Letter of Thanks by 2013 CAYCEF Participants
【Note: The CPAFFC and the China National Committee for the Care of Children (CNCCC) hosted the 1st China-ASEAN Youth Cultural Exchange Festival (CAYCEF) in Beijing from August 1st to 6th 2013, organized by CNCCC Public Service Center. Around 250 young delegates participated in the event. They come from 20 provinces or cities in the Chinese mainland and Taiwan as well as from 10 ASEAN countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Through visits, experience tours, courses and joint performances, young delegates established friendship and deepened understanding with each other. Recently, 10 ASEAN young delegates sent a letter to the CPAFFC, sharing their thoughts of the CAYCEF and expressing gratitude to the hosts and organizer.】
To: The Chinese people’s association for friendship with foreign countries
Hi, we are the 10 representatives from each Southeast Asian Country. Our average age is 18 years old and most of us are still studying in high schools. In this hopeful beginning of 2014, we are happy to share an overseas friendship story with you.
In the first week of August in 2013, the 10 countries of ASEAN sent approximately 10 youths to go Beijing, China to join the first “China-ASEAN Youth cultural exchange festival”, which was hosted by “China National Committee for the care of Children”, “Chinese People’s association for Friendship with Foreign Countries” and organized by “CNCCC Public Service Center”. We were hand in hand to represent all of our ASEAN friends who were fortunate to be part of the festival. We are still grateful to have experienced this precious, meaningful and historical grand event.
In the journey, we experienced and touched the four-thousand-year history, culture and wonders of China. Our ASEAN friends got a deep and good impression of the main coordinator Mr. Wu Jiong, the MC Ms. Xu Jing and each instructor from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Although we did not have the same mother tongue, they treated us like a friend and made us feel that we were not alone in the far place away from home.
Actually for us, the most valuable thing was to meet plenty of new friends in life. This kind of new friend is never get old. We were from 10 different countries in ASEAN, speaking different languages, living in a completely different cultural background, with different customs, and educational structures. Hence, the processes of knowing each other, sharing the similarities, celebrating the differences, until accepting each other and becoming friend, are always fresh.
Five months have gone, and 2014 a brand new year has started. Recalling the memories, we thought that after the festival, everybody going back to their own country and continuing their regular lifestyles, our connection would slowly disappear. But it is so amazing that we continue our friendship until now by Internet! Perhaps it is because destiny brought some true friends together. However, there is still an uncertain future of us, but we believe it is beautiful still.
Moreover, we have a group on Facebook with one hundred members and some of us have established a private team called “The ASEAN Youth Summit” to make sure the friendship is still tight with lots of continuing discussions and conversations. We always work hard to increase our international knowledge in real life, and work towards of our shared dream – Reunion!
It is only a pure thought and a dream, which is why we created those things. We are having some thought now, for example: backpacking together to experience the world, and meeting each other on a glorious international stage. We sincerely believe that we will achieve it in someday.
Finally, we feel grateful to all of the organizations like those I have mentioned, and of course the United Nations and other non-governmental organizations. All of you let the world share each other and increase the interest between human to have more positive possibilities. Thank you very much!
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Warmest regards,
Soon Jian Jun, Brunei
Nguon Sony, Cambodia
Aulia Pratiwi, Indonesia
Khamla Sabpaso, Laos
Lee Set Jin, Malaysia
Myat Min Hein, Myanmar
Mau Romero, Philippines
Zhang Zheng Lin, Singapore
Wannawat Em-ong, Thailand
Nguyn Hà Chi, Vietnam
Secretary-General Li Xikui Meets with Rector of Petersburg State Transport University
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In the morning of Feb. 28th, Mr. Li Xikui, Secretary-General of CPAFFC, met with Mr. Alexander Panychev, Rector of Petersburg State Transport University (PSTU) , and Mme. , Vice Chancellor of PSTU. Zhang Juxiang, Director-General of China Service Center for Friendship with Foreign Countries was present at the meeting.?
At the meeting, Secretary-General Li Xikui expressed that he and Mr. Rector were old friends, they met with each other at the same place last September. At the last meeting, we decided to strengthen the cooperation in high-speed rail and education between the two countries, the both sides negotiated on organizing The 1st Forum for China-Russia Rectors of Transport Universities in this May. With the efforts of the both sides, the forum had been basically shaped.
Rector Panychev said, the Russian Government had issued the plan on the development of high-speed rail which would be learned from China. The joint organization of the forum would positively promote the development of the cause of the Russian high-speed rail and the cooperation in education of the two countries. The forum is one of the practical programs which followed the strategic cooperation plan negotiated by the heads of States of our two countries. It had received great attention from the Russian Government, and it would be hosted by the Russian Ministry of Transport. The CPAFFC’s contribution to this event was highly appreciated.
Secretary-General Li said, the current friendly circumstance between the two countries provided the both sides cooperation with favorable conditions. The CPAFFC attached great importance to the forum, and would work closely with the Russian side to ensure the event a great success.
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CPAFFC Friendship Delegation Visits Kuwait
At the invitation of Kuwait-China Friendship Association(KCFA), Mr. Hu Jianhuai, Inspector of Asia-Africa Department led a 6-member friendship delegation visited Kuwait from February 23-27, 2013 to attend the National Day celebration of Kuwait. During the visit, the delegation held talk with KCFA and the visiting Sudan Council for International People''s Friendship on promoting the China-Kuwait friendship affairs and the 5th China-Arabic Friendship Conference.
During the transit visit in Dubai, the delegation called on H.E Faisal Al Qassemi, the royal member and the Chairman of Al Qasimi Group and Mr. Tang Weibin, Chinese Consul General to Dubai on China-UAE people-to-people friendship affairs and business.
Vice President Li Jianping Meets Turkmenistan Ambassador to China
Vice President Li Jianping met with Rustemova, the Turkmenistan Ambassador to China on February 21,2014.
Ambassador Rustemova described the current situation of the humanities cooperation of Turkmenistan?with China. She stressed that the relationship between the two countries had been raised to the strategic partnership since the Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Turkmenistan. In order to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, the Turkmenistan Embassy in China will develop various cultural exchange activities in 2014, so as to promote the people-to-people contact between the two countries.
Vice President Li Jianping discribed the work plan of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) on the five countries of Central Asia including Turkmenistan. He expressed that CPAFFC paid great attention to the development of the people-to-people friendly cooperation relationship between China and Turkmenistan, and wished to further the humanities exchanges of the two countries, as well as to promote the cooperation of the both sides in various fields, especially the contact of friendship cities and regions. He also said that CPAFFC would like to support the work of the Turkmenistan Embassy in China and jointly organized correlative activities in future.
Reception Marking 55th Anniversary of China-Sudan Diplomatic Relations Held in Beijing
The Reception marking the 55th anniversary of the established diplomatic relations between China and Sudan hosted by Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and Sudanese Embassy to China was held on February 18, in Beijing. About 700 guests attended the reception, including Mr. Ma Biao, Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mrs. Samia Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Sudan, Mr. Zhang Ming, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abdelrahman Ahmed Elkhidir Altoum, Governor of Khartoum, Mr. Feng Zuoku, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Omer Eisa Ahmed, Sudanese Ambassador to China, representatives from relative ministries, enterprises, council members of China-Arab Friendship Association, diplomats from embassies of Sudan and other countries to China, Sudanese residents, students, and media representatives in Beijing.
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Feng Zuoku said in his remarks that Sudan is the one of the earliest African and Arab states which established diplomatic ties with China. During the past 55 years, the bilateral relationship has been developing smoothly, friendship has been deeply rooted in the minds of two peoples. In recent years, two sides continues to achieve new progress in promoting the friendly cooperation in all areas. The good communications and coordinations on the international and regional issues not only are conducive to safeguarding bilateral common issues, but also making positive contributions for strengthening of solidarity and progress among developing countries.
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Omer Eisa Ahmed said in his address that China plays an important role in Sudanese foreign policy. Sudanese government has been always active in developing relations with China. Sundanese leaders know clearly about the important international status of China. China is an important partner and strong supporter for Sudan to strive for peace, development and stability. During the past 55 years, the bilateral relations never went backwards, suspended nor got nervous, on the contrary, under the common concerns from leaders of our two countries, the bilateral relation has been continuously making progress, prosperity and development.?
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The FDC activity for commemorating the 55th anniversary of China-Sudan diplomatic ties was also held on the reception. Sudanese artists gave excellent performances together with Chinese artists for celebrating the anniversary.
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CPAFFC Spring Festival Concert 2014 Held at the MF Theatre of NCPA
The CPAFFC Spring Festival Concert 2014, jointly organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the National Centre of the Performing Arts (NCPA), and Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV, was held at the Multi-functional Theatre of NCPA on February 18, 2014. Over two hundred foreign diplomats from more than seventy countries and regions came to the concert at the invitation of the CPAFFC, which made the concert, for friends home and abroad, a chance to enjoy China’s traditional arts and a meeting point to enhance their friendship.
In her greetings, President Li Xiaolin thanked all the embassies and friends from various circles for the support during the past year for the association and extended the heartfelt new-year greetings to all the guests present.
Hosted by Yang Lan and co-starred by famous singer Dai Yuqiang, Jamyang Dolma, as well as artists from Shanghai Chinese Orchestra and the Centre Conservatory of Music, the concert started with traditional Chinese chime bell song New Year Overture and came to be a wonderful performance for the audience, presenting the Chinese folk music not only in traditional way but by modern stage techniques.
Uyunqimg, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of? the National People''''s Congress, and Gu Xiulian, adviser to the 9th National Council of the CPAFFC have also come and watched the performance, and celebrated the festival with guests both home and broad.
Ji Yongjun Meets with Australian Chinese Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Deputy Director-General of Department of American and Oceanian Affairs, Mr. Ji Yongjun met with the Australian Chinese Entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mr. Wei Jicheng, in Consulate-General of China in Sydney on February 11, 2014.
Mr. Ji addressed the work objectives of?CPAFFC and?its donation projects, such as solar energy stoves placed in the poverty-stricken mountainous areas in Qinghai and other places. He wishes to establish close contacts with Mr. Wei’s work team for future projects to improve the living standard of local people in mountainous area. Mr. Wei expressed his pleasure in meeting with the?friends from CPAFFC and stressed his willingness to contribute to the future charity projects involving poverty-stricken mountainous areas.?
Mr. Wei was born in the city of Jieyang, Guangdong Province. The outstanding Australian Chinese entrepreneur is the CEO of the Australian ABC Paper Industry Company. He received Australian National Business Award in 2013, and has been donating money and materials to the Chinese social charity on regular basis.