Vice President Hu Sishe Meets Presidents from the U.S. Historically Black Colleges and Universities
On Dec.5th, Vice President Hu Sishe met with Presidents from the U.S. Historically Black Colleges?and?Universities (HBCU), including President David Wilson from Morgan State University, President Kevin D. Rome from Fisk University, Acting President Lester A. McCorn of Clinton College?and?Provost Karl S. Wright from Claflin University.
VP Hu expressed warm welcome to the delegations’ visit to China. He said, China-U.S. educational cooperation is an important platform for mutual learning?and?better understanding between the youth of our two countries. It is also an essential part of China-U.S. social?and?cultural exchanges. He introduced the big role that CPAFFC plays in pushing forward China-U.S. sub-national relations?and?said that CPAFFC will always support the pragmatic cooperation between schools. He hoped that the U.S. school presidents could build up good relationship with Chinese counterparts, broaden the cooperation aspects, reach a successive, active?and?efficient model of exchanges?and?communications,?and?make positive efforts to the bilateral educational cooperation.
President Wilson from Morgan University introduced the HBCU schools?and?spoke highly of CPAFFC’s long-term support to them. Delegates from different schools talked about the current?and?future cooperation with Chinese schools. All of them extended their willingness to build up connection?and?to enhance cooperation with Chinese higher learning education institutions, thus making more benefits to students?and?faculties from both countries.
The 2nd World Philanthropy Forum Held in BeijingPress Release
The Second World Philanthropy Forum, jointly launched by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)?and?Tsinghua University, was held from November 29 to 30, 2017 in Beijing.
Li Haifeng, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attended the opening ceremony. Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC; Chen Xu, Chairperson of Tsinghua University Council?and?Gao Xiaobing, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs, delivered speeches respectively at the forum.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also sent a congratulatory letter to the forum?and?the upcoming “Community of shared future: a network of synergetic cooperation between charities?and?social services”.
President Li Xiaolin pointed out that: “The World Philanthropy Forum is an open platform for participation, dedication?and?sharing in charity?and?social services. It originates from China?and?serves the world. We welcome insightful people to?join?the forum?and?carry out collaboration, so that we work towards the great goal of building a community of shared future for humanity.”
We hope that we will promote the sharing of experience, academic exchange, policy advocacy?and?practical promotion of charities around the world, implement the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals?and?advance the building of a community of shared future through the forum, said Chen Xu, Chairperson of Tsinghua University Council in her speech.
The opening ceremony was attended by over 40 heads of international organizations including Nicholas Rosellini, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China?and?UNDP Resident Representative; Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative to China; as well as heads of Ford Foundation, World Vision International, Asia Foundation, Give2Asia?and?Right To Play. Upwards of 500 guests from over 400 institutions attended the forum. In addition, the heads of eight world-renowned organizations including Bill?and?Melinda Gates Foundation sent congratulatory letters for the opening of the World Philanthropy Forum.
The theme of this forum is “Synergetic Cooperation”. Centering on the theme, the forum explores?and?supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), gives boost to the Belt?and?Road Initiative?and?the joint discussion?and?building mechanism?and?measures in the promotion of building a community of shared future; focuses on the four topics of anti-poverty, social impact investment, environmental protection?and?youth development; gives full play to the role of social work, experts?and?scholars, overseas Chinese people, Chinese?and?foreign enterprises, foundations?and?international organizations regarding disciplines, specialties, advantages?and?strengths; holds seven high-level dialogues, four roundtable dialogues?and?four parallel forums.
At the opening ceremony, the CPAFFC?and?World Vision International signed the Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation on ‘Every Women Every Child’ of the United Nations. In the next three years, World Vision International will invest close to 1 billion U.S. dollars in countries along the Belt?and?Road,?and?work together?and?unite all sectors of society to carry out livelihood projects?and?social services.
The forum has set up a high-end advisor?and?partnership mechanism. Julia Eileen Gillard, President of the Global Partnership for Education?and?former Australian Prime Minister; Helle Thorning-Schmidt, CEO of Save the Children International?and?former Prime Minister of Denmark; Li Wei, President of Development Research Center of the State Council;?and?Li Jiajie, a famous entrepreneur?and?philanthropist?and?Vice Chairman of Henderson Land Development Company Group, serve as the first group of advisors of the forum. Ford Foundation?and?the Committee of 100 respectively serve as the global strategic partner?and?strategic partner of this forum.
At the closing ceremony, the forum launched the World Philanthropy Forum: Chinese Social Services Cooperation Mechanism?and?Community of Shared Future for Mankind: Collaborative Network for Philanthropy?and?Social Services. Dr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of CPAFFC, read out the World Philanthropy Forum: Declaration of Friendship?and?announced the plan for the third forum in 2018.
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The 8th Annual Conference of the Friendship Associations between China and Iran and Symposiums on Bilateral Relations Held in Beijing
On Nov. 28, the 8th annual conference of the friendship associations between China?and?Iran?and?Symposiums on bilateral relations was convened in Beijing.
The theme of the conference is “China?and?Iran?join?Hands for the Belt?and?Road Construction”. Vice President Lin Yi of the CPAFFC, President Ahad Mohammadi of the Iran-China Friendship Association,?and?Ambassador Ali Asghar Khaji of Iran to China delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. More than 100 other guests from the economic?and?cultural fields also attended the conference.
Status quo?and?policies regarding bilateral cooperation in economic?and?cultural sectors under the framework of the Belt?and?Road were discussed at the conference, providing an efficient platform for people-to-people cooperation between China?and?Iran.??
Large-Scale Stage Play 《Silk Road·Youth》 Performs in Great Hall of the People
The large-scale stage play 《Silk Road·Youth》, supported by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Education Department of Liaoning Province?and?jointly organized by China Friendship Institute for International Art Exchanges ( CFIIAE), Publicity Department of Dalian Committee of Communist Party of China, Working Committee of the Party of Dalian Jin pu New Area, Dalian Federation of Literary?and?Art Circles, Dalian Art College, was grandly performed in Great Hall of the People in November, 24th.
A total of 6000 personages from all walks of life including Mme. Chen Zhili, former Vice-Chairperson of Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Mr. Li Yi, Party Secretary of China Federation of Literary?and?Art Circles, Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Zheng Fuzhi, Assistant Minister of Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Akram Zeynalli, Azerbaijan Ambassador to China, Mr. Namondwe,?Malawi Ambassador to China, Mr. Miao Kwong Lee Hon Chong, Mauritius Ambassador to China?and?envoys from eighteen countries including Vietnam, Tajikistan, Japan, Cameroon, Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore?and?Equatorial Guinea as well as relevant ministries, the teachers?and?the students of some universities in Beijing, attended?and?watched the performance.
This play was a new performance work that was created to celebrate the convening of 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China?and?eulogized the Belt?and?Road Initiatives?and?magnificent cause.
Through the perspective of the youth, making use of different stage performance forms including the interaction of people?and?screen, scenarios show, multi-layer interspersed, taking culture?and?art elements with vitality from different areas, countries?and?ethnic, this play was to show the spiritual essence of the Belt?and?Road Initiatives in the form of an artistic performance. The play also displayed the history, ideal?and?future in the perspective of the youth, expressed their vitality?and?the belief of adhering to the Belt?and?Road Initiatives?and?encouraged the youth to contribute to the great cause of the Belt?and?Road Initiatives with ambitions?and?hard-working.
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Vice President Mr. Hu Sishe Meets with the Speaker of Sri Lanka
On Nov.23, Vice President Mr. Hu Sishe led a delegation to Sri Lanka?and?met with the Speaker of Sri Lanka, Mr. Karu Jayasuriya.
Mr. Karu Jayasuriya welcomed the visit of the Chinese delegation?and?introduced the representative programs of cooperation?and?exchanges between China?and?Sri Lanka that he took part in in the past years.?
Mr. Hu extended his gratitude for Mr. Speaker’s efforts in advancing bilateral relations. He gave a brief introduction to China’s 19th National Party’s Congress?and?the new round of political?and?economic reforms in China after that. He hoped that the two countries can take the new situation as an opportunity for deeper cooperation. Besides, Mr. Hu also invited Mr. Speaker to attend the International Friendship City Conference held in Wuhan, China next year?and?to deliver a keynote speech on the conference.?
Vice President Mr. Hu Sishe Attended Reception hosted by PMOBOR Malaysia
On November 22, Vice president Mr. Hu Sishe attended the reception hosted by Persatuan Muafakat One Belt One Road (PMOBOR) . Mr. Hu had a deep discussion over the possible exchanges programs with the president?and?council members of PMOBOR.
?Group photo with the president?and?council members of PMOBOR
Mr.Hu said in his speech that on Nov.21, the First Silk Road NGO Cooperation Network Forum opened in Beijing. Chinese president Xi Jinping said in his congratulating message that NGOs play an important role in promoting economic?and?social development, international cooperation?and?global governance. His words reflected that the Central Committee of CPC?and?our national leaders have placeed emphasis on NGO’s importance in OBOR Initiative. Mr. Hu held that the founding of PMOBOR kept up with trend of the times,?and?seized good opportunity. We should enhance cultural exchanges so as to extend our cooperation.?
Vice President, Mr. Hu Sishe delivered a speech
President of PMOBOR, Mr. Datuk Iskandar Sarudin extended warm welcome to Mr. Hu?and?the delegation’s visit to Malaysia. He then gave a brief introduction to PMOBOR?and?its members. He believed that Malaysia is one of the best platforms for Chinese entrepreneurs to go global. With a good foundation of bilateral exchanges, he believed that there is vast space?and?great potential for further cooperation. Mr. Datuk Iskandar Sarudin, who once served as Malaysian Ambassador to China,? has been actively pushing forward Malaysia’s engagement in China’s OBOR Initiative?and?signed the AIIB key framework agreement on behalf of Malaysia in 2015.
?Mr. Hu Sishe exchanged gifts with President of PMOBOR
Mr. Hu also had talks with Mr. Dato Jefridin, chairman of TAB Foundation which was founded by Tun Abdullah Badawi, the former Malaysian Prime Minister,?and?met with his brother Mr. Dato Seri Ibrahim Badawi. They agreed to cohost a seminar on Tun Abdullah Badawi’s diplomatic philosophy.
?Meeting with Chairman of TAB Foundation?and?Former Prime Minister’s Brother
Reception for the 45th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-Netherlands Diplomatic Relations at Ambassadorial Level Held in Beijing
On November 22nd, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)?and?the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China jointly held a reception for the 45th anniversary of China-Netherlands diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level in Beijing. Ms Lin Wenyi, Vice Chairperson of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC), Mr Ed Kronenburg, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to China, Mr Tian Jie, Deputy Director General of the Committee for Handling Proposals of the CPPCC, Mr Wang Chao, Vice Foreign Minister, Mr Song Jingwu, Vice President of the CPAFFC, together with around 120 guests from the International Liaison Department of the CCCPC, the CPPCC, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Academy of Military Sciences of the PLA, diplomats from the Netherlands?and?representatives from all sectors attended the reception. Vice President Song Jingwu?and?Ambassador Ed Kronenburg delivered speeches.
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Vice President Song Jingwu said in his speech that since China?and?the Netherlands established diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level, bilateral relations has enjoyed steady progress with concrete fruits in the fields of economics?and?trade, science?and?technology,?and?people to people exchanges. China is willing to, on the basis of mutual respect, equality?and?mutual benefit, further strengthen substantive cooperation in all fields?and?facilitate a steady development of the open?and?pragmatic comprehensive partnership between China?and?the Netherlands in the high level.
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Ambassador Ed Kronenburg reviewed the development of Netherlands-China relations in the 45 years?and?said that Netherlands is ready to work with China to forge a closer relationship under the framework of the “Belt?and?Road” Initiative.
On the reception, Vice Chairperson Lin Wenyi Ambassador Ed Kronenburg, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao,Vice President Song Jingwu?and?Deputy Head of Mission of Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Bas Pulles unveiled the commemorative envelop?and?jointly cut the cake for the 45th anniversary. Artists from the Netherlands brought Guqin?and?Piano performances for the audience.
Vice President Hu Sishe Meets with Former Australian Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan
Mr. Hu Sishe, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met in Sydney with Mr. Wayne Swan, the former Australian Deputy Prime Minister?and?the Treasurer of Australia in November, 17th.
During the meeting, Vice President Hu Sishe made an introduction about the aim?and?function of CPAFFC. Vice President Hu thanked Mr. Wayne Swan for specially attending the opening ceremony of “Journey of Chinese Art--Xu Peichen’s Painting?and?Calligraphy Exhibition in Australia”. He said, culture plays an important role as a bridge in communicating among different countries?and?people. Culture also is regarded as the common wealth owned by the human race. Zheng He went on an expedition to the 'Western Ocean' in Ming Dynasty when Chinese fleet had arrived in Australia. After that, the exchanges between China?and?Australia were launched. On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-Australia diplomatic relations, the main purpose of holding Chinese traditional painting exhibition in Sydney this time was to enrich the cultural life of the two peoples, promote the feeling of the two peoples?and?further enhance the exchanges of the two countries in the fields of culture?and?art.?and?also it was expected to exert far-reaching influence on the innovation?and?development of the culture?and?art of the two countries through this exhibition. Meantime, it was hoped that the nongovernmental organizations could continue making contributions on promoting the friendship of the two countries.
Mr. Wayne Swan said that during his tenure as the Australian Deputy Prime Minister?and?the Treasurer of Australia, he visited China for many times?and?realized that the important role the cultural exchange played in the Australia?and?China relations. At present, more?and?more Australian people begin to learn about Chinese long?and?splendid history?and?culture. Chinese art provides a new perspective that could not reflect from economic data?and?political report for Australian people to learn about China. This exhibition could inspire us to think about the important role the cultural ambassadors of the two countries (including artist, singer, poet?and?dancer) play in promoting the exchanges between the two countries. Cultural exchange could help us to understand the neighboring countries’ culture, which contributes to the prosperity?and?peace of the world. He thanked CPAFFC for making efforts on enhancing the cultural exchange of the two countries.
Mr. Wang Heshan, Secretary General of China Friendship Institute for International Art Exchanges of CPAFFC, Professor Xu Peichen?and?other personages, attended the meeting.
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CPAFFC Awards Posthumously “Friendship Ambassador” to Henri Lederhandler
On the morning of November 16th, 2017, Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), accompanied by Mr. Chen Dong, Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Belgium, paid special visit to the mansion of the late Henri Lederhandler who was one of the founders of Belgium-China Association?and?the first Chairman of Belgium-China Economic?and?Trade Committee,?and?awarded posthumously “Friendship Ambassador” to him. This Prize was the first time to confer to Belgian friendly personage. His wife was moved deeply?and?expressed that her husband devoted all his life to promoting the friendship between Belgium?and?China,?and?that all her family members felt honorable for this award.
At the early period of the exchanges between Belgium?and?China, a group of people with lofty ideals broke through the resistances?and?dedicated to establishing?and?developing the friendly exchanges with China. Henri Lederhandler was one of the outstanding representatives among them?and?one of the founders of Belgium-China Association as well as the pioneer of the friendly exchanges?and?the economic?and?trade cooperation between the two countries. In 1960s, He assisted?and?promoted Belgian Queen Elizabeth to visit China, which became the icebreaker trip for the exchanges between China?and?Belgium. In 2012, Mr. Li Keqiang, then Vice Premier of the State Council of China, paid special visit to Henri Lederhandler during his official visit to Belgium?and?kindly called him as “ a friend of Chinese people forever”.
Vice President Xie Yuan Issues “China-Belgium Friendship Award ” to Belgian Friendly Personage
The reception commemorating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Belgium-China Association & the award ceremony jointly organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Chinese Embassy in Belgium, Belgium-China Association was held in Chinese Embassy in Belgium in November 16th, 2017. Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Qu Xing,Chinese Ambassador to Belgium?and?Mr. Hans Van Duysen, Chairman of Belgium-China Association?and?etc., attended?and?delivered speeches.
On behalf of President Li Xiaolin, Vice President Xie Yuan expressed warm congratulations on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Belgium-China Association. He also issued “China-Belgium Friendship Award” to six Belgian friendly personages including Ms. An Tengrootenhuysen, Ms. Caroline Tengrootenhuysen, Ms. Lale Yuvali, Ms. Yvonne Mainguet, Mr. Hans Van Duysen?and?Mr. Philip Vanhaelemeersch.
Vice President Xie Yuan said in his speech that, An Tengrootenhuysen, her sister Caroline Tengrootenhuysen, Lale Yuvali?and?Yvonne Mainguet actively spread?and?promoted Chinese culture for decades, so as to enhance Belgian people’s understanding of China. Chairman Hans Van Duysen, Mr. Philip Vanhaelemeersch?and?representatives of new generation took over the baton from the predecessors to actively develop the economic?and?trade cooperation, the humanity?and?cultural exchanges with China,?and?to continue making unremitting efforts on the cause of China-Belgium friendship. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of Belgium-China Association, CPAFFC issued “China-Belgium Friendship Award ” to Belgian friendly personages in order to commend them for the outstanding contributions they had made to developing the China-Belgium friendship. Adhering to the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind raised on the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, CPAFFC would continue to consolidate?and?develop the exchanges?and?cooperation with Belgium-China Association, the Belgian friendly personages?and?organizations with China from all walks of life so as to push the bilateral relations to a new level.