Vice President Xie Yuan met with Ms. Li Hong, Chairwoman of Shankai Sports and Mr. Chenwei, General Manager of Jiachen Sunshine Sports on February 19th. Mr. Xie expressed gratitude to Shankai Sports and Jiachen Sunshine Sports for their longstanding support to CPAFFC. He appreciated the efforts they have made in the projects including “Dubai Week in China”, “Dubai World Cup”, American National Football League’s visit to China and “Love in China” Philanthropic Activity, and expressed the wish to further the cooperation between CPAFFC and the two companies in philanthropy, sports and other fields.  Mr. Ji Yongjun, Deputy Director General of Department of American and Oceania Affairs attended the meeting.

On 3rd February, Mr Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with Mr Lars Bo Larsen, Deputy Head of Mission of the Danish Embassy in Beijing. The two sides have extensively exchanged views on co-hosting the China-Denmark Regional Leaders’ Forum. Song introduced the CPAFFC’s work on promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and foreign local governments, and expressed willingness to work with the Danish Embassy in Beijing to co-host the  China-Denmark Regional Leaders’ Forum, so as to deepen China-Denmark Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Larsen thanked Song and the CPAFFC for the efforts in promoting cooperation between China and Denmark, and said that he will continue working closely with the CPAFFC to promote the development of bilateral relations.

On 2 Feburary, 2016, the First Quarterly Meeting of 2016 for China-CEEC Cooperation was held in Diaoyutai State Guesthouse by the Secretariat for Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries. Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Haixing attended the meeting and gave concluding speech. Present at the meeting were also the Ambassadors and representatives from the 16 Embassies of Central and Eastern European Countries, members of the Secretariat, and officials of foreign affairs offices of related provinces, autonomous regions and direct-controlled municipalities. It was announced at the meeting that CPAFFC was officially one member of the Secretariat. Shen Xin, deputy director general of European and Asian Department of CPAFFC, attended the meeting and delivered a speech regarding CPAFFC’s achievements in the field of cooperation with Central and Eastern European Countries in recent years and the work plan for 2016.

On Jan 30th, 2016, Mr. Ji Yongjun, Deputy Director General of Department of American and Oceanian Affairs greeted H.E. Fay Pickersgill, new Jamaican Ambassador to China at the airport.   H.E. Fay Pickersgill is the President of Jamaica-China Friendship Association for many years. She has been keeping enjoyable cooperative relations with CPAFFC, making great contribution to the friendly cause between Chinese and Jamaican people. Last November, she was nominated as the new Jamaican Ambassador to China by Jamaican government.

On 28th January, Secretary General Li Xikui met with Mr. Seung-Min Lee, the Chairman of World University Peace Service Corps Foundation Inc, and his delegation composed of 65 candidates from more than 50 countries and regions’ universities. Mr. Zhang Zihui, the Vice Director of China Service Centre for Friendship and Cooperation with Foreign Countries(CSCFCFC), attended the meeting as well.    Secretary General Li Xikui welcomed Mr. Seung-Min Lee and his candidates’ delegation to visiting CPAFFC, and congratulated the winners of the candidates. He also expressed his wish that every candidate would take up their responsibilities as the World University Peace Ambassadors, and fulfill their commitments to world peace.    Candidates also made a friendly communication with staff from Department of Asian & African Affairs, Department of European & Asian Affairs, Department of American & Oceanian Affairs and CSCFCFC of CPAFFC.   

  On 25th Jan, 2016, Mr. Ji Yongjun, Deputy Director General from Department of American and Oceanian Affairs met with Mr. Rodrigo Messi and Mr. Matias Messi, responsibilities of Leo Messi Foundation in Barcelona. Mr. Ji briefed them about the relevant work of CPAFFC. The two responsibilities have expressed their willingness to establish contacts with CPAFFC and promote Leo Messi’s work with China. Moreover, under the coordination and assistant of Argentina-China People’s Cooperative Association, both sides held friendly discussion on the topics with common interest, such as bilateral cooperative methods and development of youth football.

  The 2016 Meeting of United Cities and Local Government(UCLG) members from Chinese Mainland was held in Beijing on January 22nd . The meeting was organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Representatives from 23 municipalities and province attended the meeting to discuss how to conduct local government international exchange under the framework of UCLG.

To practice the targeted poverty alleviation concept, Impression ·Rainbow Bridge was held in conference hall of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultive Conference (CPPCC) on January 22nd,2016. Nearly 1000 audience, including CPPCC Vice Chairman Qi Xuchun and Ma Peihua, the 10th NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairman Gu Xiulian, the 10th and 11th NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairman Uyunqimg, CPAFFC president Li Xiaolin, Jiangsu NPC Standing Committee deputy director Bai Suning, as well as envoys from foreign embassies in China, international friends and MNC representatives, enjoyed the performance. cave dwelling, local specialty, “Rainbow Bridge” volunteers...This is not just a “stage”, but the track “Rainbow Bridge” has walked through. “This is a special performance. The performers are exceptional, though not professional...” At 19:30, story of Rainbow Bridge Project was vividly narrated by Guo Xiaodong, famous Chinese actor and host of the gala. Rainbow Bridge Project, initiated by CPAFFC president Li Xiaolin in Hong’an county of Hubei Province in October, 2012, is a special program to help people in less developed rural areas of China by cooperating with MNCs. During the past three years, the project has extended to 88 counties of Hubei, Shaanxi, Gansu and Jiangxi Province; more than 60 Fortune Global 500 companies have taken part in over 60 sub-projects. Over 300,000 people have been immediately benefited. Impression ·Rainbow Bridge is more like a three-year report of Rainbow Bridge Project. Organized by CPAFFC, directed by Art troupe of PLA Political Department of the Air Force, performed by over 300 MNC representatives and people from counties of Hubei, Shaanxi, Jiangxi, Guizhou and Shanxi Province, including 20 veterans from Bayi nursing home and Xingguo nursing home, 10 Hong’an and Zhidan youth football teams representatives who attended China-Germany youth friendship match during President Xi’s visit to Germany in March, 2014, as well as Hong’an Youth Erhu Band, Ansai Youth Waist Drum Band, Luochuan Youth Yangge Dance Team, Xingguo Youth Folk Song Team, Zunyi Youth Chorus Team, English teachers and young leaders of towns and villages, etc. Famous artists Liu Bingyi, Zheng Xulan, Liu Jing, Guo Xiaodong, Geng Weihua, Yun Duo and Chinese Air Force Blue-Sky Children’s Art troupe, Zhongguancun No. 2 Primary School Dancing Team and Jiangshan Fancy Basketball Team were invited to make friendship performance. Hong’an Erhu, Xingguo folk song, Shannxi Yangge and waist drum, Miao dance...Laoqu’s Children displayed Chinese regional culture to international friends with characteristic performance: express joy via strings, salute to revolutionary predecessors via singing, send New Year’s blessings via drumbeats and show longing for life via dancing. Indeed, they were not just standing on the stage, and this is not a common performance. This is the track of Rainbow Bridge Project, and this is the chapter Laoqu people and MNC has traveled through together all these years.

Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping met with former United Nations Secretary General Boutros Ghali and other 9 Arab friendship individuals in Cairo of Egypt on January 20, who were conferred on the China-Arab Friendship Outstanding Contribution Award by CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin.   Before the awarding ceremony, President Li Xiaolin met with the 10 awarded individuals and sang high praise of their long-term contribution in promoting the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Arab peoples, as well as in deepening China-Arab friendly cooperation in various fields. Li said, this year marks the 60th anniversary of China-Arab diplomatic relations. Over the past six decades, China and Arab countries have been sharing weal and woe, and thus forged profound friendship. These can never be achieved without the arduous work of people of all works of life from China and Arab countries. Nowadays, both China and the Arab world are shouldering the common historical mission of national rejuvenation. The CPAFFC would like to join hands with our friends, old and new, to make more efforts in enhancing mutual understanding and trust, benefiting our peoples and furthering China-Arab friendly relations.  The awardees felt deeply honored of being granted the China-Arab Friendship Outstanding Contribution Award, and expressed their willingness to spare no effort in promoting the further development of Arab-China people-to-people relations.

On January 19, Vice President Xie Yuan met with Richard Nixon Foundation delegation, headed by Mr. Christopher Cox, grandson of former US President Nixon. Vice President Xie spoke highly of the positive efforts made by the Nixon Family and the Foundation in promoting the development of China-US relations. CPAFFC wishes to work together with the Foundation to push forward China-US friendly cooperation. Cox thanked CPAFFC for the continuous support to the Foundation over the past years and introduced the ongoing renovation project in Nixon Library. The renovated Library will reopen to the public in October, and a China exhibit will be added to the Library, which will help more Americans gain better understanding on China, and drive forward the bilateral relationship.