CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi led a CPAFFC delegation to attend the 5th National Conference of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in Johannesburg, South Africa from November 27 to December 1, 2016. Hon. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President of South Africa, Hon. Mr. Des Van Rooyen, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Mr. David Makhura, Premier of Gauteng Province, Cllr. Parks Tau, Chairperson of SALGA and President of the United Cities and Local Government (UCLG) and around 1000 participants attended the conference. 　　 Mme. Lin Yi addressed the opening ceremony, congratulating SALGA’s 20th anniversary, as well as Tau’s being elected President of UCLG. She said that the CPAFFC has been long engaged in promoting China-Africa local government exchanges and expects further cooperation with SALGA to jointly facilitate experience sharing, practical cooperation and common development between Chinese and South African local governments, so that more and more people can directly benefit from the achievement of China-South Africa cooperation.  During the conference, Mme. Lin Yi also met with with Hon. Des Van Rooyen and Cllr. Parks Tau and discussed with them on deepening pragmatic cooperation between Chinese and South African friendship cities and promoting bilateral local government and cultural exchanges.

On the afternoon of December 1st, Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with Mr. SAKASHITA  SHIGENOBU, Chairman of Committee of Philia Non-Profitable Organization and the supreme Consultant of the Shenzhen Japanese CCI. Since the early 1980s, under the guidance of Mr. OKAZAKI  KAHEITA, one of the founders of China-Japan friendship, Mr. SAKASHITA  SHIGENOBU actively developed economic and people-to-people exchange programs between China and Japan, and participated in planning and organizing many influential large-scale events such as Exchange Conference on China’s Policies for Foreign Enterprises which was jointly held with CPAFFC in 2002 and 2004 in succession. Mr. Li Ruihuan, then-Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) spoke highly of the conference at the time he was presented. After the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, Mr. SAKASHITA SHIGENOBU donated 6 million Yen to the disaster area. In September 2006, he was conferred People’s Friendship Contribution Prize.  During his meeting with Mr. SAKASHITA SHIGENOBU, CPAFFC Vice President Hu Sishe conveyed President Li Xiaolin’s greetings to him and thanked him for the contributions he had made to the cause of the friendship between China and Japan over the past several decades. He thought that the people-to-people friendship of the two countries should be developed with great efforts especially when the bilateral relations were confronted with difficulties and challenges. Mr. SAKASHITA SHIGENOBU said, the next year will mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-China diplomatic relations. They are planning some events to improve the bilateral ties. He said it had been long time since the last Exchange Conference on China’s Policies for Foreign Enterprises was held. . During the period, many new situations and problems arose. They would like to hold the third exchange conference. In addition, they hoped to strengthen the cooperation with the Chinese side in fields of the elderly care, child health care and etc.. Vice President Hu said that it is a good idea to enhance the mutual understanding, dispel the doubts and achieve win-win results through the third exchange conference. Both sides also have a large space to cooperate in  fields of the elderly care, child health care, environmental protection and so on. Japan has many experience that China could adapt from. Vice President Hu said that in order to build an extensive platform of cooperation for the two countries’ enterprises, these contents could be considered to be added to the conference. Mr. SAKASHITA SHIGENOBU agreed with Vice President Hu’ s suggestions and the both sides also discussed on some other cooperative intentions. Mr. Hu Yang, Deputy Director-general of China Service Center for Friendship and Cooperation with Foreign Countries (CSC) of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.

Mme. Gu Xiulian, President of China-ASEAN Association met with Mr. Bhokin Bhalakula, President of Thai-Chinese Culture and Economy Association(TCCEA) and his delegation in the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) on November 30th. Gu Xiulian said that China and Thailand are close neighbors. The two countries keep close cooperative relationships on bilateral, regions and international affairs. “China and Thailand are one family” takes deeper roots in two peoples. She expressed profound memory to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the great friend of the Chinese people, and said that the Chinese side is willing to make joint efforts with Thailand to continuously enrich the connotation of the comprehensive strategic partnership of the two countries and make much progress with China-ASEAN relations. Gu Xiulian expressed appreciation for the Thai-Chinese Young Executive Exchange Program organized jointly by CPAFFC and TCCEA. She hoped that the program could play active role in enhancing the friendly relations of the two countries. Bhokin Bhalakula said that the Thai-Chinese Young Executive Exchange Program aims to strengthen the exchanges and understanding, promote the pragmatic cooperation and inherit the traditional friendship. The Thai side is willing to make great efforts to hold the program well and commonly make more people-to-people exchanges programs with CPAFFC and China-ASEAN Association. He said that the people have been grieving for the passing away of the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and the King Rama X will ascend to Throne, which will further strengthen the Sino-Thai relations. The both sides also exchanged their views of continuously promoting the exchanges of the economy and trade and the youth of the two countries and strengthening the multilateral cooperation of China-ASEAN.

On 29th November, President Li Xiaolin of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with H.E. Mr. Anders Carsten Damsgaard, Danish Ambassador to China at the Danish Embassy. The two sides discussed issues relating to the  co-hosting of China Denmark Regions and Cities Forum, and exchanged views on topics such as cooperation in key areas between the two countries, “Belt and Road Initiative” and the current international situation. Mr Song Jingwu, Vice Preisident of CPAFFC, Mr. Shen Xin and Ms. Zhang Ruoning, Deputy Director-Generals of the Department of European and Asian Affairs, were present at the meeting.

Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) came to the Embassy of Cuba in China to express condolence to the passing away of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro on the afternoon of November 29th. Mr. Miguel Angel Ramiles, New Cuba Ambassador to China, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC were present.

A reception for celebrating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Peru was held by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) in Beijing on November 28th. H.E.Mr. Arken Imirbaki, Vice Chairman of Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Carlos Capunay, Peru Ambassador in China, attended the reception. Before the reception, Vice Chairman Arken Imirbaki met with Ambassador Carlos Capunay and expressed his congratulations on successfully holding the 24th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima of Peru. Arken Imirbaki said that the two heads of state exchanged visits in two months, which promoted China-Peru relations into a new stage. China and Peru have become good brothers who could have mutual trust, good partners who could have common development and good friends who could commonly take responsibilities over 45 years since the establishment of their diplomatic relations. Ambassador Carlos Capunay stressed that the Peru side pays high attention to the friendship between the two countries and is willing to push forward China- Peru comprehensive strategic partnership with the Chinese side.  Vice President Hu Sishe and Ambassador Carlos Capunay delivered speeches respectively on the reception. Vice President Hu Sishe pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the bilateral ties have been keeping long-term, stable development, the exchanges in various fields increased gradually and the people-to-people friendship has taken deeper roots in the two peoples. Ambassador Carlos Capunay thanked the Chinese side for long-term supporting and said that the Peru side is willing to continue strengthen the cooperation with China and further promote the bilateral relations.  Vice Chairman Arken Imirbaki also conferred China-Latin America & the Caribbean Friendship Medal to the outstanding Peru writer Juan Morillo and his wife who has been engaging in the cause of the people-to-people friendship. 

The newly elected Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Premier Designate Saad Hariri met respectively with CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin in Beirut on 25th November. The Chinese Ambassador Wang Kejian was present at both meetings. Aoun and Hariri said the Lebanese side firmly supports the One China Policy and is willing to actively participate in the “Belt and Road” construction. Li Xiaolin expressed her appreciation for this, and said that the CPAFFC would like to make joint efforts with the Lebanese side to promote cooperation in the fields of culture, economy and trade, as well as to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. President Li Xiaolin was in Lebanon to attend the series of culture activities named “ One Belt and One Road in Lebanon: Beijing to Beirut” which were co-hosted by the CPAFFC and Fransabank in Lebanon.

At the invitation of CPAFFC, a 22-person delegation of ASEAN Countries Friendship Organizations Leaders paid a visit to Beijing and Anhui from November 21 to 25.  During the visit, they attended the 1st ASEAN-China Friendship Organizations Leaders Meeting. H.E. Mr. Luo Fuhe, Vice Chairman of CPPCC National Committee, Madame Gu Xiulian, President of China-ASEAN Association, Madame Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Li Jinbin, Party Secretary of CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and Mr. Song Guoquan, Party Secretary of CPC Hefei Municipal Committee met the delegation respectively. Main delegates include H. E. Mr. Korn Dabbaransi, President of Thai-Chinese Friendship Association, H. E. Mr. EK Sam Ol, President of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association, H. E. Mr. Lytou Boupao, Vice President of Laos-China Friendship Association, H. E. Mr. Nguyen Van Tho, Vice President of Vietnam-China Friendship Association, H. E. U Sein Win Aung, President of Myanmar-China Friendship Association, Dr. MD Firdaus ABD Rahman,Vice President of Brunei-China Friendship Association, Mr. Paiman Mak, Deputy Chairman of Association of Indonesia-China Economic, Social and Cultural Cooperation, Mr. Chin Then Shoong, Assistant Secretary General of Malaysia-China Friendship Association, and Mr. Loh Weng Kee, Head of Social Activities Group of Singapore-China Friendship Association. The meeting was one of the series of activities marking the 25th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations. The CPAFFC and ASEAN delegates reached many consensuses in improving the mechanism of “Conference on ASEAN-China People-to-People Friendship” and unanimously agreed on a MOU. The participants were also given a lecture by Mr. Huang Xilian, Deputy Director General of the Asian Affairs Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the subject of “Advance the China-ASEAN Relations” and had face-to-face communication. The ASEAN delegates also met with leaders from friendship associations of Beijing, Tianjin, Liaoning, Shandong, Henan, and Qinzhou city of Guangxi Autonomous Region. In Anhui province, the delegation visited the Hefei Economic and Technological Development Area, Jianghuai Automobile Company and Sungrowth Electric company and reached initial intention on cooperation in new energy and people-to-people fields.

The “One Belt and One Road in Lebanon: Beijing to Beirut” activities was inaugurated in Phoenicia Hotel of Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon, on 24th November. The half-a-month long project was composed of “Chinese Gourmet Festival”, “Chinese Excellent Books Exhibition & Press Briefing of Holding Hands for One Hundred Years——Stories about China and Lebanon”, “Dialogue of Banking between China and Lebanon”. The aims of the activities are strengthening exchanges between China and Lebanon in the fields of culture, tourism, economy and trade, jointly advancing the “Belt and Road” construction. Dignitaries attending the opening ceremony include Li Xiaolin, President of the CPAFFC, Wang Kejian, Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon, Li Meng, Vice President of the Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Gao Fei, Vice President of Beijing Tourism Group, Adnan Kassar, Chairman of Fransabank Group, attended the opening ceremony, together with over 200 guests from all sectors of the two countries.

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- The launching ceremony of the prize-giving solicitation of logo for the “World Philanthropy Forum” was held in Beijing, Tuesday. Sponsored by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Tsinghua University, and organized by Xinhuanet and Institute for Philanthropy Tsinghua University, this event aims to expand the global participation in philanthropic affairs and achieve global consensus. This event is open to charity colleagues and professionals at home and abroad, especially famous universities, advertising companies, design companies, cultural and creative companies and individuals. Lasting from Nov. 22, 2016 to early Feb in 2017, this activity is divided into three parts: extensive solicitation, initial evaluation and final evaluation of shortlisted works. The entries will be published and promoted via such channels as Xinhuanet, Xinhua News APP, and Xinhua Charity WeChat Account, and the topic is put up on Xinhua social networking platform for interactive discussion. The final solicitation program is jointly decided through the voting by Internet users and expert review. The Winner of this award will receive a prize of 10,000 U.S. dollars (an equivalent of RMB 68,000) and a certificate. The finalists will receive relevant certificates and souvenirs. Internet users participating in the selection using real names and charitable organizations will receive souvenirs bearing the logo of the World Philanthropy Forum and have the opportunity to participate in the “World Philanthropy Forum.” Contact details for logo solicitation: Institute for Philanthropy Tsinghua University (IPTU) Contact : Guo Pan Tel: 010-62773929 Email address for submissions : logo@worldphilanthropyforum.org Prize-giving Solicitation Requirements: 1. The LOGO should consist of patterns and characters. The design should be creative, elegant and simple. The characters should reflect the goals of the WPF and should encompass the two major elements of “the world” and “philanthropy”; 2. The LOGO should be easy to identify, and any typeface for both Chinese and English characters is acceptable. 3. The LOGO plan should be submitted together with a brief and concise designing explanation; 4. The LOGO plan should include the source file of vector graphics, the typeface and specific usage plans under different circumstances 5. The LOGO design should be absolutely original, and the person who submits their plan should have legal, complete, full, and exclusive copyright on the plan. 6. The LOGO plan shall not infringe upon the copyright, trademark rights, exclusive rights and other rights of others. Any infringement of the above rights will lead to immediate cancellation of the plan. All legal disputes arising out of this shall be the responsibility of the submitter. 7. LOGO plans should be in the form of electronic document with the title and the author’s name and contact information. The author should submit HD-format layered graphs (either PS or AI is acceptable). Submissions in other formats will be considered invalid. The contest participant shall reserve the original information and original document of the graphs and pictures for verification. The author will be required to provide original documents if his or her submitted plan is shortlisted. Introduction to the World Philanthropy Forum: On the first China’s National Philanthropy Day and World Philanthropy Day, the World Philanthropy Forum was launched and organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Tsinghua University and other organizations. The Forum is committed to promoting international philanthropy practice, academic exchanges, policy advocacy and experience sharing. The Forum, based on the participation spirit of openness and equality, will unite more political, business, social, and academic colleagues, and win the support of social elite and participation of the general public. It has both Chinese characteristic and global feature; the Forum upholds the trustworthy, sustainable development spirit, and gradually forges a multi-faceted, multifunctional and multi-level partnership and a participation and cooperation mechanism; the Forum holds the spirit of patience and confidence, focuses on hot topics and difficult issues concerning human development, shows respect for different patterns and experiences, and achieves consensus; the Forum pays attention to the system integration of disciplines, theories, practices, talents and actions, especially considering the current situation and predicting the future. It forms a new integrated development of social work and charity in terms of respecting the local community and drawing on the experience of the international community.