On November 22nd, Vice President Xie Yuan awarded “Special Contribution to China-U.S. Friendship”to Chairman Gen. Whitehead of the U.S. Flying Tigers Historical Organization(FTHO)，President Larry Jobe of FTHO and Vice Chairman KC Ma of FTHO.  Vice President Xie Yuan expressed his thanks to the awardees’long-term efforts, after the founding of the FTHO, in commemorating, protecting and carrying forward the history of precious cooperation between China and the U.S.in the World War II.  He also thanked them for the great contributions to the reflying the Hump. VP Xie extended warm congratulations on the successful re-flying after nine-year plan and preparation.   President Jobe said during the re-flying, the crew underwent many difficulties. Every time, the Chinese people extended warm hands and helped settle the problems as they did so many times to the Flying Tigers in the World War II. He bears heartfelt gratitude to the Chinese people.  FTHO raised fund and purchased a C-47 aircraft which served in the the World War II. After taking off from Australia on August 15th, the crew had to change both engines and encountered one forced landing and finally on November 19th, the aircraft successfully landed in Guilin and completed the mission of re-flying the Hump. In late March 2017, the aircraft will be officially stationed in the American Flying Tigers Guilin Heritage Park. 

November 19, 2016 the (Nanchang Declaration for China-U.S. Healthy Cities  Forum) is as follows,  On 18-19 November 2016, the Third China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference & China-U.S. Healthy Cities Forum is convened in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, jointly hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, Jiangxi Provincial Government, U.S. Sister Cities International, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Representatives from national and local government, health officials, experts and business representatives are attending this event.     We agree that exchanges among U.S.-China sister cities act as an important bridge for enhancing friendship and cooperation at the local level, as well as a cornerstone for advancing the China-U.S. relationship. This forum is a concrete follow-up on the consensus reached by President Obama and President Xi during their meeting in September 2016, as well as the deliverables from the 8th China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the 7th U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange. We believe this forum will further strengthen cooperation in the development, management, and service delivery of healthy cities, foster people-to-people exchanges, and further accelerate overall practical cooperation between the two countries.      We recognize that health is a necessary requirement in realizing the overall development of individuals, and a core impetus for social and economic sustainable development, a significant indicator of national prosperity, and a common pursuit for both of our countries’ citizens. Cities play a critical role in advancing and protecting their citizens’ health. Supporting healthy cities encourages both countries to address common problems, challenges, and opportunities related urbanization, aging, of the population, emerging non-communicable and infectious diseases, and environmental and lifestyle changes. It is also a reflection of a strong sense of responsibility, urgency, and mission in the evolution of public health practice.      The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda adopted by United Nations in September 2015 sets important goals for global health development. In this context, we propose the following approaches to promote development of healthy cities under the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda Framework: 1.Strive to improve health policies. Local governments may play a substantial role in adopting action plans and strategies tailored to local conditions; to address basic needs of local residents including education, housing, employment, and safety; to optimize health services; and to provide a more equitable and sustainable social security system.     2.Seek to utilize health policies and strategies to encourage the building of healthy environments, which may lead to eliminating air, water, and soil pollution; improving urban environmental sanitation; and making cities more livable and healthier built environments. 3.Effectively engage social organizations and other partners for healthy city development. This calls for active participation from communities and individuals to contribute through concrete actions on urban environmental enhancement.    4.Educate about and promote healthy lifestyles and improving the health literacy of the general public.  Participants from both countries commit to strengthen cooperation through the sister cities program including:   1.Taking into consideration the actual needs of local, advance cooperation on health, trade, education, culture, and tourism. 2.Facilitating healthy city exchanges between the two countries, organizing mutual visits and study tours among officials, experts, and scholars to exchanging views and share experiences to foster healthy city development in both countries.

Co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Japan Foundation (JF) and the Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange Council (KJCE) and other Japanese and Korean organizations, the Twelfth Meeting of the China-Japan-Korea Cultural Exchange Forum was held in Hiroshima-shi, Japan on November, 17th. Over 30 people including Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the CPAFFC, Mr. KAZUO OGURA, Consultant of the JF, Mr. Chung Ku Chong, Chairman of the KJCE, Mr. Yang Houlan, Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat and experts and scholars in the  field of culture of the three countries, attended the meeting. President Li Xiaolin said in her opening speech that the three countries, China, Japan and Korea, all located in North-East Asia. They are close neighbors linked by a narrow strip of water and keep close and friendly exchanges. The people of the three countries learned each other during the thousand years of history of cultural exchanges, which created their own charming national culture and also enriched the civilization of the East-Asia. Therefore, the three countries established a mutual understanding and recognition basis that is far beyond other countries’ relations. President Li hoped that the three countries could take this forum as an important opportunity to promote the cultural exchanges, commonly show the charm and their characteristic culture to the world, enhance the mutual understanding and friendship of the peoples of the three countries and make efforts to promote the long-term, healthy and stable development of the trilateral relations. KAZUO OGURA said that the three countries have encountered many difficult challenges in the past on the political and economical relations. They will also face many issues in the future. The cultural exchange plays an important role in improving the relations of the three countries and strengthening the feelings of the peoples. He hoped that the three countries could further enlarge the cultural exchanges and lay a peaceful and stable foundation. Chung Ku Chong said that the three countries with long and friendly history have many common points in the field of culture. This is a good basis for the exchange. He hoped that the three countries’ personages in cultural field could exchange honestly and commonly push forward their cultural exchanges. The theme of this meeting was the “Food Culture and International Exchanges among China, Japan and Korea”. The experts from the three countries introduced respectively the features of their own food and the charm of their culture on the meeting and the representatives had an in-depth and pragmatic discussion on the topics of how to further enlarge the three countries’ cultural exchanges through friendly cities, youth and other ways, and reached an extensive consensus. The meeting achieved a complete success. The China-Japan-Korea Cultural Exchange Forum was launched in Seoul, Korea in 2005 and held the first meeting there. It is held in one country each year in turn. The original purpose of the forum is to actively promote the cultural exchanges of the three countries on the basis of respecting their culture diversity, so as to protect the healthy development of the trilateral relations and the peace and stability of the North-East Asia.

CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin met in Hiroshima with HIDEHIKO YUZAKI，Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, on November 17th, during her visit to Japan. President Li Xiaolin said that, over seventy years ago, Hiroshima Prefecture suffered from the atomic bombing and the people bore the torment brought by the war. After the war, the people in Hiroshima Prefecture rebuilt their beautiful homeland on the basis of adhering to peace and development. What we should learn from the history is that peace and friendship should be a goal to pursuit for the people of the world. The local exchange is an important part for the China and Japan relations. President Li hoped that Hiroshima Prefecture could further strengthen the friendly exchanges with Chinese provinces and cities, so as to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship of the two peoples and make efforts to promote healthy, stable development of the Sino-Japanese relations. HIDEHIKO YUZAKI said that since the establishment of  the friendly provinces/counties relations in 1984, Hiroshima Prefecture and Sichuan Province developed fruitful exchanges and cooperation in various fields, which improved their relationship. He also expressed that Hiroshima Prefecture is willing to deepen the friendly exchanges and mutual benefit cooperation with Sichuan Province in the fields of culture, environmental protection, youth and etc.，which could benefit the two peoples. Mr. Li Tianran, Consul-General of Chinese Consulate-General in Osaka, Mr. Yuan Mindao, the Director-General of the Department of Japanese Affairs of CPAFFC and the Secretary-General of the China-Japan Friendship Association, attended the meeting.

The CPAFFC delegation led by Vice President Xie Yuan attended The 22nd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP22) in Marrakech, Morocco on November 14th. The delegation presented the “High-level Forum on Climate Change South-South Cooperation” in the China Pavilion, and discussed the climate change issue with representatives from other developing countries. The COP22 is the first United Nations Climate Change Conference since The Paris Agreement formally went into effect. The representatives from more than 190 countries and regions discussed about the implementation of The Paris Agreement, expressed the willingness and determination to cope with climate change through global collaboration. The conference issued “Global Climate Risk Index 2017” on November 8th.

On November 14, CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi met with the the delegation of Kenyan Council of Governors (COG). The delegation consists of the COG Chairman and Governor of Meru County H.E. Mr. Peter Munya, as well as Governors of Turkana County, Kisumu County, Trans-Nzoia County and Makueni County. Mme. Lin Yi welcomed the delegation and reviewed the CPAFFC’s people-to-people friendly exchanges with Kenya in recent years. She introduced the local government exchanges with Kenya and Africa, and said that the CPAFFC is willing to cooperate with the COG so as to further contribute to China-Kenya local government cooperation. The COG Chairman Munya said that the COG is ready to maintain friendly cooperation with the CPAFFC and further promote local government exchanges to benefit the two peoples. He also invited Mme. Lin Yi to attend the Annual Devolution Conference in Kenya in early 2017. 

On Nov. 14, President Li Xiaolin had a meeting with Speaker Anthony Rendon and the delegation he led. President Li briefed about the chief goal of the CPAFFC which focuses on promoting the world peace and one of its main tasks to facilitate subnational exchanges and cooperation for China with other countries of the world. She highly commended the State of California as one of the most active US states in developing relationship with China and the significant role the State has played in the regard. She also expressed the wishes that Speaker Rendon, other California state legislators and friends in the delegation will continue to attach importance to expanding and enriching the ties between China and California.  Speaker Rendon said he has already learned of the high reputation and influences the CPAFFC has enjoyed overseas. In this first trip he has made to China, he hoped to help seek opportunities of cooperation in film industry, culture and new energy for California with China. He and his colleagues will play active roles in the exchanges and cooperation between California and China. 

The Second International Conference of Indologists was co-hosted by CPAFFC, China-India Friendship Association, Indian Council of Cultural Relations, Indian Embassy in China and Shenzhen University in Ming Wah International Conference Center, Shenzhen from Nov.11 to Nov. 13. Nearly 100 experts on Indology from China, India, Germany, Holland, Thailand and Chile participated in the conference. Mr. Hu Sishe delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. Mr. Hu Sishe delivered a speech on the opening ceremony Mr. Hu said that it’ s a spectacular event to have the Second World Conference of Indologists in China both in terms of the history of cultural exchanges between India and China and the history of world cultural relations. The two peoples do research in each other’ s cultures with special mission and feelings. Both of them boast glorious ancient civilization, and their friendship dates back to several thousand years ago. He also believes that the pursuit of mutual understanding between the scholars of the two countries is aimed at the rejuvenation of the two nations as well as a better livelihood of the people all over the world. Prof. Lokesh Chandra, Chaiman of ICCR, H.E. Mr. Vijay Gokhale, Ambassador of India to China, Mr. Liu Hongyi, Party Secretary of Shenzhen University, Ven Guangquan, Abbot of Hangzhou Buddhist Academy also gave speeches on the opening ceremony. Mr. Chandra, 89 years old, told a story with emotion about his father and China. In the middle 1950s, his father Dr. Raghu Vira paid a visit to China as the Speaker of India’s Rajya Sabha. Premier Zhou Enlai gave him a batch of literary and historical Buddhist books. What’s more, Premier Zhou gave him a set of valuable Blue and White China printed with Sanskrit mantra and hoped that Mr. Vira could contribute more to the everlasting friendship between China and India. Mr. Chandra spoke highly of Premier Zhou for his broad mind, his understanding of the essence of Indian culture, and his respect for Indian people in his inner heart. Under the influence of his father, Mr. Chandra lived up to the expectation from Premier Zhou and his father with his lifelong devotion to research in Buddhism, bilateral cultural exchanges and people-to-people friendship. He hopes that people from all walks of life in the two countries can avail themselves of the conference to enhance the friendship of the two great countries through cultural exchanges and cooperation. Prof. Lokesh Chandra, Chaiman of ICCR delivered a speech Mr. Vijay Gokhale, Ambassador of India to China delivered a speech Mr. Liu Hongyi, Party Secretary of Shenzhen University Ven Guangquan, Abbot of Hangzhou Buddhist Academy During the conference, scholars from different countries delivered speeches and made discussions under the topics of Indology in China, Buddhism and world culture, Indology and Sino-Indian cultural exchanges, and Indian literature. It contributes to a more in-depth understanding of Indology and further exchanges of Sino-Indian cultures. The experts and scholars also displayed their books published these years which focus on researches in two countries’ cultures.   Guests of the Opening Ceremony Heated Discussions in Tea Break Fruits of Sino-Indian Cultural Exchanges 

On November 10th, CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin met in Chongqing with Japanese Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama who was attending China International Friendship Cities Conference 2016. President Li Xiaolin extended warm welcome to Yukio Hatoyama and introduced the general situation about the conference. She expressed that the exchanges and cooperation among countries and regions in the world including China and Japan could be promoted through this conference. Yukio Hatoyama thanked President Li for taking her time to meet him. It was a pleasure for him to arrive in Chongqing, the important city in the west of China, and attend the China International Friendship Cities Conference 2016. Yukio Hatoyama said that Chongqing, as a municipality directly under the central government, has developed into an important city in China’s inland areas. It will play an important role in the Belt and Road strategic. China International Friendship Cities Conference 2016 held in Chongqing this time could promote the exchanges among the various countries and cities, enhance the friendly relations and implement the cooperation programs as well as promote common development.

On November 10th , hosted by CPAFFC, CIFCA and Chongqing Municipal People’s Government, undertaken by Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office, 2016 China International Friendship Cities Conference was successfully held in Chongqing. Mr. Sun Zhengcai, Secretary of CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, Mr. Li Yuanchao, Vice President of China, Mr. Sun Zhengcai, Secretary of CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, Mr. Huang Qifan, Mayor of Chongqing, Madame Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC and CIFCA, Mr. Zhang Ming, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Mr. Edward Ssekandi, Vice President of Uganda,  Mr. Hatoyama Yukio, former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Willem Kok, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, etc. attended the conference and delivered speeches respectively.  In response to President Xi Jinping's proposal for friendship cities work, Mr. Li Yuanchao made three suggestions: firstly, increase exchanges among friendship cities and deepen people’s friendship; secondly, share experience in urban planning and promote innovative development of cities; thirdly, expand win-win cooperation and share fruits of urban civilization. Madame Li Xiaolin pointed out that friendly exchanges between local governments are the cornerstone for the establishment of friendly relations between countries. As an important way for exchanges with foreign countries, China international friendship cities activities have opened channels for Chinese local governments to establish long-term, stable and extensive connections with the international community. At present, countries around the world share prosperity and security and stick together through thick and thin, growing into a community of common destiny. CPAFFC and CIFCA will continue to use their own advantages to promote the establishment of friendship city relations, and at the same time, make efforts to improve the quality of friendship city exchanges, and take focused as well as targeted methods to promote the healthy, rapid and sustainable development of international friendship cities activities.  More than 400 foreign delegates from 56 countries, 144 cities as well as 51 city organizations, and over 200 Chinese delegates from 107 cities of 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions attended the conference. With the theme of “Innovation for Development and Cooperation for Sharing”, theme forums on “Innovation-led City Development”, “Low Carbon City and Green Home”, “City Cultural Branding through Opening up”, and “Tourism Innovation, the Incentive to Modern Service Industry” were held at the conference. Also, signing ceremony of newly twined friendship cities was held and the “Chongqing Initiative” was issued. Chinese and foreign friendship cities which had made outstanding contributions to the course of friendship cities in the past two years were awarded at the conference as well. The China International Friendship Cities Conference is held every two years and embraces its fifth this year. The next conference will be held in Wuhan.