Reception Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and South Africa Held in Beijing
The CPAFFC, the Chinese-African People’s Friendship Association (CAPFA) and the Embassy of South Africa in China jointly organized the reception in Beijing on 13 March, 2013, to celebrate the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa. Around 150 Chinese and foreign guests attended the reception, including H.E. Mr. Abdul’ahat Abdurixit, Vice Chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and President of CAPFA, H.E. Mr. Zhai Jun, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. CPAFFC Vice President Feng Zuoku and South African Ambassador H.E. Bheki Langa delivered speech at the reception respectively.
Mr. Feng Zuoku said, over the past 15 years, the relations between China and South Africa have experienced a rapid growth, with the cooperation in various fields achieving fruitful results. China attaches great importance to the relationship with South Africa, and looks forward to working together with South Africa to further promote the comprehensive strategic partnership.
H.E. Bheki Langa spoke highly of the good relations achieved over the part 15 years in fields of politics, economy and trade,culture, tourism and so on. He pointed out that China has become South Africa’s number one trading partner and South Africa is now China’s largest trading partner in Africa, hoping the two sides can take the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to make continuous efforts to further expand the cooperation in various fields.
Festival of New Ideas, New Wisdom, New Vision of CPAFFC in 2013 Held
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On January 21, the Annual Conference of New Ideas, New wisdom, New Vision of The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) was held in Beijing successfully. The leaders and former leaders of the Party and the state, including Lu Yongxiang, Han Qide, Chen Changzhi, Dai Bingguo,Bai Lichen, Abdul’ahat Abdurixit, Gu Xiulian, Tang Jiaxuan, Sun fuling, Luo Haocai, Xu Kuangdi, were present at the meeting. In a total of about 1000 people including the council members from the CPAFFC and its subsidiary forty-six associations for friendship with other countries or regions and the personages of various social circles attended the conference. The conference was highly evaluated.
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Creative Ideas, High Efficiency and Innovation
According to the thought of President Li Xiaolin, the annual meetings of the CPAFFC and its subsidiary forty-six associations for friendship with other countries or regions was integrated for the first time. With the theme of the New Ideas, New wisdom, New Vision, a platform of communication and interaction for domestic experts with the council members and guests was built up. The numberof the meetings was reduced; the efficiency of the meeting was improved and the topic of Innovation was highlighted. On the opening ceremony, President Li Xiaolin delivered a brief speech. She indicated that concept collision would bring exciting originality and free communication would lead to acquiring breakthrough thoughts. The CPAFFC would make the festival a grand meeting of exchanging ideas, enlightening originality and sharing development.
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During the conference, the outstanding innovative projects of the CPAFFC in the last two years was exhibited; by inviting the experts and scholars to attend, 9 open forums on the hot issues of the current international situation and people-to-people diplomacy were respectively held . The forums combined the practice innovation with the theory innovation organically, in order to reach the aim of enlightening thoughts, expanding vision and creating? development. To stick to the principal of pragmatism and high efficiency, the conference was arranged within one day, and the speeches of the leaders only took ten minutes. To make full use of time, a lunch meeting attended by the CPAFFC leaders above deputy director-general level, directors of local foreign affairs office, and presidents of the local friendship associations was held, for introducing the main focus on the work of the CPAFFC in 2013 and exchanging the cooperative intensions. On the arrangement of the conference, the conventional form was abandoned.Information technologies were applied, including online registration, scanning two-dimension code at site, multimedia exhibition, distributing the conference material online instead of the paperwork, thus the resource was saved. The conference hall was simple and plain, without plant decoration and fancy background board.? The accommodation of the representatives was not included in the conference except one buffet lunch.
Demonstration of Model Projects Leading Innovation
The outstanding innovative projects (including 8 people-to-people diplomatic projects and 3 internal construction projects) exhibited on the conference were selected from 31 candidate projects recommended by all departments of the CPAFFC through voting on internet by the staff of the CPAFFC.
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Open Forums, Interactive Discussion, Enlightening Innovation
On the conference, 9 opening forums were held. Leaders, experts and scholars from various circles were invited, including Zhao Qizheng, Li Xiaolin, Chen Haosu, Liu Shu, Zhang Yunling, Sun Zhe, Liu Yongjiang, Shu Yi and Li Yang, to discuss on topics of the surrounding situation, Diaoyu Island issue, China-Russia relations, Sino-US relations, cultural exchanges with foreign countries, work of international friendship city, development of public service and service for cooperation with foreign countries. The forums availed the attendants deepening their understanding on the international situation and broaden their thoughts on people-to-people diplomacy.
The attendants highly praised for the effect of the conference. They thought that this conference had implemented the relevant requirement of the “eight provisions” of the Party Central Committee. It was a pragmatic and thrifty conference with rich content and high efficiency. It changed the traditional form of meeting, and fully demonstrated the theme of? innovation. The conference showed the past achievements of innovation and conceived the ideas and direction of the future work, as well as built up a better platform of the communication and cooperation for the CPAFFC with its council members and local friendship associations. The success of the conference fully demonstrated the enterprising and innovative spirits of the CPAFFC under the leadership of the new leading group headed by President Li Xiaolin. It set a good example for innovation development of the people-to-people diplomacy work. After the? conference, some attendants still would like to have more discussions and exchanges with the guest speakers.
Vice-President Xie Yuan meets with Delegation of Club France Rio+20
On January 16, Vice-President Xie Yuan of CPAFFC met with Ms. Sylvianne Villaudiere, the leader of Club France Rio+20 Delegation.
Mr.Xie welcomed delegation’s visit to China and their first visit to CPAFFC. He gave an introduction of CPAFFC’s history and main tasks, as well as the Local Friendship Association work. Since CPAFFC obtained the General Consultative Status with ECOSOC of United Nations, it has sent many delegations to attend various UN conferences and made brief speeches on sustainable development, environmental protection and climate change, etc. Vice-President Xie discussed with the delegation members about carrying out friendly activities in the fields of economy, sustainable development and ecology.
Ms.Villaudiere thanked Vice-President Xie Yuan for setting time for the meeting. She said, it was a good opportunity to discuss with CPAFFC on environmental protection; achieving sustainable development needed everyone to take part in. According to regional differences, it was available to reach a solution through carrying out activities between cities. She also expressed that they looked forward to having friendly exchanges with CPAFFC by bilateral visiting, sister cities activity, conference, etc.
Reception for 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Angola Held
The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Embassy of the Republic of Angola in China jointly organised a reception in Beijing, Jan. 11, 2013, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Angola. About 250 Chinese and foreign guests, including Mr. Abdul’ahat Abdurixit, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and Mr. Zhaijun, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, attended the reception.
Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, the past thirty years witnessed a stable and smoothly-developed relationship and significant achievement of cooperation in different areas between China and Angola. China attaches great importance to the strategic partnership with Angola, and is willing to work with Angola to push the bilateral ties to a new level, said by Mr. Feng Zuoku, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.????
?Dr. Joao Garcia Bires, Ambassador of Angola to China spoke highly of the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Angola, and appreciated the strong support to Angola in all aspects given by the Chinese government and people. He also expressed that the bilateral cooperation would enjoy a better prospect, and embark on a new era.
CJFA President Tang Jiaxuan Meets with New Japanese Ambassador to China
On Dec. 27th, Tang Jiaxuan, the president of China-Japan Friendship Association, met with Kitera Masato, the newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to China. Jing Dunquan, the vice-president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries was present.
Tang Jiaxuan welcomed Ambassador Kitera to come to Beijing for his new occupation. He expressed his 3 expectations to Ambassador Kitera: to play an active and constructive role of making the two countries return to the healthy and steady developing track from the current difficult situation; to objectively and totally deliver a complete and real image of China to the Japanese people; to widely contact all circles and public of China to enhance the humane and cultural tie between the two countries.
Ambassador Kitera thanked President Tang Jiaxuan for finding time for the meeting in his tight schedule. He said he would dedicate to support the exchanging events to the needs of the common people and youths of the two countries, and make his efforts on improving and developing the relations of China and Japan. He would like to travel around China during his term, to find out a real China, and contribute to promoting the related cooperations between the two countries.
Award Ceremony of Contribution Award of Algeria’s Independence and Reception Marking 50th Anniversary of Independence of Algeria Held in Beijing
On Dec. 26th, 2012, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Algerian Embassy in China jointly held the Award Ceremony of Contribution Award of Algeria’s Independence and Reception Marking 50th Anniversary of Independence of Algeria in the Peace Palace of the CPAFFC. About 100 guests were present at the reception, including: Abdul’ahat Abdulrixit, the vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Zhai Jun, the Deputy Foreign Minister of China, Feng Zuoku, the vice president of CPAFFC, the related persons in charge from International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee and Ministry of Culture, Hassane Rabehi, the Algerian Ambassador to China, all the diplomats of the Algerian Ambassy, the envoys and charge d’affaires of the Arab countries and other countries, the representatives to China of League of Arab States, some Algerian emigrants and students in China, and representatives of media. The CPAFFC Vice President Feng Zuoku and Ambassador Hassane Rabehi delivered speeches respectively.?
Madam Li Min and Zhou Bingde, as the representatives of family members of Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, received the medals and honorary certificates from Ambassador Hassane Rabehi. They recalled the two former Chinese leaders’ achievements during their lifetime and their support dedicated to the Asian, African and Latin-American people’s struggle for independence. They also appreciated the Algerian government for the honor.
The Contribution Award of Algeria’s Independence is set for conferring the medals and honorary certificates to the friendly personages of all countries who have contributed for the independence of Algeria, in the name of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the Algerian president. In consideration of the contribution made by Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, the Algerian government decided to honored the two former Chinese leaders.
Delegation of Lao-China Friendship Association Visits China
At the invitation of CPAFFC, Mr. Dr. Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, President of Lao-China Friendship Association headed the Laos enterpreters delegation to visit Beijing, Qingdao and Yunnan from Dec. 16-21, 2012. During the visit, Mr. Zhou Tienong, Vice Chairperson of Standing Committee of NPC, Madame Gu Xiulian, President of China-ASEAN Association, Mr. Wu Tao, President of China-Lao Friendship Association, Mr. Gao Shuxun, Vice Governor of Yunnan Province, Mr. Wang Wenhua, Chairperson of Qingdao People''s Congress, Mr. Feng Zuoku, Vice President of CPAFFC met with the delegation.
The delegation also visited the enterprises of Qingdao Beer, Qingdao Haier Group, Qingdao Rubber Valley, Beijing Wenzhou Enterpreters Chamber, and Yunnan Power Grid.??
Reception in Celebration of 40th Anniversary of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and New Zealand
On December 19, 2012, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and China-Oceania Friendship Association (CPAFFC) hosted the reception in the Great Hall of the People, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand. 150 guests attended the reception, including: Mr. Abdulahat Abdurixit, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, officials from relevant government departments of China, former Chinese Ambassadors to New Zealand, Ambassadors and diplomats from New Zealand, Australia and South Pacific Island Countries, friends of New Zealand, and representatives from enterprises. Mr. Li Jianping, Vice President of the CPAFFC and Mr. Carl Worker, Ambassador of New Zealand to China, delivered speeches. In their speeches, they spoke highly of the development of China New Zealand ties during the past 40 years and hoped that the countries could take the opportunity of the 40th anniversary to deepen win-win cooperation and push forward the bilateral friendly cooperative relations. Representatives from New Zealand Embassy and CPAFFC sang songs with ethnic characteristics which heated the event.