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New Year Message for 2016: Jointly Writing a New Chapter for the Era of People-to-people Friendship


As a poem goes, the warmth and hope of spring can be felt immediately after it embraces the world. In this dynamic and fresh season, on behalf of the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU), I’d like to extend cordial greetings and wishes to the readers of the International Understanding home and abroad and to people from all walks of life for your longstanding interest and support for the work and development of CAFIU! Standing on the threshold of the year 2016, as we look back on the journey we’ve traversed and into the future, we grow more confident in the path we’re going to pursue with more resolute determination. In the past year, China’s major country diplomacy with her own characteristics was pushed forward in an all-round manner and has yielded fruitful results. China has shouldered her due obligations as a responsible major country. With our well-established diplomatic arrangements, expanding circles of friends, advancing new type of relationship between major countries, concrete steps in building the “Belt and Road”, more vocal voice in global governance, and wide-ranging positive responses from the international community to our call for building a community of shared destiny, China has practiced the idea of peaceful development with our own action, contributing to the progress of the mankind. People-to-people diplomacy constitutes an integral part of the grand undertaking of China’s diplomacy, making distinctive contributions to the world peace and development. The past year saw unprecedented momentum in China’s people-to-people exchanges with the rest of the world, deepening cultural exchanges, and record number in mutual visits. With more and more Chinese NGOs coming onto the global arena, and an increasing number of Chinese nationals going abroad to see the world, the people elsewhere have more understanding of and trust in China through their exchanges with the Chinese people. As an important actor in China’s people-to-people diplomacy, CAFIU has been dedicated to promoting friendship among different peoples ever since its founding in 1981, enhancing public and social support for the development of relations among nations. In the past year, we were actively involved in building the “Belt and Road”, facilitated cross-culture dialogues, constantly expanded the global influence of our flagship programs, pushed forward youth exchanges in an all-round manner, strengthened people-to-people cooperation with our neighboring countries, Europe and the USA, made new friends, explored new channels of carrying out exchanges, and covered a wider area of exchanges. Our work paid off, which in turn proved the importance and potential of people-to-people diplomacy. With the splendid achievements behind us, we can anticipate to embrace an even brighter future, which calls for greater endeavor. As the first year of the “Thirteenth Five-year Plan”, 2016 will be full of hope and hard work. Let us bear in mind the grand mission of people-to-people diplomacy, adhere to the purpose of “letting the world understand China and letting China understand the world”, and jointly usher in a new era of people-to-people friendship. Ji Bingxuan Vice-President Chinese Association for International Understanding