participate in related activities sponsored by CPAFFC, fully utilizing its academic strength and excellent location in Washington, DC, to further enhance academic exchanges and political mutual trust between U.S. and China .

President Li Xiaolin met with Mr. Doh Youn Ho, Secretary General of Governors Association of Korea (GAOK) on February 24. They exchanged ideas on hosting the first China-Korea Governors Conference. Madame Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC, was present at the meeting. President Li extended warm welcome to Mr. Doh’s visit to CPAFFC and recalled her previous visits to Korea and her meeting with ROK President Park Geun-hye in particular.  She confirmed CPAFFC’s support to GAOK’s proposal of holding the first China-Korea Governors Conference in Korea. President Li also pointed out that substantive exchanges are conducive to the success of the Conference.  Mr. Doh expressed gratitude for CPAFFC’s remarkable contributions in promoting exchanges between China-Korea local governments. He emphasized the great importance and high expectation attached by GAOK to the above mentioned Conference.  Mr. Doh said that GAOK will invite leaders from all 17 local governments from Korea to attend the Conference and discuss issues of mutual concern with Chinese counterparts. The Korean side is looking forward to valued assistance of CPAFFC in organizing Chinese local government leaders to attend the Conference.

On 22nd February, President Li Xiaolin of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with H.E. Ms Barbara Wood, British Ambassador to China. The two sides have extensively exchanged views on hosting the China-UK Regional Leaders Exchange Programme and promoting the two countries’ comprehensive exchanges and cooperation. Ambassador Wood thanked President Li and the CPAFFC’s support for China-UK cooperation in various fields, and pointed out that local governments cooperation constitutes an important component of bilateral relations. She will work with the CPAFFC to promote the in-depth and comprehensive development of bilateral relations. President Li introduced the CPAFFC’s exchanges conducted with the UK in different fields and with people from all walks of life, and shared her observations on the CPAFFC’s promoting high-level exchanges, economic and trade ties, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and friendship city cooperation. She expressed willingness to work with all sectors in the UK to deliver practical results from the two countries’ local governments cooperation, and make it one of the highlights of the China-UK Golden Era. CPAFFC’s Vice President Mr Song Jingwu, Deputy Director General of the European and Asian Department, Mr Shen Xin and Ms Zhang Ruoning attended the meeting.

At the invitation of Prince Alwaleed, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company of Saudi Arabia, President Li Xiaolin led a CPAFFC delegation to visit Saudi Arabia from February 16th to 20th. During the visit, President Li met with Prince Alwaleed, visited Kingdom Hospital, Kingdom School and held working talks with Alwaleed Philanthropies.   During the meeting with Prince Alwaleed, President Li mentioned that Chinese President Xi Jinping just paid a very successful state visit to Saudi Arabia last month. The two sides issued the Joint Statement on the Establishment of China-Saudi Arabia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, thus providing a historic opportunity to enrich people-to-people friendship between the two countries. CPAFFC is willing to establish cooperation with Kingdom Holding Company in charity, cultural and educational cooperation, local governments exchanges and other various areas to enhance people-to-people friendship between China and Saudi Arabia. Prince Alwaleed warmly welcomed President Li and the delegation to visit Saudi Arabia. He completely agreed with President Li’s comments on the bilateral relations and hoped to launch multi-level and broad-area cooperation with CPAFFC. He wished to pay a visit to China in the near future and have in-depth discussions with Chinese leaders and President Li about China-Saudi Arabia relations and people-to-people cooperation. President Li Xiaolin meeting with Prince Alwaleed President Li Xiaolin visiting the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, the world’s highest building under construction

President Li Xiaolin met with H.E. Mrs. Fay Pickersgill, new Jamaican Ambassador to China on February 3rd.  President Li extended warm welcome to Mrs. Pickersgill, old friend of CPAFFC and President of Jamaica-China Friendship Association, for taking office as Jamaican Ambassador to China. She fondly recalled her previous three visits to Jamaica. CPAFFC will continue to focus on building friendly relations with Jamaica, and would like to work together with Ambassador Pickersgill to push forward the friendly partnership of common development between the two countries.   H.E. Ambassador Pickersgill said that she will continue to work with CPAFFC during her term in China to jointly promote mutual understanding and friendship between Jamaica and China.

President Li Xiaolin had a meeting with Chairman Neil Bush of the Points of Light, third son of U.S. 41st President George H. W. Bush, on January 25, 2016. President Li said that we jointly held the successful Sixth China-US Relations Conference on “Global Infectious Diseases：Prevention，Preparedness and Response” in Houston, May 2015. China and the U.S. have great potentials of cooperation in extensive areas, and our common interests far exceed our differences. Peace and development remain the theme of times. We want to further work with you to strengthen our cooperation on the Seventh China-U.S. Relations Conference and push forward the construction of the new-model bilateral relationship. Chairman Bush agreed to the remarks by President Li and said that he often shares his views on China with his American friends. China should be regarded as a partner rather than threat or enemy. The development of China accords with American interests. He will continue to work for the mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries.

On January 15th, President Li Xiaolin met with Mr. Anthony Rodham, President of Destination Resorts Investment LLC and the youngest brother of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.President Li Xiaolin briefed on the work and function of CPAFFC as well as some major China-U.S. exchange activities held by our association, including the China-U.S. Governors Forum, the 4th Forum on U.S.-China Relations, and the China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference. She said, a stable China will benefit both China and the United States. To maintain and develop healthy and stable China-U.S. relations is not only in the fundamental interests of our two countries and peoples, but also conducive to the world peace, stability and prosperity. Mr. Rodham agreed with President Li, and commended the positive contribution made by the CPAFFC in promoting peoples’ friendship and China-US exchanges in various fields.

President Li Xiaolin addressed the Global Conference for Collaboration and Development on Regenerative Life Science on January 6, 2016. In her speech, President Li Xiaolin reviewed the creation and development of regenerative life science, expressing her wish that scholars and experts at the conference share their successful experiences and expertise in regenerative life science, promoting its further development, making greater contributions to tackling global public health challenges, benefitting people of various countries, and building a global community of common destiny featuring openness, innovation, tolerance and mutual benefit. Regenerative life science was created by the late renowned Chinese life scientist Professor Xu Rongxiang. The conference also witnessed the founding of the Chinese Red Cross Foundation “Rongxiang Xu Regenerative Life Non-profit Fund” and Clinton Global Initiative Commitment “ From Urban to Rural: Training Doctors on Moist Exposed Burn Therapy”.

  On December 24, CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin met with Nguyen Sinh Hung, President of National Assembly of Vietnam, who is on an official visit to Beijing.  Mr. Cao Weizhou, Vice Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of National People’s Congress of China, Madame Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC, and Mr. Zhang Dewei, Vice President of China-Vietnam Friendship Association (CVFA) and former Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam, were present at the meeting. President Nguyen sang a high praise of the remarkable contribution made by CPAFFC and CVFA in carrying forward the “Comrade and Brother” friendship between Vietnam and China.  He said that the development of Vietnam-China relations is generally satisfactory despite ups and downs in past decades.  During the visit to Vietnam by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese President, leaders of the two countries reviewed the bilateral relations from strategic perspective and reached agreements on further advancing the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.  Vietnam will always remember the efforts in promoting bilateral relationship made by former Chinese state leaders such as Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, President Li Xiannian, and Chinese Ambassadors to Vietnam.  Mr. Nguyen spoke highly of the achievements made through visits to Vietnam by CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin this year and hoped that the friendship organizations in Vietnam and China join efforts in ensuring the Vietnam-China friendship last forever.    President Li expressed gratitude for Mr. Nguyen’s meeting and said that the people-to-people exchanges between China and Vietnam are becoming more active thanks to the smooth development of the official bilateral relations.  This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam and the 125th anniversary of the birth of Chairman Ho Chi Minh.  I visited Vietnam three times this year and set up good cooperation with Mr. Vu Xuan Hong, Chairman of Vietnam union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) and people from other circles.  CPAFFC and VUFO successfully held the dialogue of friendship delegates during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam and the photo exhibition of Ho Chi Minh and China-Vietnam relations during Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli’s visit to Vietnam.  The traditional friendship between China and Vietnam was founded and nurtured by former state leaders and our generation feels it important to carry it forward.  CPAFFC and CVFA will strengthen its cooperation with Vietnam counterparts for accelerating the people-to-people exchanges to a new height.

At the invitation of Soka Universtity, President Li Xiaolin paid a friendly visit to Tokyo, Tokushima Prefecture and etc. in Japan from 18th to 22th. During her visit, President Li Xiaolin had meetings with personages from various circles of the political, economy and culture in succession, including Mr. BABA YOSHIHISA, President of the Soka University, Mr. IIZUMI KAMON, Governor of the Tokushima Prefecture, Mr. YONEKURA MASAHIRO, Honorary President of the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations, Mr. HARADA MINORU, President of the Soka Gakkai, Mr. IKEDA HIROMASA, Executive Vice President of Soka Gakkai and Mr. YAMAGUCHI TSUYOSHI, Member of House of Representatives and Former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. President Li had frank and in-depth exchange of opinions on the topics concerned commonly by the both sides, such as how to deepen the friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and to improve and develop China-Japan relations. She gave a lecture in Soka University on December 18th, with the theme of to promote China- Japan friendship is the mission of the Chinese and Japanese youth in 21st century, and communicated with the Japanese students face to face. On that evening, President Li enjoyed the excellent performance by the students from Shanghai Dance School in the Soka University. In addition to the above events, President Li paid a special call on Mr. KOBAYASHI KANCHO, an old Japanese Eighth Route Army soldier and sent him the warm regards and best wishes from the Chinese people.