From February 23 to 27, at the invitation of the Association of Communes of Romania (ACoR), Sun Xueqing, Secretary-General of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation to Romania. He attended the ACoR Annual Meeting and Partner Organizations Conference held in Bucharest. Among the attendees were heads or representatives from prominent international organizations composed of local governments, including the European Committee of the Regions, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, the Network of Associations of Local Authorities in South-East Europe, the Moroccan Association of the Councils of Prefectures and Provinces, the Marmara Municipalities Union of Türkiye, the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova, the Austrian Association of Municipalities and the Serbian Association of Local Authorities. Sun Xueqing was invited to speak at the meeting. He introduced China's practice and proposals of stimulating the vitality of localities to further mutually beneficial cooperation, forge a stronger bond between the peoples, and respond to global challenges. Moreover, Sun expressed that the CPAFFC will play its unique role and collaborate with all parties concerned to actively build more bridges of people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges and youth friendship, with a view to elevating the subnational exchanges and cooperation between China and the rest of the world. The proposal received positive feedback from all attending parties.
During his visit, Sun Xueqing held meetings or working talks with Viorica D?ncil?, former Prime Minister of Romania, Emil Dr?ghici, President of the ACoR, Aurel Papari, Chairman of the Romania-China Friendship Association, Nicolae Vasilescu, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Romania-China, and Nicolae Dumitru, Secretary General of the Romanian-Chinese House. Sun expressed his gratitude for their long-standing contributions to the friendship between China and Romania. He added that he will work with other friendly organizations to leverage their respective influence and play a leading role in building a network of people-to-people and subnational cooperation between China and Romania, and even between China and Europe, thereby contributing to the development of China-Romania and China-Europe relations. Expressing their desire to further strengthen ties with the CPAFFC, the Romanian side said that they will serve as a bridge to contribute to the enhancement of mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Romania and China, especially among the youth, and the facilitation of practical cooperation between local governments of the two countries.
