Organized by the CPAFFC together with the Lao Embassy to China, the Reception celebrating the 55th Anniversary of China-Laos Diplomatic Relations was held in Beijing on May 4, 2016. H.E. Mr. Liu Yunshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and Secretariat of CPC Central Committee, H.E. Mr. Bounnhang VORACHITH, General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Lao PDR attended the reception. Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the CPAFFC, and Mme. Vandy Bouthasavong, Ambassador of the Laos to China delivered speeches at the reception respectively. Liu Yunshan had a meeting with Bounnhang before the reception. Liu Yunshan said that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the China-Laos diplomatic ties and the traditional friendship is the common treasure of the two peoples. It is important to keep the high-level exchanges and further the cooperation between the two parties as these serve to the political guidance of the bilateral relations. The CPC is willing to join the efforts of LPRP to implement the important consensus reached by General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Bounnhang, deepen the exchanges of experience on party-building and state governance, constantly enrich the content of the exchanges and promote the pragmatic cooperation, thus to push forward the socialist causes of the two countries and the stable development of our bilateral relations. Bounnhang said that the Lao side appreciates heartily to the selfless support and assistance provided by the Chinese side during the past 55 years of diplomatic ties. The Lao side is willing to, guided by the important consensus reached by the two sides during this visit, cooperate with the Chinese side and act promptly to implement the cooperation in all fields so as to upgrade the Laos-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation to a new level. Mr. Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of CPC Central Committee, Mr. Guan Huabing, Chinese Ambassador to the Laos, Mr. Liu Hongcai, Vice Minister of the International Department of CPC Central Committee, Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mme. Gao Yan, Vice Minister of Commerce, Rear Admiral Guan Youfei, Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of Ministry of National Defence Mr. Wu Tao, President of China-Laos Friendship Association, Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC, Mr. Li Jun, Assistant Minister of the International Department of CPC Central Committee together with around 120 guests from various circles of the two countries as well as ASEAN diplomatic corps attended the reception.

At the invitation of our association, Dr. John Ducas, President of Bethune Canadian Alliance led a delegation of 14 members visited several places in Guizhou Provinces from April 21 to 29 following their visit to Hebei Province. The delegation had provided free clinical consultations and donations at health clinics and schools of two townships in Bijie City of Guizhou Province. The doctors and nurse trainers of the delegation had put the “Bethune Spirit” in practice and continued the friendship between Canada and Chinese people. During their visit to Guizhou, they had provided free medical consultations to hundreds of patients and carried out communications with local doctors and nurses at Renhe and Dashui Township health centers in Bijie City. and donations were presented respectively to Taoyuan Village health clinic and Taoyuan Village Elementary School at Renhe Township and Gaochao Village health clinic and Gaochao Village Elementary School at Dashui Township. With these donations, schools had purchased uniforms, printers and certain teaching materials for the pupils, and clinics had bought stretchers, fridges, germicidal lamps, frequency spectrum therapy apparatus and other medical equipment. Their generous action was highly appraised by the local people. The Canadian doctor conducting free medical consultation for patients in Guizhou Donation Ceremony by the Canadian doctors at Taoyuan Elementary School at Renhe Township

A 5-member delegation of Gabon-China Friendship Association (GAFC),  headed by its President, Mme. PIERREETTE DJOUASSA, paid a visit to Beijing and Guangzhou from April 24 to 29 at the invitation of CPAFFC.  During their visit, the delegation met and dined with Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC and Mr. Yu Weihua, Vice President of the Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries respectively. They also visited China North Industries Corporation and Guangdong Provincial Communication Group, and took a study tour to FOTON motor, HUAWEI Technologies, Guangzhou Bus Rapid Transit and Foshan Yaodonghua Furniture Company.

On April 27, CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi met with Ms. Dolana Msimang, South African Ambassador to China, and Mrs. Winnie N. Chibesakunda, Zambian Ambassador to China. Mme. Lin welcomed the two ambassadors to visit the CPAFFC and made a detailed introduction to the CPAFFC’s history, as well as its people-to-people friendly activities and local government exchanges with South African and Zambia. She also said that the CPAFFC will maintain close contacts with these two embassies and strengthen friendship among the peoples. Amb. Msimang spoke highly of the CPAFFC’s role as a bridge to enhance people-to-people exchanges and hoped to promote pragmatic cooperation between China-South Africa friendship cities jointly with the CPAFFC. Amb. Chibesakunda expected more cooperation with the CPAFFC in areas such as culture and youth for in-depth development of Zambia-China traditional friendship.

On April 27, Industry Committee of China- Russia Friendship Association (CRFA) held the first activity at Peace Palace in the CPAFFC since it was founded. Mr.Chen Yuan, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Chairman of China-Russia Friendship Association (CRFA), attended the activity and made an important speech. The representatives of the Industry Committee had an in-depth discussion on the pragmatic cooperation at the meeting. Chairman Chen Yuan pointed out that since Industry Committee of CRFA established, it had provided a platform for the personages who engaged in developing pragmatic cooperation with Russia. Industry Committee of CRFA would give support for each member in more fields in future and help the two countries further develop cooperation in the fields of fiance, economic，trade, agriculture, tourism and etc.. Chairman Chen Yuan gave a series of advice on pragmatic cooperation between China and Russia. Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC and Vice Chairman of CRFA presided over the meeting. More than 50 personages, including Mr. Li Jiping, Vice President of China Association for the Promotion Development Financing, attended the activity.

On April 26th, President Li Xiaolin had a meeting with Vice President Lisa Jackson of Apple Inc.  President Li Xiaolin welcome Jackson’s first visit to the Friendship Association. She briefed on the CPAFFC’s history and major projects including China-U.S. Governors Forum, China-U.S. Relations Conference, China-U.S. Subnational Legislature Cooperation Forum and Round-Table Summit of “Global CEO Council”. President Li also stressed that both China and the United States should enhance cooperation based on mutual trusts. She hoped that Apple would contribute more to supporting China’s development, environmental protection and philanthropy cause. Vice President Jackson said that Apple has been long engaging in protecting the environment and rare resources and dealing with climate change through the usage of renewable energy and green chemistry. Apple is looking forward to enhancing its cooperation and exchanges with the Friendship Association and will play a more important role in environmental protection and corporate social responsibility.

On April 25th, CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu met with Mr David Aptsiauri, Ambassador of Georgia.  Mr Aptsiauri thanked Vice President Song for the meeting, He said that the relations between the two countries developed rapidly in this year, several important Chinese delegations will visit Georgia. and the people-to-people diplomacy will be more successful. Vice President Song extended his welcome to Mr Aptsiauri for his visiting to CPAFFC, and introduced the basic status of that CPAFFC developing its works to Georgia in recent years. The two sides discussed cultural, sports, youth exchanges and promotion of regional cooperation between the two countries.  Mrs. Hu Chunmei, Associated Counsel of the Department of European and Asian Affairs; Mr. Mgaloblishvili, Counselor of Embassy of Georgia, attended the meeting.

Organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Embassy of CaboVerde in China, reception for the 40th  anniversary of China-Cabo Verde diplomatic relations was held in Beijing on April 25. Almost 200 guests from China and abroad, including Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Mr. Chen Xiaoguang, CPAFFC Vice President Ms. Lin Yi, Ambassador of Cabo Verde to China Ms. Tania Romualdo and Advisor to the President of Cabo Verde Amb. Arnaldo Delcado, attended the function. Ms. Lin Yi addressed that in the past 40 years, China and Cabo Verde have maintained a healthy and fast-growing relationship. She hoped that both countries could take the 40th anniversary as an opportunity, to further strengthen the traditional friendship, to elevate the local cooperation and people-to-people exchange to a new level, so as to better benefit the people of both countries. Amb. Romualdo said that, the success of Cabo Verde during the past 40 years strongly relied on the excellent cooperation with China. We were now in the spring season of our relations. Cabo Verde attached great importance to its relations with China and would take care of the seeds of friendship to allow them to grow root, blossom and bear fruits.      During the reception, Ambassador Romualdo, on behalf of the Government of Cabo Verde, awarded Mr. Zhao Yongqing, China’s former economic counselor to Cabo Verde, in recognition of his contribution to the bilateral relations during his tenure. 

On April 23,2016, people from all over the world, wearing Shakespeare masks with flowers in their hands, took part in the parade, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare in Stratford, a small town in central England along the River Avon. CPAFFC Vice President Hu Sishe and Mr. Zhang Hongxing Mayor of Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province led a delegation to this activity. The delegation, together with nearly a thousand people from all over the world, paraded from Shakespeare’s hometown to his resting place----Holy Trinity church, paying tribute to this great man, also known as “Olympic Mountains of Human Literature Zeus”. Shakespeare is one of the most outstanding playwright in both Britain and the world. He left behind many excellent works, enriching the treasure house of human civilization and serving as a bond for cultural exchanges in the world. Shakespeare is a household name in China and his works, such as Romeo and Juliet , Hamlet and the Merchant of Venice, are often played in China and loved by Chinese audience. On April 22, 2016, seminar in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the death of Tang Xianzu and Shakespeare and Fuzhou Cultural Week, held by CPAFFC and Fuzhou Municipal government, welcomed its opening ceremony. In the garden of Shakespeare’s home, parts of Tang’s well-known works, such as the Peony Pavilion and the Purple Hairpin, were played to the audience. Besides, Nanfeng Nuo Dance and Jinxi lion dance, the intangible cultural heritage of Fuzhou, were also performed. Meanwhile, Tang Xianzu photo exhibition was held in Stratford Library, showcasing Tang’s life, achievements and his hometown Fuzhou. The Chinese Culture, with rich ethnic traditions and local characteristics, aroused strong interest of the British audience and won hearty rounds of applause. The show and exhibition will last until April 25 and be played in the University of Leeds. 

Vice President Xie Yuan met with Deputy Chief Executive of China Red Ribbon Foundation (CRRF) Gu Yanfen on April 21st.They discussed about how to further the cooperation between CPAFFC and CRRF in the field of promoting women’s and children’s health, especially AIDS prevention and control.  CRRF became one of the first members of “Every Woman Every Child (EWEC)” China Partnership Network which was founded by CPAFFC on September 11th, 2015. In the future, CPAFFC will work closely with CRRF to make tangible contribution to the implementation and promotion of EWEC in China.