Lectures on“One Belt, One Road”and People-to-People Diplomacy Launched in Beijing

The ancient Silk Road over 2，000 years ago was a key channel for commercial and trade cooperation be-tween China and other countries， as well as an important bonding link for people-to-people and cultural exchang-es between East and the West. In order to better understand the strategic think-ing behind President Xi Jinping’s plan to build a“Silk Road Economic Belt”and the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road”， the CPAFFC started a series of lectures in June 2015 0n development of“One Belt， One Road”and people-to-people diplomacy.

The idea is to explore ways to de-velop popular diplomacy for promotion of the“One Belt， One Road”initiative，strengthen international think tank co-operation and provide information and policy advice in a better way.

Government officials and experts from academic institutions in China are being invited to give lectures for the staff of CPAFFC and other friendship associations， including the Chinese-Arab Friendship Association and the Chinese-Iran Friendship Association.

As the most important financial institution serving the initiative， the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank(AIIB) has attracted great international attention. To create better understand-ing of China’s major policies and business opportunities， Cao Honghui，deputy director-general of China De- velopment Bank's f'inancial research and development center， was invited to give the first lecture on the AIIB in the Peace Palace of the CPAFFC on June 23. About 120 people attended the lec-ture， including the CPAFFC staff and members from the aforementioned as-sociations.

CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi said the organization always upholds the concept of peace， win-wm cooperation and development and makes people-to-people diplomacy part of the overall ef-forts to develop President Xi’s plan. It had cooperated with local govemments

CPAFFC Vice President Lin Yi addresses the lecture

to hold the China-Arab City Forum and the dialogues of local govemment lead-ers about the“One Belt， One Road”initiative.

In the future， Lin said， the CPAFFC would ensure a continuing series oflectures to serve the construc-tion cause.

Mr. Cao Honghui gave a detailed account of the AIIB's essential infor-mation， background ofits founding， the challenges it faces and future develop-ment. After the lecture， the audience discussed with the speaker topics in which they were interested， such as the AIIB and public diplomacy.

In July 2015， Western nations and Iran reached a comprehensive agree-ment on the Iranian nuclear issue. The agreement will have important and far-reaching influences on Iran and rele-vant areas. Iran is a critical point on the“One Belt， One Road” linking Europeand Asia.

Therefore， the CPAFFC held the second lecture in the Peace Palace on September 11 specifically devoted to the Iranian nuclear issue. Mr. Dong Zhihua， counselor of the Department of Arms Control of the Ministry of For-eign Affairs， was invited to speak， fo-cusing on the origin of the Iran nuclear issue， major phases of the negotiations and main content of the comprehensive agreement， as well as China's role in the settlement of the issue.

Around 120 people attended the lecture.

Two lectures have been heldsuccessfully so far on building the“One Belt， One Road” and the peo-ple-to-people diplomacy. Both the China-Arab and China-Iran friend-ship associations expressed their ap-preciation.

Considering the situation at home and abroad and suggestions from the audience， the CPAFFC will continue to invite experts from various sectors to give lectures.