Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Mr. Akram Zeynalli, Azerbaijan Ambassador to China on August 23rd. President Li Xiaolin extended welcome to Ambassador Akram Zeynalli for visiting CPAFFC, and appreciated Ambassador Akram Zeynalli for giving support to the work of CPAFFC. Ambassador Akram Zeynalli thanked President Li for taking time to meet him and spoke highly of the important role CPAFFC had played in promoting the development of Azerbaijan and China relationship. He also said, Azerbaijan side would attach importance to President Li Xiaolin’s upcoming visiting, which would push the people-to-people exchanges of two countries to a new stage. Moreover, both sides exchanged their views on how to further strengthen the cooperation in the fields of humanities and culture between China and Azerbaijan. Mr. Shen Xin，Director General of the Department of European and Asian Affairs of  CPAFFC, attended the meeting.       Photographed by Wen Guangmei  

Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with the Mr. Rodolfo Nin Novoa, Foreign Minister of Uruguay, on August 20, 2018. President Li extended warm welcome to Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa for his visiting to CPAFFC and introduced the work CPAFFC had made about promoting the exchanges of the local governments and the friendship of the people among various countries. In recent years, CPAFFC developed frequent exchanges with Uruguay, and many governors and mayors of Uruguay also visited CPAFFC, which resulted in fruitful achievements in the fields of local governments and friendship-cities. President Li hoped Uruguay to dispatch delegations to take part in the Second China-Latin America Local Governments Cooperation Forum and 2018 China International City Cooperation Center to be held in November this year in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa thanked President Li Xiaolin for her warm reception. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Uruguay and China. China has become the largest trading partner in Uruguay, and both sides increasingly deepen the cooperation in the fields of the economy, trade and culture. Due to the exchanges of the local governments play an important role in the development of the bilateral relations, CPAFFC has done a lot of work in this field, which is of important significance. Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa hoped to strengthen the cooperation with Chinese side so as to enhance the exchanges of local governments with friendship-cites as carrier. Mr. Fernando Lugris, Uruguayan Ambassador to China, attended the meeting.         Photographed by Mou Liyi

President Li Xiaolin met with Jerry Brown, Governor of California in Sacramento, California on August 1st. Governor Brown briefed President Li on the preparation process of the Global Climate Action Summit to be held in San Francisco from September 12th to 14th. The summit is themed with climate change, as it is a challenge needs to be faced by all human beings, aiming at providing a platform for communication and cooperation for all countries in the current complex international situation. More than 4000 attendants are expected to take part in the summit. Brown also said that at present, U.S.-China relations were full of uncertainties. We should strengthen the exchanges between the local governments of the two countries. California hopes to conduct comprehensive cooperation with China in climate change, economy and trade, agriculture, science and technology, and contribute to the sound development of bilateral relations. President Li appreciated the efforts Governor Brown has been made to promote the cooperation between California and China. She said that currently China and U.S. should actively seek new areas of common interests, to achieve peace instead of argument. CPAFFC will constantly support the China-U.S. local government collaboration and pursue common development.       Photographed by Yang Xuehe

President Li Xiaolin attended the 2018 Legislative Summit of National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in Los Angeles, California from July 28th to 31st. President Li delivered a speech at NCSL Executive Committee meeting. She pointed out that China has been a peace-loving and responsible country since long time ago. In fact, China makes great efforts to develop itself, while it also does its best to shoulder the responsibility for safeguarding the world peace and promoting common prosperity. China doesn’t place its interests over others, nor does it gain development at sacrifice of others’ interests. President Bush Senior has repeatedly emphasized that the U.S.-China relationship is the most important relationship in the world. Trade is the key foundation for a sound U.S.-China relationship. Mutual respect and win-win cooperation hould always be fundamentals for advancement of U.S.-China bilateral ties. Next year will be the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Over the past 40 years, our bilateral relations have attained remarkable achievements. In the next 40 years, we hope that there will be new highlights in the win-win cooperation between our two countries. During the summit, President Li met with NCSL leaderships including President Deb Peters and President-Elect Toi Hutchinson, exchanged views on promoting cooperation between the two organizations. NCSL leaders expressed the willingness to further deepening the exchanges between local governments of the U.S. and China,  as well as exploring new areas and methods for cooperation between CPAFFC and NCSL. To reach these goals, NCSL planned to send more delegations consisted of state legislatures representatives to China. NCSL was founded in 1975 with its headquarter in Denver, Colorado. It is a national cross-party organization serving for the U.S. state legislatures. NCSL’s members include state senators, house representatives and their assistants in all states of the U.S.        

On June 20, 2018, CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin met with Eleonora Mitrofanova, head of Russia’s Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo). Li Xiaolin welcomed Eleonora Mitlofanova for her first visit to China and the CPAFFC since taking office as head of Rossotrudnichestvo, and briefly introduced the functions of the CPAFFC and the social and economic development since the 19th CPC National Congress. She also expressed her willingness to work with Rossotrudnichestvo to jointly promote people-to-people exchanges and friendship-city cooperation between the two countries. Eleonora Mitlofanova thanked Li Xiaolin for sparing the time to meet her and spoke highly of CPAFFC’s contribution to promoting world peace and China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination. She would deepen the exchanges and cooperation in the fields of youth, local governments and culture based on the agreement on cooperation signed between the two organizations. CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu, Director General of European and Asian Affairs of CPAFFC Shen Xin, Russian Ambassador to China Denisov Andrey and Cultural Counsellor of Russian Embassy and Director of Russian Cultural Center in Beijing Olga Melnikova were present at the meeting.           Photographed by Ren Xin    

On June 11th, President Li Xiaolin met with Orlando Smith, Premier and Minister of Finance of the British Virgin Islands. President Li Xiaolin welcomed Smith’s revisit to China at the invitation of the CPAFFC, introduced the exchange and cooperation between Chinese and UK local governments, especially the China-UK Regional Leaders Exchange Program, built up by CPAFFC and invited the delegation of BVI to attend the forth Regional Leaders Summit,which is expected to be held in Dalian in the second half this year.  Smith said that BVI remains committed to expanding relationship with China, particularly in the financial industry, has established friendly and cooperative relations with the Cities of Shenzhen and Tianjin, and hoped to become more deeply involved in the construction of “ Belt and Road” initiative in China.  

On June 8, 2018, the award ceremony of the first Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China was held in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People. President Xi Jinping awarded Russian President Vladimir Putin the Friendship Medal which symbolizes China’s highest state honor to foreigners. Chen Yuan, former CPPCC Vice Chairman and President of the China-Russia Friendship Association, and Li Xiaolin, CPAFFC President and Chairperson of the Think Tank Council of the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development, attended the ceremony. In addition, the CPAFFC specially invited almost 60 guests to attend the event, including leaders and members of the China-Russia Friendship Association, Dmitry Mezentsev, Chairman of Russia’s Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy and Chairman of the Russia-China Friendship Association, Evgeny Opasov, Head of the Association of Veterans of the WWII and Military Service of Russia, Chinese and Russian friendly personages, as well as representatives of relatives of the Soviet veterans who fought for China. Established on January 1, 2016, the Friendship Medals of the People's Republic of China are presented to foreign friends who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace. CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin and Galina Kulikova, First Vice Chairperson of the Russia-China Friendship Association Representatives of Chinese and Russian friendly personages and veterans         Photographed by Zheng Chen

In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx’s birth, the opening ceremony of the Chinese Cultural Exhibition Series Meet China in Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Karl Marx’s Birth jointly held by the CPAFFC, General Directorate for Cultural Heritage Rhineland-Palatinate (German: Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe, or GDKE) and Federation of German-Chinese Friendship Association (German: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher China-gesellschaften, or ADCG) was held on June 1st in Thermen am Viehmarkt in Trier, Germany. CPAFFC president Li Xiaolin, Vice governor of Jiangxi Ms. Wu Zhongqiong, Consul General of Chinese Consulate General in Frankfurt Mr. Wang Shunqing, Minister of Science, Lifelong Learning and Culture of Rhineland-Palatinate Dr. Konrad Wolf,  President of ADCG Mr. Kurt Karst, Curator of Rheinisches Landesmuseum Mr. Marcus Reuter, together with about 200 honored guests from Rhineland-Palatinate government, friendship associations, and commercial, academic and artistic fields were present at the event. President Li Xiaolin Delivered a Speech In her speech at the opening ceremony, President Li Xiaolin pointed out that the exhibition series selected photos, paintings, handicrafts, historical books, and performances in different areas of China with distinct ethnic characteristics. The visitors can appreciate the charm of Chinese culture through the exhibits, find out tremendous changes of China’s society, and feel the pulse of China’s development in the new era. In this way, they may fall in love with China and begin their real journey to China immediately after our exhibition. She hopes that the exhibition will serve as a window for the Germans to know more of China, a bridge for the two peoples to connect their feelings and friendship, and a tie to strengthen communication and mutual learning between German and Chinese cultures and to link friendly exchanges between the provinces or cities of the two countries.   Minister Dr. Konrad Wolf Delivered a Speech Dr. Wolf stated that mutual recognition and communication among different cultures would not only cross political and economic boundaries but also facilitate mutual understanding among different peoples so as to promote developments in the fields of politics, economics and so on. The 7 provinces/cities engaged in the cultural exhibition series represent almost a quarter of China’s landscape, enabling people in Trier to know better of China, a charming country with various facets, through different activities related to the exhibition.        Consul General Mr. Wang Shunqing, Vice Governor of Jiangxi Ms. Wu Zhongqiong and President of ADCG Mr. Kurt Karst Delivered Speeches Respectively Jointly launched by Jiangxi, Beijing, Shandong, Qinghai, Chengdu of Sichuan Province, Baoshan of Yunnan Province and Shaoxing of Zhejiang Province, the Chinese cultural exhibition series will be open for 4 months, from 1, June to 30, September. As the first exhibition of the exhibition series, spirit of Jiangxi, taste of China made its debut on June 1st. President Li Xiaolin, together with Vice Governor of Jiangxi Ms.Wu Zhongqiong and Minister Konrad Wolf launched the exhibition at the opening ceremony on June 1st .    President Li Xiaolin, together with Vice Governor of Jiangxi Ms.Wu Zhongqiong and Minister Konrad Wolf Launched The Exhibition       Opening Ceremony    Jiangxi Opera Peony Pavilion and Porcelain- Instrument Performance  Journalists from Germany, along with People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency attended and covered the exhibition. President Li Xiaolin was interviewed by People’s Daily and German media. During her visit to Germany, President Li Xiaolin also went to meet with Minister Konrad Wolf and Trier City Mayor Wolfram Leibe.       News links: People’s Daily https://app.peopleapp.com/Api/600/DetailApi/shareArticle?type=0&article_id=1796631&from=groupmessage&isappinstalled=0 XinhuaNet  http://www.xinhuanet.com/world/2018-06/02/c_129885354.htm?from=groupmessage&isappinstalled=0 Chinese Consulate General in Frankfurt http://frankfurt.china-consulate.org/chn/ China News http://www.chinanews.com/m/gj/2018/06-02/8528641.shtml?from=groupmessage&is appinstalled=0 China News Photos http://www.cnsphoto.com/newDetail/single/10584812?pictureId=21554388&keywords People.cn http://3gtv.people.com.cn/ShowMobileVideoPortal/pages/index.jsp;jsessionid=1601E31A301BD80AAF4E4265F81DE651?id=30030581&from=singlemessage&isappinstalled=0 Intercontinental Communication Center https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/NMcDmpfm_XKQ2h9J2L86mw Jiangxi Local Media https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Q9lYbfqFYHqs7KVBHBqtjQ https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/sGLV4pG_pHlVOh27yTX4kg                                                    Photos by Chen Min & Cai Tao

The celebration of the 100th anniversary of Panasonic was held in Beijing on May 28, 2018. CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin attended and addressed the event as a special guest. Mme. Li Xiaolin congratulated Panasonic on the 100th anniversary of its founding and said that on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up and the 40th anniversary of the Sino-Japanese Peace and Friendship Treaty, the Chinese people will not forget that Panasonic was one of the first major Japanese companies to participate in China’s reform and opening up, and made valuable contributions to China’s modernization and China-Japan economic and trade cooperation. In the meanwhile, the company is actively committed to the cause of China-Japan friendship. Through the establishment of the Panasonic Education Fund and the Panasonic Scholarship, it has carried out a large number of public benefit activities in cooperation with the CPAFFC, the China-Japan Friendship Association and other Chinese institutions and local governments, making active efforts to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and maintain the sound and stable development of China-Japan relations. Mme. Li Xiaolin said that at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018, President Xi Jinping declared to the world China’s firm determination to further expand its opening up, which means huge opportunities for all countries including Japan. We sincerely hope that Panasonic will seize China's development opportunities on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, continue to push forward the bilateral economic and trade cooperation and make new contributions to the steady and long-term development of China-Japan relations. In his speech, President of Panasonic Tsuga Kazuhiro expressed appreciation for China’s long-term support for Panasonic and said that this year marks the 100th anniversary of Panasonic’s founding and the 40th anniversary of its business in China. Panasonic cannot make such achievements without the historical opportunity brought by China’s reform and opening up. In the next 100 years, Panasonic will continue to take on its social responsibility, stick to China-Japan cooperation, and join hands with China to contribute to the prosperity of Asia and the world. During the celebration, Panasonic donated another 3 million yuan to the Panasonic Education Fund through the CPAFFC, so as to continue its support for the training of Chinese young talents. Mme. Li Xiaolin and Mr. Tsuga Kazuhiro attended the donation ceremony. In 1995, then President of Panasonic Matsushita Masaharu donated 1 million U.S. dollars to the CPAFFC and founded the Panasonic Education Fund, to support China’s university students who are academically talented but have financial difficulties to complete their studies. So far, the fund has awarded scholarships worth over 10 million yuan to 9421 students of 39 universities in 22 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China.           Photographed by Wang Lei

On May 7th, President Li Xiaolin met Utah legislature delegation led by President Wayne Niederhauser of the Senate and Speaker Gregory H. Hughes from the House. Madam Li introduced the function of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the three major China-U.S. sub-national cooperative mechanisms. She highly recognized the long-term efforts that Utah legislature has made in promoting cooperation with Chinese counterparts. She hoped that by visiting China, the delegation could gain more understanding about China and make more contributions to bilateral cooperation in legislation, trade, education, tourism and other fields. President Niederhauser and Speaker Hughes spoke highly of CPAFFC’s replaceable role in US-China sub-national exchanges. They believe that cooperation will bring mutual benefits while conflicts will make opposite effect on the two sides. They are willing to push forward exchanges and cooperation between Utah and China in all aspects.       Photographed by Yang Xuehe and Jin Hanghang