Vice President Xie Yuan Attends the 18th Biennial Edgar Snow Symposium
From October 3 to 5, Vice President Xie Yuan attended the 18th biennial Edgar Snow Symposium held in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.?and?delivered a speech at the opening session. Minister Xu Xueyuan of the Chines Embassy to the U.S. ,Acting Consul General Liu Jun of the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, Governor Jeff Colyer of Kansas, Mayor pro tem Scott Wagner of Kansas City, President Nancy Hill?and?President-Elect Jim Mckusick of the Edgar Snow Memorial Foundation?and?more than 200 other delegates from China?and?the U.S. attended the symposium.
In his speech, Vice President Xie Yuan said, The Chinese people will never forget, 48 years ago, Mr. Snow, together with Chairman Mao, ?ascended the Tiananmen Gate Tower, an act signaling the forging of friendship between China?and?U.S.,sending a good will to the other side of the Pacific Ocean,?and?devoting civil wisdom?and?power to the normalization of China-U.S. Relations. Next year marks the 40th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations. Over the past four decades, the two countries have witnessed dramatic changes across the world. China-U.S. relations have evolved profoundly?and?will continue to grow. Today, we are gathered here to honor the memory of Edgar Snow, to revitalize?and?promote his legacy, to cherish?and?preserve the sound momentum he has created,?and?to unleash the full potential of people-to-people diplomacy, imbuing new energy to a sound, steady?and?growing China-U.S. Relationship.
During the symposium, Director General Zhang Heqiang attended panel discussion Global Economic Development?and?Cultural Exchange. The CPAFFC delegation also witnessed the passing of a Resolution by Kansas City Council recognizing its Sister Cities relations with Yan’an?and?Xi’an?and?visited the Edgar Snow Reading Room in Miller-Nichols Library in UMKC.
The Edgar Snow Symposium is a biennial event. The 18th symposium opened on October 4?and?lasted 4 days. Edgar Snow, American writer?and?journalist, was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1905. In 1936, in spite of difficulties, he visited Shaan-Gan-Ning Boarder Region?and?completed a book Red Star Over China, which extensively covered facts about the CPC?and?the Red Army, unveiled the Chinese revolution to the world?and?made an international impact. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the publication of Red Star Over China.?
Zhao Leji Attends Photo Exhibition in Vietnam
On September 28th, Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee?and?secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, together with his delegation?and?Pham Minh Chinh, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) , secretary of the CPV Central Committee?and?head of the CPV Central Committee Organization Commission, attended the opening ceremony of the Photo Exhibition on China’s reform?and?opening up?and?Vietnam’s reform?and?innovation drive. The Exhibition was sponsored by the CPAFFC?and?the Vietnam?union?of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) at the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace in Hanoi. CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin?and?VUFO Executive Vice Chairman Don Tuan Phong accompanied Zhao Leji?and?Pham Minh Chinh at the Exhibition.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform?and?opening up?and?32th anniversary of Vietnam’s reform?and?innovation drive. The 100-picture Exhibition reflected the remarkable achievements made by China?and?Vietnam in national building as well as the common aspirations of China?and?Vietnam in advancing cooperation on mutual benefits?and?the development of China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.
Zhao Leji met with Pham Minh Chinh before attending the opening ceremony.
Vice President Hu Sishe Attends the Special Sino-French Forum for the International Day of Peace
At the Invitation of the Prospective?and?Innovation Foundation, Vice President Hu Sishe led a four-people CPAFFC delegation to France from September 19th to 22nd , to attend the Special Sino-French Forum held on the International Day of Peace (September 21st) at the UNESCO’s headquarter in Paris.
Under the theme of “One Hundred Years After the First World War, What Lesson Can We Draw for Humanity?”, the Forum is jointly hosted by 11 organizations including CPAFFC, the Prospective?and?Innovation Foundation. Charles de Gaulle Foundation, the Association of Wu Jianmin’s Friends?and?the Charhar Institute. It is aimed to commemorate the spirit of sacrifice of the Chinese laborers who went to France during the First World War, remember history?and?advocate peace in this centenary year of the end of World War I. Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former French Prime Minister?and?President of the Prospective?and?Innovation Foundation, Mr. Qu Xing, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Joseph Zimet, Director of the French First World War Centenary Partnership Program, Mr. Hubert Védrine, former French Foreign Minister, Mr. Shen Yang, Ambassador?and?Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to UNESCO,?and?many other Chinese as well as foreign guests attended the Forum. In his speech at the opening ceremony, Vice President Hu Sishe pointed out that it was of great significance on this special day of International Day of Peace to recall the memories of Chinese laborers in the First World War. “An important point to eliminate war is to clear the misunderstandings, prejudice?and?hatred among different cultures, races, beliefs?and?languages to strengthen people-to-people ties.” After the conference, Vice President Hu Sishe received an exclusive interview from CCTV-Fran?ais. In the evening of the same day, a Sino-French Peace Dinner was held in the name of CPAFFC. Guests including Mr. Qu Xing, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Jacques Godfrain, President of the Charles de Gaulle Foundation,?and?Mr. Zhao Bin, Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in France attended. CPAFFC delegation has actively communicated with both Chinese?and?foreign representatives, introduced the Association?and?its activities,?and?cordially invited the foreign guests to participate in our 2018 China International Friendship Cities Conference in November.
During the visit, the delegation attended the unveiling ceremony of the statue of Chinese laborers at the Gare de Lyon railway station in Paris. Mr. Zhai Jun, the Chinese Ambassador to France, Mr. Jean Bernard Bros, Deputy Mayor of Paris?and?Special Representative of the Mayor of Paris, Mr. Buon Tan, President of France-China Friendship Group at the French National Assembly, Ms. Catherine Baratti-Elbaz, Mayor of the 12th Arrondissement of Paris, Mr. Li Xiaochao, Chinese sculptor,?and?over 200 overseas Chinese as well as local citizens witnessed this important moment. Besides, the delegation also paid a visit to UNESCO, Charles de Gaulle Foundation?and?the Permanent Delegation of China to UNESCO,?and?exchanged views on further strengthening contact?and?cooperation.
Photographed by Li Fang, Wang Qi
Vice President Lin Yi Meets Former Vice President Dr.Sai Mauk Kham of Myanmar
On September 21, Vice President Lin Yi met H. E. Dr.Sai Mauk Kham, Former Vice President of Myanmar, who was on a visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA).
Vice President Lin Yi firstly conveyed the greetings by President Li Xiaolin to Former Vice President Dr.Sai Mauk Kham?and?thanked his great support to the people-to-people friendship during the Presidency. She introduced the exchange programs co-hosted by CPAFFC?and?Myanmar-China Friendship Association(MCFA)?and?expressed the willingness to make concerted efforts with the Myanmar side to enhance the inter-connectivity between the two peoples in terms of culture, youth, education?and?charity fields.
Dr.Sai Mauk Kham said that Myanmar?and?China enjoyed time-honored traditional friendship?and?the leaders of the older generations established deep?and?profound friendship, which need to be inherited?and?carried forward by the younger generations. Through high-level contacts, establishment of sister cities?and?people-to-people exchanges, Myanmmar?and?China have further developed bilateral ties?and?promoted?the traditional “Paukphaw" (fraternal)?friendship between?the two peoples to comprehensive?strategic?partnership?of cooperation. He hoped that the two countries could pay greater attention to?people's petition?and?continue to cooperate for more people-to-people exchange programs?and?let the bilateral friendship be deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.
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Vice President Xie Yuan Attends Michigan-China Friendship Banquet
Vice President Xie Yuan attended Michigan-China Friendship Banquet hosted by the State Government of Michigan in Shanghai on September 21. On behalf of the CPAFFC, he awarded the honorary title of Friendship Ambassador to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder during the event.
Vice President expressed his sincere gratitude?and?respect to Governor Snyder for his active efforts in promoting the development of China-U.S. relations, especially sub-national exchanges?and?cooperation. He said, since assuming office in 2011, Governor Snyder had been visiting China on an annual basis, setting a record among U.S. Governors, in terms of both times?and?frequency. It had exemplified the great resolve he had in developing ties with China?and?the confidence he had in China-U.S. relations. The honorary title of Friendship Ambassador was awarded to Governor Snyder as a recognition to his contributions to China-U.S. friendship.
Governor Snyder thanked the CPAFFC for honoring him with the title of Friendship Ambassador. He said U.S.-China has its ups?and?downs, but we should focus on the long-term effects instead of short-term. The best way to promote our bilateral relations was to show the Federal our good will, friendship?and?all the benefits it has brought about to our people at the sub-national level. In the past 8 years, Michigan had been doing a great job in its economic recovery. The relationship with China was one of the most important factor in Michigan’s return to being great again. He also hoped to strengthen business, education, culture?and?tourism cooperation with Chinese localities, especially enhancing people-to-people connections so that both sides could continue to grow?and?prosper together.
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Vice President Song Jingwu Meets with Mayor of Lausanne
Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with the visiting Mr. Grégoire Junod, Mayor of Lausanne,? Switzerland on September 20, 2018.
Grégoire Junod said, Lausanne is recognized as the Olympic Capital?and?also is one of the founding cities of the World?union?of Olympic Cities(WUOC). Beijing, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao?and?Nanjing, these Chinese cities, are all the members of WUOC. He hoped that in future, Lausanne could develop more exchanges?and?cooperation with Chinese cities in the fields of sustainable urban development being promoted by Olympics?and?sports.
Vice President Song Jingwu made an introduction about the results achieved by CPAFFC in the fields of people-to-people diplomacy, public diplomacy?and?local diplomacy,?and?encouraged Lausanne to actively take part in the local pragmatic cooperation between China?and?Switzerland.
Mme. Zhang Ruoning, Deputy Director General of Department of European?and?Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.
Uganda-China Friendship Association Youth Delegation Visits the CPAFFC
On September 18, the Uganda China Friendship Association youth delegation, which consists of 23 members, visited the CPAFFC. Mr. Li Hai, Deputy Director General of the Department of Asian?and?African Affairs, met with the delegation.
Mr. Li said that youth is the future?and?hope of the country. For China?and?Uganda, the youth are the inheritors?and?promoters of the traditional friendship between the two countries. We hope the young friends from Uganda will feel China more intuitively?and?understand China more deeply through this visit. We also look forward that the youth can make more contributions to China-Uganda friendship in the future.
Mr. Li also exchanged views with the head of the Uganda China Friendship Association on cooperation in vocational education?and?other areas.
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Photographed by Huang Xiaowei
Vice President Lin Yi Meets with President Haider Alrubaie
Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Mr. haider Alrubaie, President of the newly-established Iraq-China Friendship Association (ICFA),?and?his delegation on September 14. Vice President Lin Yi spoke highly of the establishment of the friendship association with China launched by Haider Alrubaie. She also made an introduction about the situation of CPAFFC?and?CAFA (the Chinese-Arab Friendship Association),?and?said, CPAFFC is willing to work together with ICFA to commonly promote the development of the relationship of friendly cooperation of the two peoples.
Mr. haider Alrubaie thanked Vice President Lin Yi for taking her time to meet them. He said, China?and?Iraq have long history?and?splendid civilization. The peoples of the two countries enjoy profound friendship. The members of ICFA include elites from all walks of life in Iraq. ICFA would?like?to work together with Chinese side to make contribution to promoting the exchanges between China?and?Iraq in the fields of culture, economy?and?trade.?
Mr. Li Hai, Deputy Director General of Department of Asian?and?African Affairs of CPAFFC, attended the meeting.
Secretary General Li Xikui Attends the 54th Anniversary of Independence Day of the Republic of Malta
The 54th Anniversary of Independence Day of the Republic of Malta hosted by the Embassy of Malta in China was held in Beijing on September 14. Hon. Mr. Carmelo Abela, the Minister for Foreign Affairs?and?Trade Promotion of Malta, H. E. Mr. John Aquilina, the Malta’s Ambassador to China, Mr. Li Xikui, the Secretary General of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Mr. Liu Weimin, the Deputy Director General of the Department of European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China attended the event.
Minister Carmelo Abela said in his speech that the bilateral friendly relations have deepened with the continuous efforts of both sides?and?he hoped the pragmatic cooperation with China in various fields could be strengthened in the future. Minister Carmelo Abela, Ambassador Mr. John Aquilina, Secretary General Li Xikui?and?Deputy Director General Liu Weimin joined the cake cutting ceremony to celebrate the event.
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Photographed by Xu Jiunan