The Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (GDPAFFC) held a symposium in Guangzhou on August 14 to mark its 70th anniversary. Representatives from organizations and institutions across different fields, as well as international friends, attended the event.
Inside the Symposium
Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, congratulated GDPAFFC on its 70th anniversary and commended its efforts over the past 70 years to promote exchanges between Guangdong and the rest of the world. He encouraged GDPAFFC to expand its international network and make better use of platforms such as the Understanding China Conference and the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation.
"I hope the association will strengthen its ties with old friends, make new friends, step out of its comfort zone and expand its circle of friends," Yang said.
Ma Wenfeng, director-general of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province and president of GDPAFFC, said the association has promoted exchanges between Guangdong and the rest of the world in trade, science and technology, and culture over the past 70 years. It now maintains partnerships with more than 200 friendship organizations in over 70 countries and regions, and has 170 member organizations in Guangdong. GDPAFFC plans to further expand its international network and deepen people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation.
"For us, the association is not only a partner, but also one of our most trusted friends," said Sushil Prajapati, president of Nepal's Arniko Society. The two organizations signed a memorandum of cooperation in 2009 and have since carried out a range of cultural and people-to-people activities. These include literary exchanges between Guangdong and Nepal, as well as visits that have given Nepali participants a closer look at Guangdong's development.
"This friendship has crossed the Himalayas and stood the test of time," Prajapati said.
Ouyang Yan, deputy editor-in-chief of South, spoke about the media outlet's efforts to support people-to-people exchanges. In 2024, South invited 4 Pulitzer Prize and World Press Photo award winners to visit 6 cities in Guangdong and document the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It also held photography exhibitions in Guangzhou and Los Angeles in 2025, with the Los Angeles exhibition attracting more than 500,000 visitors.
This year, South and GDPAFFC jointly launched an English-language column titled "Stories of Guangdong," inviting friendship organizations overseas and people with ties to Guangdong to share their stories and perspectives on the province.
Reporter: Yao Jingsen
Photo: GDPAFFC
