President Li Xiaolin Meets with Former French Prime Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin
President Li Xiaolin met with Mr. Jean Pierre Raffarin, former French Prime Minister, on May 27. President Li spoke highly of the outstanding contributions made by Mr. Jean Pierre Raffarin to promoting the two countries’ relations over years. She also emphasized that Chinese People viewed Mr. Jean Pierre Raffarin as a hero?and?true friend, since he visited China as French Prime Minister during the SARS period in 2003. President Li invited Mr. Jean Pierre Raffarin to attend the 5th Top Leaders Forum for Chinese?and?French Local Governments Cooperation which will be held in Chengdu, October. Mr. Jean Pierre Raffarin positively evaluated the efforts?and?achievements made by the CPAFFC?and?its President Li in enhancing the local governments cooperation between the two countries,?and?accepted the invitation.
Vice President Song Jingwu attended the meeting.
President Li Xiaolin Meets with YOKOI YUTAKA,New Japanese Ambassador to China
President Li Xiaolin met with YOKOI YUTAKA, new Japanese Ambassador to China on May 25. Vice President Song Jingwu attended the meeting.
President Li Xiaolin first extended her warm welcome to Ambassador YOKOI YUTAKA for his visit in the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) as soon as he took his new post. President Li said that since the CPAFFC was founded in 1954, it had been working for developing the friendly exchanges?and?cooperation with the peoples all over the world?and?had established relationship of friendly cooperation with nearly 500 non-governmental organizations?and?institutions in 157 countries. President Li also said, the people-to-people friendly exchange with Japan is one of the important tasks of CPAFFC. Whether the bilateral ties develop stably?or?difficultly, the CPAFFC would insist on the people-to-people friendship of the two countries?and?actively make great contributions to enhancing the mutual understanding?and?friendship,?and?furthering the healthy?and?stable bilateral relations.
President Li said, China?and?Japan are close neighbors with homologous culture, the two countries’ economy are complementary to each other. Since both of the countries are all of the important influence in the region?and?the world, the cooperation between China?and?Japan is the most conformed to the ?basic interests of the two countries?and?their peoples. Although the bilateral ties are still difficult?and?fragile, they have chances to be improved. Next year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations. She hoped that the both sides would take this as an opportunity to further develop the pragmatic exchanges in various fields?and?improve the bilateral relations. At last, President Li Xiaolin wished Ambassador YOKOI YUTAKA would have a good start for his work as Ambassador in China.
Ambassador YOKOI YUTAKA thanked President Li Xiaolin for taking her time to meet him. He agreed with President Li’s opinion on the bilateral relations?and?the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. He said, the two countries’ relations faced some difficulties in the past years, but the exchanges in the fields of humanity?and?personnel still keep forward, which the people-to-people exchanges played ?an important role. In the long term, keeping the friendly relations between the two countries is the best?and?the only one choice. Ambassador YOKOI YUTAKA also said that he felt a great responsibility as the Japanese Ambassador?and?he would?like?to grasp the opportunity of the 45th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, work together with the CPAFFC?and?other relevant Chinese organizations to promote the exchanges?and?cooperation in different fields between the two countries,?and?to make efforts on realizing the friendship from generation to generation of the two countries.
Cheng Haibo, Deputy Director General of the Department of Japanese Affairs, ISHIKAWA HIROSHI, Minister of the Embassy of Japan in China, YAMAMOTO YASUSHI, Minister ?of the Embassy of Japan in China, attended the meeting.
President Li Xiaolin meets with His Honorable Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand and attends the Second Annual Summit of Tripartite Economic Alliance
On May 14 to 18, CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin leading a delegation visited New Zealand for attending the Second Annual Summit of Tripartite Economic Alliance between Auckland, Guangzhou?and?Los Angeles. During the summit, President Li Xiaolin met with His Honorable Prime Minister John Key.
President Li Xiaolin meeting with His Honorable Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand
President Li briefed that at the witness of Chinese President Xi Jinping?and?New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, the Mechanism of New Zealand China Mayoral Forum was launched in November 2014. In 2015, CPAFFC successfully hosted the 1st New Zealand China Mayoral Forum in Xiamen?and?25 mayors from both China?and?New Zealand were present at the Forum, which greatly strengthened cooperative relations of local governments of the two countries. The “Tripartite Economic Alliance” started a new model of practical cooperation between local govenments.
Prime Minister John Key spoke highly of the achievement in the exchange?and?cooperation of local governments between the two sides. He expressed his appreciation for CPAFFC’s active promotion of the work of friendship cities?and?believed the “Tripartite Economic Alliance” would bring concrete benefits to the development of the three cities.
President Li delivering her speech at the summit opening ceremony
At the opening ceremony, President Li Xiaolin extended her warm congratulations to the convening of the summit. She pointed out the Chinese govenment encouraged to carry out regional cooperation between cities, both domestic?and?international. The “Tripartite Economic Alliance” was a very successful case in terms of friendship cities cooperation.
President Li meeting with Mayor Brown of Auckland
During the visit, President Li respectively met with Mayor Brown of Auckland, Mayor Garcetti of Los Angeles, Executive Director Draper of Asia New Zealand Foundation?and?Principal Policy Advisor Shackleton of Local Government New Zealand. President Li also attended the welcoming receptions hosted by Mayor Brown as well as Consul General Melanie Higgins of US to Auckland.
President Li meeting with Mayor Garcetti of Los Angeles
More than 700 people including H.E.Chinese ambassador Wang lutong to New Zealand, Chinese Consul General Xu Erwen to NZ, H.E.US ambassador Gilbert to NZ, NZ Consul General Rebecca Needham to Guangzhou, NZ Consul General Grice to LA?and?delegations from the three cities in areas of economy?and?trade, science?and?technology?and?media attended the summit.
President Li Xiaolin Meets with President Yoo Jeong Bok of Governors Association of Korea
On May 12, President Li Xiaolin met with the delegation headed by Mr. Yoo Jeong Bok, President of Governors Association of Korea (GAOK)?and?Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City. Both sides had in-depth discussions on preparations for the first China-Korea Governors Conference to be held in Incheon from June 7 to 9.
Mr. Yoo Jeong Bok expressed gratitude for President Li Xiaolin?and?CPAFFC’s great efforts in preparing the first China-Korea Governors Conference. Mr. Yoo said that the bilateral relations have entered a critical stage of development in which local governments are playing an important role. The Conference will give the two sides an opportunity to consolidate?and?develop friendly cooperation in various fields.
President Li Xiaolin said that the China-ROK relations have achieved rapid development in recent years. ?Chinese President Xi Jinping?and?ROK President Park Geun-Hye have met several times?and?established good personal friendship. ?At present, Chinese?and?Korean local government have a lot to learn from each other. We are expecting the Conference to achieve positive results, which will promote the substantive exchange programs between the two sides.
CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi, Secretary General of GAOK Doh Youn Ho, were present at the meeting.
President Li Xiaolin Meets with Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi of Viet Nam to China
On May 10, President Li Xiaolin met with H.E. Mr. Dang Minh Khoi, Ambassador of Viet Nam to China in CPAFFC.
President Li extended a warm welcome to Ambassador Dang. She reviewed the close cooperation between CPAFFC?and?Vietnamese counterparts in recent years,?and?pointed out that the bilateral relationship has been enhanced?and?leaders of the two countries attach great attention to the people-to-people friendship. We look forward to further cooperation with the Viet Nam?union?of Friendship Organizations?and?the Embassy of Viet Nam in China so as to make more efforts in developing the people-to-people friendship?and?mutual trust between two countries.
Ambassador Dang said that both Viet Nam?and?China are socialist countries led by communist parties. The traditional friendship founded by leaders of the older generations is our common treasure. He spoke highly of the positive role that CPAFFC has played in promoting the people-to-people friendship?and?hope to work with CPAFFC to carry forward the friendship between Viet Nam?and?China from generation to generation.?
President Li Xiaolin Attends the Meeting between H.E. Bounnhang VORACHITH and Chinese Friendly Personages
On May 4, H.E. Bounnhang VORACHITH, President of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP)?and?the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, met with Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the CPAFFC, Mr. Wu Tao, President of China-Laos Friendship Association (CLFA),?and?other representatives of Chinese friendly personages during his state visit to China.
President Li Xiaolin firstly expressed congratulations to H.E. Bounnhang VORACHITH on his being elected as the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the ?LPRP?and?the President of Lao People’s Democratic Republic?and?extended her gratitude to H.E. Bounnhang VORACHITH for meeting with Chinese friendly personages regardless of his tight schedule. She said that the friendship between China?and?Laos is quite precious, which largely depends on the hard work of generations. Chinese people will never forget the contribution of late Lao Foreign Minister Quinim Pholsena?and?other leaders of older generation to the China-Laos friendship.?and?the descendants of their families are always welcome to visit China.?
H.E. Bounnhang VORACHITH thanked CPAFFC?and?CLFA for their long-term contribution to the development of bilateral relations. He said that all the Chinese friendly personages present here used to struggle on the front line of the Laos-China friendship with joint efforts?and?devote their life to it. The Laos now maintains social?and?political stability; enjoys steady economic growth?and?improved living standards. Thanks to China’s strong support?and?the joint efforts made by all Chinese guests present at the meeting, the cooperation between ?Laos?and?China has been strengthened in all fields. The LPRP, the Lao government?and?people welcome all of you to pay a visit to the places you used to work in Laos at any time.
Mme. Lin Yi, Vice President of the CPAFFC, Mr. Li Jun, Assistant Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, Mr. Liang Feng, former Chinese ambassador to Laos?and?Vice President of CLFA , Mr. Pan Guangxue, former Chinese ambassador to Laos, Mr. Zheng Guocai, former Director General of the International Department of the CPC, Mr. Liu Honglu, Director-General of the Research Center of Private Economy of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences?and?son of the first President of CLFA Mr. Liu Chun, Mr. Zhang Liangmin, ?professor on the Lao language of Beijing Foreign Studies University, as well as main delegates of the Laos delegation attended the meeting.
President Li Xiaolin Meets with Director of Oman-China Friendship Association Mohsin Darwish
CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin met with Mr. Mohsin Darwish, Director of Oman-China Friendship Association?and?Oman famous entrepreneur on April 28.
President Li Xiaolin extended her welcome to Director Mohsin Darwish’ visit to CPAFFC?and?congratulated him on being awarded for the outstanding contributions to China-Arab Friendship in January this year. She hoped that Director Mohsin Darwish would continue making contributions to the China-Oman friendly relations.
Director Mohsin Darwish expressed that he would?like?to promote the exchanges, investment?and?cooperation in the fields of the economy?and?trade between the two countries, so as to continuously develop the friendly bilateral ties.
CPAFFC Vice Presidnet Lin Yi?and?Oman Ambassador to China ?Abdullah Al Saadi attended the meeting.
During Chinese President Xin Jinping’ visit to Cairo on January 16 this year, CPAFFC held the award ceremony of China-Arab Friendship Outstanding Award. Director Mohsin Darwish is one of the ten winners.
President Li Xiaolin Meets with Executive Vice President of National Football League Mark Waller
On April 14th, President Li Xiaolin met with the National Football League (NFL) delegation led by NFL Executive Vice President Mark Waller.?
President Li pointed out that sports diplomacy, as an important part of public diplomacy, might be the bridge?or?tie linking the peoples in China?and?the United States. CPAFFC would?like?to work together with NFL to promote American football in China, so as to enhance the understanding?and?friendship between our people.?
Mr. Waller thanked President Li for her support?and?wished that NFL could work together with CPAFFC under the framework of the strategic cooperative agreement proposed early this year to carry out tangible collaboration.?
President Li Xiaolin Meets with Kaseimbekov, Director General of Kazakhstan President Office
President Li Xiaolin met with Kaseimbekov, director general of Kazakhstan president’s office?and?chief librarian of the first Kazakhstan presidential library on 13th, April.
President Li Xiaolin welcomed director general Kaseimbekov to visit China?and?made a brief introduction of the principals of the CPAFFC?and?the work done by CPAFFC recently. She expressed that CPAFFC paid attention to keep close cooperation with relevant organizations of Kazakhstan?and?developed the activities of enhancing the mutual understanding?and?friendship between the people of our two countries. She also hoped to receive the great support from the first Kazakhstan president library led by director general Kaseimbekov?and?other organizations.
?Kaseimbekov thanked President Li Xiaolin for taking her time to meet him. He said that they would?like?to establish the friendly cooperation with CPAFFC?and?jointly engage in strengthening the cultural exchanges between China?and??Kazakhstan as well as deepening the friendship of people of ?two countries.
Mr. Shen Xin, deputy director general of the Department of European?and?Asian Affairs of CPAFFC, Mr. Shakhrat Nuryshev, Kazakhstan ambassador to China attended the meeting.