CPAFFC Delegation Visits Singapore,Laos and Vietnam

At the invitation of the Singapore-China Friendship Association (SCFA), the Lao-Chinese Friendship Association (LCFA) and the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, a CPAFFC Delegation led by its vice president Feng Zuoku paid goodwill visits to the three countries from January 12 to 25.

Nguyen Thi Doan, vice president of Vietnam, Vu Xuan Hong，chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, Sisavath Keobounphan, central chairman for the Lao Front of National Construction, Bosaykham Vongdara, president of the LCFA and Lao minister of energy and mines, and Lee Chiong Giam, deputy secretary of Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with the delegation.

Vice President Feng Zuoku briefed them about the CPAFFC and its achievements in nongovernmental exchanges with countries of the region. He said, sound diplomatic ties between the governments have provided good conditions for nongovernmental exchanges, while friendly nongovernmental exchanges have laid solid foundations for the development of relations between different countries. In the past 54 years since its founding, the CPAFFC has established friendly and cooperative relationship with more than 400 nongovernmental organizations and institutions in over 140 countries, and has played the role of enhancing understanding and promoting friendship between Chinese and other peoples of the world. In recent years, through the national and regional friendship associations’ cooperation with the local governments and nongovernmental institutions, various activities rich in contents and varied in forms have been held and contributed to strengthening and consolidating the mass social foundations for the relations between the countries of our region.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan said, under the guidance of the “16-word” principles agreed by leaders of Vietnam and China, bilateral relations between the two countries have developed smoothly in recent years, and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the CPAFFC have played an important role in this regard. She highly praised the consensus reached by the two associations on friendly cooperation in 2008 and believed that with the joint effort of the two sides, those original proposals will be well realized.

Chairman Sisavath Keobounphan said, leaders of Laos and China have reached consensus in many aspects on developing bilateral friendly relations in all fields. He used to be the president of the LCFA, and understood the importance of people-to-people friendship in the state relations. He was really pleased to see the friendship associations of the two countries have held various colourful activities to continuously deepen the friendship between the two peoples. LCFA President Bosaykham Vongdara said, the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party attaches great importance to its relations with China. He hoped China would put forth more constructive proposals and carry out practical cooperation. He would do all he could to cooperate so as to push forward the development of traditional friendship between Laos and China.

Deputy Secretary Lee Chiong Giam said, the Singaporean and Chinese people have enjoyed a long history of friendship. He would support the further cooperation between the SCFA and the CPAFFC so as to promote the steady development of friendship between Singapore and China.

During the visit, in their talks the delegation and the counterpart organizations recalled the achievements made by both sides and exchanged views on future bilateral cooperative projects. All the friendship organizations agreed that the function of the friendship organizations as bridges should be brought into full play to enhance understanding and friendship between our peoples through the expansion of practical nongovernmental cooperation and exchanges in all fields.