Xu Kuangdi, vice chairman of the tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and president of China-U.S. People’s Friendship Association, had a meeting with former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry at the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) on March 17. President Zhou Ji of CAE and President Li Xiaolin of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) attended the meeting. President Xu Kuangdi offered a warm welcome to Secretary Perry. He said, China-U.S. relationship is one of the most important bilateral relations in the world. As the most developed country in the world, the U.S. boasts conspicuous advantage in economy, science and technology. China is the world’s largest developing country and now actively engaged in raising living standards of its people and eliminating poverty. He hoped the two countries will strengthen cooperation in various sectors, benefiting their peoples and the world at large He also expressed congratulations on the publication of the Chinese version of Secretary Perry’s book, My Journey at the Nuclear Brink. Secretary Perry said, China has made remarkable progress in its development during the past decades, to which China’s science and technology development and engineers have made great contributions. The U.S. and China could share the leadership in the area of engineering aimed with aims at win-win cooperation. As an engineering miracle created by mankind, nuclear energy and its peaceful use are essential to the safety and well-being of humanity. He hoped to devote the remainer of his life to promoting greater public awareness about the dangers of nuclear weapons and mitigate the threat they pose to the human-beings.

To further promote the Chinese traditional culture and deepen the cross-strait culture, the 7th Cross-Strait Spring Festival Folk Cultural Gala, hosted by China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development(CFFPD) and Hebei Provincial Department of Culture was held from January 30 to February 2, 2017 in Taichung Cultural Industry Quarter.   During the whole activity, the organizers gave the cultural performance of Wuqiao Acrobatics and Jingxing Lahua, showed the intangible cultural heritages of stone carved works and Kesi spining, exhibited the Hebei folk paintings and tourism pictures, which attracted great interests of the local audiences.    During the gala, the local people specially tasted the Hebei local flavors of Zhaozhouqiao roasted pear, Zhili spring pancake, Hebei style baked roll and hand-made vermicelli noodles, which greatly enriched the food exchanges cross the strait.  The Cross-Strait Spring Festival Folk Cultural Gala was first initiated by CFFPD in 2011 and then annually held in Taiwan during the Spring Festival holidays for the purpose of promoting Chinese traditional culture and cross-strait folk cultural exchanges. It has been a brand popular Spring Festival celebration for the local people.       

On January 13th, the CPAFFC and Vietnam Embassy in China jointly held a dinner banquet in celebration of the 67th Anniversary of China-Vietnam Diplomatic Ties and 2017 Spring Festival. Mr. Yu Zhengsheng, Member of the Standing Commitee of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee and Chairman of CPPCC and Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) attended the event and made the speeches respectively. Mr. Zhang Qingli, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CPPCC, Mr. Vo Van Thuong, Member of the Political Bureau and Minister of the Publicity Department of CPV Central Committee, Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Member of the Political Bureau of CPV Central Committee and Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Vietnam and other high-level officials and representatives from all social circles of the two countries with 300 in total attended the event. Yu Zhengsheng said in the speech that China and Vietnam were connected by rivers and mountains and both were socialist countries led by the Communist Parties which shares a interconnected future and common destiny. At present, the bilateral relations enjoy sound momentum of development with furthering political mutual-trust, deepening pragmatic cooperation and closer people-to-people exchanges . China and Vietnam should continue to adhere to the traditional friendship, solidarity and mutual-support, enhance the win-win cooperation and mutual-respect and promote the bilatral strategic cooperative partnership relations for further development. Nguyen Phu Trong said in the speech that the people-to-people friendship is the foundation and original force for the devleopment of bilateral relations. The two side should make more flexible and diversified efforts in this regard especially to the exchanges between younger generations, thus to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship, inherit and enhance the traditional friendship cultivated by the leaders from older generations of the two countries and push forward the bilateral relations for further development. Yu Zhengsheng and Nguyen Phu Trong held a meeting before the event. During the event, artists from both countries staged wonderful performances which pushed the friendship atomosphere in celebration of Spring Festival by both countries to a climax.    

On December 6th, Ms. Arlene Foster, First Minister of Northern Ireland attended the 4th Meeting of the China-UK High Level People to People Dialogue.On the 4th meeting, Ms. Foster introduced the cooperation between the Northern Ireland and Liaoning as well as Hubei in the fields of Airplane Parts Manufacturing，higher education and medical care. She said that Northern Ireland will further develop cooperation with Chinese regions through the channel of Northern Ireland Bureau in China and the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast. Northern Ireland is interested in host the 3rd China-UK Local Leaders Meeting next year, and will keep close communication with the CPAFFC. Before the meeting, Ms. Foster met with Vice Premier Liu Yandong, Chinese Chair of the China-UK High Level People to People Dialogue. Vice Premier Liu Yandong appreciated Northern Ireland’s efforts in facilitating friendly cooperation with China and hope Northern Ireland can further strengthen cooperation Chinese regions, deepen people to people exchanges, and consistently inject new impetus into the golden era of China-UK relations. Vice President Song Jingwu of the CPAFFC met with Ms. Foster before the 4th meeting，and exchanged views on the cooperation between China and Northern Ireland after Br-exit and the 3rd China-UK Local Leaders Meeting. Ms. Wang Shuying also attended the meeting.

 The Inaugural China Denmark Regions and Cities Forum co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC) and the Royal Danish Embassy in Beijing was successfully held in Beijing from December 5 to 6. State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Danish Minister for Gender Equality and Nordic Cooperation Karen Ellemann Kloch attended the Opening Ceremony and addressed the audience. President Li Xiaolin of the CPAFFC, Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong, Executive Vice Mayor of Beijing Li Shixiang, Vice Mayor of Beijing Wang Ning, Vice President of the CPAFFC Hu Sishe and the Danish Ambassador to China Carsten Damsgaard attended the Forum. State Councilor Yang Jiechi pointed out in his speech that guided by the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development proposed by President Xi Jinping, China is now developing towards the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. It is at an opportune time for local governments from China and Denmark to share experience and seek practical cooperation. The two sides should align their development strategies, and explore new areas of practical cooperation, so as to better serve their own development and deliver benefits to the two countries and peoples. Danish Minister for Gender Equality and Nordic Cooperation Karen Ellemann Kloch highlighted in her speech that the Forum has added a new dimension to the already strong city and regional cooperation built upon the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries from 2008. The purpose of the first China Denmark Regions and Cities Forum is to strengthen China-Denmark partnership even further by connecting sector cooperation with the established local level partnerships. She hoped that the Forum will become a continued platform for a more intense cooperation and sharing of know-how, technology and solutions to make the two countries’ cities and regions better. About 400 government, academic, and business representatives from 31 provinces and cities of China and 6 regions and cities of Denmark attended the Forum themed “Focusing on Sustainable Development towards Shared Economic Growth”. They held in-depth exchanges and discussions on sub-topics as “green urbanisation”, “improving public health”, “sustainable food and agriculture”, and “strengthening people-to-people exchange.” On the margins of the Forum, Minister Karen Ellemann Kloch, Ambassador Carsten Damsgaard and local government leaders visited Beijing’s scenes by biking in order to raise people’s awareness of environmental protection and low carbon transportation. The Danish delegation also visited Beijing Vehicle Emission Management Center, China-Denmark Milk Technology Cooperation Centre, and Fangzhuang Community Hospital.A series of documents were signed during the Forum. Harbin Municipal People’s Government and the Royal Danish Embassy in Beijing signed Letter of Intent Between Harbin Municipal People’s Government and the Royal Danish Embassy on Deepening the Cooperation in Agriculture, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Investment Fond for Developing Countries (IFU) signed Financial Cooperation Protocol, Zhaoqing Municipal Government and Grundfos Holding A/S signed Memorandum of Understanding On Water and Wastewater Treatment Energy Saving and Environmental Protection Cooperation, Xinjiang Haozi Farm and SA Christensen signed Memorandum of Understanding regarding Dairy Farm in Xinjiang Province, Hebei Fengning Yuantianran Organic Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd. and SA Christensen signed Memorandum of Understanding regarding Organic Farm in Hebei Province, and Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism and Wonderful Copenhagen signed Joint Action Plan 2016-2017 between Beijing Tourism Commission and Wonderful Copenhagen. China Denmark Regions and Cities Forum, co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Royal Danish Embassy in Beijing, is the first institutional cooperation platform, under China Denmark Joint Work Programme, for the two countries’ local governments.

 On September 13, the CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi attended the seminar on the 60th Anniversary of the South African Women’s March. South African Ambassador to China H.E. Ms. Dolana Msimang, Cabo Verdean Ambassador to China H.E. Ms. Tania Romualdo, Lesothan Ambassador to China H.E. Ms. Lebohang Ntsinyi, UNAIDS Country Director for China Dr. Catherine Sozi and other 80 guests attended the seminar. In her opening remarks, Ambassador Msimang reviewed the history of the march in which the South African women fought against apartheid, and introduced South Africa's current measures to promote women’s rights and interests and the outstanding examples of South African women as well. The representative from the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) read off the written remarks by ACWF Vice President Mme. Jiaoyang, which introduced the development of women in China following the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing. Dr. Catherine Sozi set forth African women’s role in contributing to the sustainable development of the continent.In the panel discussion, CCTV moderator Ms. Tian Wei, together with Ambassador Tania, Ambassador Ntsinyi, Dr. Anastasia, Research Associate of the Center for African Studies of Peking University, and Ms. Lu Yamin, Deputy Director General of the International Department of the ACWF, discussed women’s role in enhancing the cooperation between Africa and China through FOCAC. Mme. Lin Yi said in the closing remarks that the CPAFFC has long been dedicated to enhancing people’s friendship and promoting exchanges and cooperation in various fields including women between Chinese people and people from other countries. The CPAFFC is looking forward to making joint efforts with all parties to fully achieve the goals for women’s development of the 2030 Agenda.After the seminar, a photo exhibition on South African women’s march and a Rooibos tea party were held.

At the invitation of the Municipality of Soukra and Tunisia-China Friendship Association, the CPAFFC sent a 6-member youth delegation to visit Tunisia and attend the 8th Euro-Mediterranean Youth Theater Festival from August 19 to 27, 2016. The delegation was headed by Professor Ding Long, Council member of the Chinese-Arab Friendship Association and Vice President of School of Foreign Studies, University of International Business and Economics.The Festival was co-hosted by Ariana and Soukra Municipalities. During the visit, Governor and Secretary General of Ariana Governorate , Mayor of Soukra and Chairman of Tunisia-China Friendship Association met with the delegation respectively. The delegation also held discussions with representatives from Tunis Carthage University.

From August 19th to 23rd , Vice president Hu Sishe led 16 diplomatic delegates from different embassies in China to Heilongjiang Province for a new round of Cultural Tour and the opening ceremony of “2016 15th Hands Across the Pacific Art Exhibition ”.16 diplomats from 11 countries including Dato’Zainuddin Yahya, Ambassador of Malaysia and Mr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, Ambassador of Sri Lanka participated in the tour. In the seminar on cultural exchanges, the diplomatic envoys made face-to-face discussions with the representatives from Heilongjiang Provincial Bureau of Culture, Heilongjiang Federation of Literary and art circles, Heilongjiang Art Museum, and artists. The seminar gave the delegates a picture of the rich connotation and development conditions of the Heilongjiang culture. They discussed the potential for further cultural exchanges and cooperation between the diplomats’ countries and CPAFFC as well as Heilongjiang Province. The series of activities carried out in Chinese Cultural Tour of Diplomatic Envoys are aimed at showcasing positive Chinese cultural images and promoting the establishment of a long-term mechanism of cultural exchange and cooperation between relevant countries and Chinese cities as well as provinces with  field study in cultural situation of Chinese provinces and cities. During the Cultural Tour in Heilongjiang, the diplomatic delegation also took part in the opening ceremony of 2016 15th Hands Across the Pacific Art Exhibition.The exhibition was co-hosted by CPAFFC, Heilongjiang People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Heilongjiang Federation of Literary and art circles and Canadian International Cultural Exchange Society in Heilongjiang Art Museum From August 20th  to 31st. It gathered more than100 exhibits including oil paintings, watercolor paintings, prints, sculptures, art installations, handcrafts, photographs, etc.by artists from China, Japan, Canada, Netherlands and so on. Chinese prints made their debut in the Exhibition. At the opening ceremony on August 20th, Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr.Wang Liqun, Vice President of Heilongjiang Federation of Literary and art circles,and Mrs. Wu-Brandt Hoi Sai, president of Canadian International Cultural Exchange Society delivered speeches on the ceremony. Xinhua Net, Heilongjiang TV, Peoplearts.cn reported on the event.

The signing ceremony of Muscatine Visiting Scholars Program was held in Beijing on August 8th. President Li Xiaolin, Vice President Xie Yuan, President and CEO Wang Lu of Walmart Global eCommerce - Asia, Executive Vice President Lan Ye of JD Group attended the ceremony.In his speech, VP Xie briefly recalled the anecdotes about China-US friendship between China’s President Xi Jinping and the State of Iowa of the United States. He said, the year of 2015 marked the 30th anniversary of President Xi’s visit to the city of Muscatine in Iowa. In order to pass people’s friendship between the two countries and train more personnel for the cause of people-to-people diplomacy, the CPAFFC set up the Muscatine Visiting Scholars Program under the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development. This program aims at providing a platform for short-time training and visit for English-speaking personnel of the CPAFFC and employees of different companies. Mr. Xie said, both Chinese and foreign corporations, including Walmart, have long been dedicated to China’s public welfare and charity. Companies involved in the Muscatine Visiting Scholars Program should explore new channels based on their own advantages, and thus make new contribution to building the people-to-people friendship bridge between China and the United States. President Wang Lu briefly introduced Walmart Global eCommerce’s development in China and expressed his gratitude towards the CPAFFC’s support. He looks forward to further enhancing the cooperation between the two sides and Walmart will contribute more to promote the development of China-US relations. Secretary General Jia Ling of China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development and Senior Vice PresidentGao Huandongof Walmart’s Yihaodian signed the agreement on behalf of the two sides. President Li Xiaolin, Vice President Xie Yuan and President Wang Lu witnessed the ceremony.  

 To prepare for the 1st China-U.S. Sub-national Legislatures Cooperation Forum, Vice President Xie Yuan led a working group to visit Hawaii from May 17 to 18, and paid visits to Hawaii House Speaker Joseph Souki, Vice Speaker John Mizuno, Majority Leader Scott Saiki, Majority Floor Leader Cindy Evans, and Chief of Staff Mike Cartney from Governor’s Office. Vice President Xie introduced that the CPAFFC has been actively promoting China-U.S. sub-national relationship since its establishment. Over 250 pairs of sister state/provinces and sister cities have been twinned between the two countries. CPAFFC is also implementing several sub-national exchange mechanisms such as China-U.S. Governors Forum, and plays host to about 10 U.S. governors to visit China each year. The 1st China-U.S. Sub-national Legislatures Cooperation Forum is going to be held in Hawaii this June, and the legislative leaders from both sides will hold talks and reach agreements on the theme of tourism cooperation during the Forum. It is hoped that under the support of Hawaii State Government and Legislatures, this Forum will achieve complete success. Xie also sent an invitation to Governor David Iger for him to attend the Fourth China-U.S. Governors Forum, which will be held in Chengdu this August.  The Hawaii House leadership warmly welcomes the upcoming Forum. They said that tourism is the largest industry for Hawaii, and the Forum will not only draw more Chinese tourists to the state but promote sub-national exchange and cooperation between the two sides. The Hawaii legislature is working closely with U.S. State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF) for this Forum, and will provide continuous support. Chief of Staff McCartney agreed to pass the invitation message to Governor Iger, and promised that the Hawaii State Government will actively promote the state to achieve more practical results with the Chinese side at the Forum. During the visit, Vice President Xie Yuan also met with the leadership of the U.S.-China People’s Friendship Association Honolulu Chapter and the two sides reached agreement on future exchange programs.