ＣＰＡＦＦＣ Ｐｒｅｓｉｄｅｎｔ Ｃｈｅｎ Ｈａｏｓｕ Ｌｅａｄｓ Ｄｅｌｅｇａｔｉｏｎ ｔｏ Ｒｕｓｓｉａ，Ｌａｔｖｉａ ａｎｄ Ｌｉｔｈｕａｎｉａ

A CPAFFC delegation headed by its president Chen Haosu paid a friendly visit to Russia， Latvia and Lithuania from May 31 to June 9 at the invitation of the Russian Centre for International Scientific and Cultural Cooperation， the United Latvian Friendship Society with Foreign Countries and the Lithuanian Parliament.

In Russia， the delegation attended the 12th Symposium on China-Russia Regional Cooperation， one of the activities of the Year of China. Leaders of friendship organizations and relevant departments， representatives of local governments and small and medium-sized enterprises， totaling over 70 people， attended the symposium.

In his letter of congratulations to the symposium， Sergei Mironov， chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly， said， the Symposium on Russia-China Regional Cooperation has become an important mechanism for implementing the Sino-Russian Good-Neighbourly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. The present symposium would make significant contributions to further expanding regional cooperation and promoting economic and social development of the two countries.

President Chen Haosu said in his speech， the activities of the Year of Russia and the Year of China that China and Russia hold in succession in each other’s countries cover all areas of bilateral cooperation. Regional cooperation is one of the major areas and the important basis of the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation. In recent years， the two economies have kept the momentum of rapid development. There is much space and potential for regional cooperation between China and Russia. Such cooperation would contribute to common prosperity and development.

Representatives of relevant departments， local governments and enterprises of the two countries were eager to speak at the symposium. They introduced their respective organizations and explored areas and projects for bilateral cooperation.

During their visit in St. Petersburg， CPAFFC President Chen Haosu and his party were given a cordial reception by Ilya Klebanov， plenipotentiary representative of the Russian President for the Northwest Federal District. Klebanov pointed out， economic and trade cooperation between the Northwest Federal District and China has seen fast growth. Chinese investments in the District continued to increase. The large-scale investment project—The Baltic Pearl— would be unveiled soon. President Chen happily recalled the large-scale activity jointly held by the CPAFFC and the Northwest Federal District to introduce the District to China during the Year of Russia in 2006. He said that the CPAFFC would， as always， work to promote the mutually beneficial cooperation between the provinces and cities of China and the Northwest Federal District.

In Latvia， Erika Zommere， chairperson of the Latvia-China Friendship Parliamentary Group， and Rihards Piks， former vice president of the Latvian Parliament and member of the European Parliament， met with Chen Haosu and his party.

Zommere said during the meeting， the friendly relations between Latvia and China are developing vigorously. There are regular meetings between the two governments， frequent exchanges between the localities and strengthened cooperation between the two countries. After Latvia became a formal member of the EU， cooperation between Latvia and China entered an important period. She stated， the Latvia-China Friendship Parliamentary Group is the biggest bilateral friendship groups in the Parliament and its members have visited China several times， who marveled at the great changes in China. Now， more and more young people in Latvia are learning Chinese， eager to know more about China.

President Chen Haosu said， the CPAFFC is an organization engaged in people-to-people diplomatic work in China. In recent years， it has actively promoted contact with the people and localities of Latvia. He noted， the world today is not harmonious; there are still wars. The Chinese people will not only realize national reunification and work for the harmonious development of their own country， but also push for the establishment of harmonious international relations. Big countries should respect small countries instead of bullying them. China and Latvia have set an example of harmony between a big and a small country.

Ceslovas Jursenas， first vice chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament and chairman of the Lithuania-China Friendship Parliamentary Group， met with President Chen Haosu and his party on the day of their arrival in Vilnius， capital of Lithuania. Alfredas Pekeliunas， vice chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament， hosted a banquet in honour of the delegation. Bronislovas Genzelis， president of the Lithuania-China Friendship Association， and members of the Association met with and entertained the delegation. While in Lithuania， the delegation met with Juozas Imbrasas， the newly-elected mayor of Vilnius， Ricardas Malinauskas， mayor of Druskininkai and president of the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania， Dr. Benediktas Juodka， rector of Vilnius University， and Algimantas Akstinas， general manager of International Chamber of Commerce Lithuania.

First Vice Chairman Jursenas said when meeting with the delegation， Lithuania follows closely China’s achievements in construction， attaches importance to carrying out exchanges with China and works hard to promote the all-round development of relations between Lithuania and China. He himself has visited China several times and seen the tremendous changes that have taken place in the country. At present， more and more Lithuanians started to learn Chinese. He added that Lithuania followed with interest China’s preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games and expressed the belief that Chinese and Lithuanian athletes would achieve good results.

At the meeting with the delegation， LCFA President Bronislovas Genzelis said with emotion that he was especially happy to meet Chinese friends and that he felt a surge of warm feelings upon seeing old friends， for he had visited China several times when he served as chairman of the Lithuania-China Friendship Parliamentary Group. He told the delegation that members of the LCFA come from different political parties with different political views， but they hold the same view on the question of developing friendly relations with China. The LCFA members present at the meeting all said that they would make positive contributions to the deepening of friendship and cooperation between the people of Lithuania and China.