Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with visiting First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday.   Yang spoke highly of the development of China-Britain relations and the importance assigned by the Scottish government to relations with China. He said China is ready to make joint efforts with the Scottish government to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in areas including economy, education and culture. Sturgeon echoed Yang,N saying Scotland is willing to continue to improve bilateral cooperation in all areas. Sturgeon was invited by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

“Midsummer Concert for China and Japan Friendship”, jointly sponsored by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC), China-Japan Friendship Association(CJFA), KAWAI Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co.,Ltd. (KAWAI), was held in CPAFFC on the evening of 28th, July. More than 170 representatives including Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the CPAFFC, Mme. Wang Xiuyun, Director-General of the Department of Japanese Affairs of the CPAFFC, Mr. Kawai, General Manager of KAWAI, Mr. ITO KOICHI, Chief-Minister of the Embassy of Japan in China, Mr. TAKASHIMA RYUSUKE, Minister of the Economic Department of the Embassy of Japan in China, and other representatives from National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC), Ministry of  Commerce, China Musical Instrument Association, Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing, the Japanese organizations and enterprises in China, and staff of the CPAFFC, attended the concert. In his speech, vice president Song  Jingwu said that CPAFFC and KAWAI had held the events such as New Year Concert of China and Japan Friendship, Commemoration Concert for Establishment of China and Japan Friendship Exchange Foundation, series of lectures of musical salon in China and Japan in succession, since KAWAI Foundation for Musical Education and China-Japan Friendly Exchange was established in August last year. The two countries expressed their wishes of friendship for generations in the form of music. He said that listening to the piano music at night as if listening to a beautiful music which made the ears cleared suddenly and hoped that guests could forget the hot and tired when listening to the beautiful piano music and could acquire new inspiration and enthusiasm for making a remarkable achievement in the new period for China and Japan friendship Mr. Kawai expressed that KAWAI had been always engaged in the cause of musical education and development of China-Japan friendship. He hoped that KAWAI Foundation for Musical Education and China-Japan Friendly Exchange would play an effective role in future to make contribution to promoting the culture exchange and the development of the relationship between the two countries. During the concert, the famous Japanese young pianists, Numasawa Yoshito and Nogami Mariko, performed several classic pieces of Chopin and Liszt respectively. The two Chinese teenage piano amateurs, Wang Quanlin and Tao Ziye, also performed piano music of high difficulty level. The audience from China and Japan together enjoyed a romantic, warm and friendly midsummer evening in the beautiful melody.  

On the afternoon of July 27th 2015, Mr. Arken Imirbaki, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of China- Arab Friendship Association (CAFA) met with the delegation of the UAE Youth Ambassadors organized by Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi. President Arken Imirbaki introduced to the delegation about the CAFA and people-to-people exchanges carried out between CAFA and the UAE. He said that the visit of Youth Ambassadors delegation showed again the importance attached by His Highness Crown Prince to China-UAE relations and youth exchanges between the two countries which we highly appreciate. Youth is not only the future of the country, but the successor of China-UAE friendship relations. President Imirbaki hoped that the youth delegation through this visit could enhance the understanding of China and make more friends with Chinese young people so as to make contribution for the China-UAE friendship. CAFA will work closely with the UAE side to develop friendship cooperation of youth, cultural and academic exchanges between China and the UAE. The UAE side appreciated the contributions made by Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the CAFA in promoting the people-to-people friendship cooperation between China and Arab Countries including the UAE. The UAE side is also willing to further strengthen the relations of friendship cooperation with China in various fields.

On July 27th, Vice President Song Jingwu attended the reception held by the Scottish Office of the British Embassy in China welcoming Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland. Vice President Song Jingwu had a cordial talk with Sturgeon and expressed willingness to further strengthen cooperation with the Scottish government. Sturgeon said she hopes to enhance exchanges between China and Scotland and promote cooperation in various fields.

On July 27th，Mr Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Ms Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, and the British Ambassador to China, Ms Barbara Woodward at the CPAFFC. Vice President Song Jingwu extended warm welcome to Sturgeon and her delegation on behalf of President Li Xiaolin, and briefed her on the activities carried out by the CPAFFC including friendly exchanges with foreign countries, local government cooperation, public diplomacy and charity. He pointed out that the CPAFFC and the Scottish government have kept in close contact and good collaboration, and hoped to continue to build and strengthen the cooperation mechanisms with the British local governments in the future.   Sturgeon thanked the CPAFFC for helping arrange her visit in China, and expressed her appreciation to the CPAFFC in promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges and local government cooperation between China and Scotland. Sturgeon said the two sides share many areas of common interest, and hoped to deepen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, business and trade, innovation, and education through this visit.

On July 27th, Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland made a speech on “Female Competitiveness and Gender Equality” at the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).   CPAFFC Vice President Song Jingwu hosted the event which was attended by Ms Barbara Woodward, the British Ambassador to China, and over 100 representatives from the Chinese National People’s Congress, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Public Security, the Beijing Municipal Government and Beijing Women’s Federation.   Sturgeon reviewed the progress made on women’s rights worldwide and China’s own achievements since the Fourth World Conference on Women hosted by China 20 years ago. She shared some steps taken by Scotland to promote gender equality, and hoped that China can show leadership in this field. She answered questions from the audience after the speech.   Nicola Sturgeon is the first female First Minister in Scotland who had won the Scottish Politician of the Year for many times. She was named as one of “the most influential women” by the BBC. At the invitation of the CPAFFC, she paid a visit to China from July 26th to 30th.

  The opening ceremony of 2015 Tianjin International Children's Culture & Art Festival, jointly sponsored by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), China International Culture Association (CICA), China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF) and the Tianjin Municipal People's Government, was held in Tianjin on July 26th.Mayor of Tianjin Mr. Huang Xingguo, the CPAFFC Vice President Mme. Lin Yi and the CSCLF Vice Chairman Mme. Tang Wensheng launched the festival. Mr. Xiao Huaiyuan, Chairman of the Standing Committee of Tianjin Municipal People’s Congress, Mr. Zang Xianfu, Chairman of the Tianjin People’s Political Consultative Conference, and the diplomats from the Embassies of Czech, Nepal, Mongolia, Indonesia in China were also present at the ceremony.   In her speech at the welcome meeting for the diplomats and troupe representatives, Mme. Lin said that the festival provided an opportunity for the children worldwide to communicate, showcased the vigor and vitality of the new generation, and contributed to the common development of diverse cultures. She hoped that every one would join hands to work for deeper friendship among the young people and the progress of human civilization.   With the theme of “Peace, Friendship and Future”, the festival has entered its eighth session since 1998, and will be on from July 26h to 30th. It is joined by more than 2000 teenagers and kids from over 60 countries abroad and over 20 provinces of China. During the festival, there will be a series of activities including 5-day performances, painting competition and exhibition on “the Belt and Road”,etc.

On July 24, 3-rd China-Russia Youth Friendship Evening, organized by People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries was held in Beijing. Mr Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC,delivered speeches respectively and attended the function.The Chinese and Russian youth performed together. About 80 guests were present.       

Cohosted by the CPAFFC, China-Pakistan Friendship Association(CPFA) and Pakistan Embassy in China, the Launching Ceremony of “You and Us: Stories of China and Pakistan” was held in the Peace Palace of our association on July 24th, 2015. President of the CPFA Sha Zukang, former Vice Foreign Minister Liu Shuqing, former Vice Foreign Minister Xu Dunxin, President of the Diplomatic Pen-club Cai Fangbai and Pakistan Ambassador to China Masood khalid attended the launching ceremony. ‘You and Us: Stories of China and Pakistan’ is edited by the former Ambassador to Pakistan Lu Shulin. based on their own experience, more than 20 Chinese diplomats, scholars, journalists and entrepreneurs depict and extol the China-Pakistan friendship from various perspectives and profiles. The book records touching stories of the people-to-people exchanges between China and Pakistan. In the form of words, it rolls out a vivid picture of China-Pakistan friendship from different times and perspectives. Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain wrote a preface for the book. In the launching ceremony, President Sha Zukang, Ambassador Khalid,N Ambassador Lu Shulin and Deputy Director of China Intercontinental Press Yuan Lili delivered speeches respectively. President Sha Zukang together with Ambassador Khalid unveiled the new book.  

  On the 24th July, Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries met with Ms. Sarah Kutulako, Executive Director and COO of Canada China Business Council(CCBC). Vice President Xie Yuan extended welcome to Ms. Sarah Kutulako and briefed him upon the people-to-people exchange activities between CPAFFC and Canadian local government and institutions from Canada as well. They also exchanged ideas on how to strengthen cooperation between CPAFFC and CCBC. Ms. Sarah Kutulako thanked Vice President Xie for his time and introduced the role CCBC plays in facilitating trade and investment between Canada and China. They would like to cooperate with CPAFFC in varied forms to promote practical cooperation between the two countries in terms of economy and trade. Mr. Zhang Heqiang, Director General of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs and Mr. Travis Joern, Managing Director, China of CCBC also attended the meeting.