In December 2015, the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a new and permanent partnership between our two organizations.
This partnership is the direct result of an agreement endorsed by Chinese President Xi and President Obama during President Xi’s visit to the United States this past October. During their meetings both presidents endorsed the following language as part of a series of cooperation agreements:
#39. to enhance sub-national exchanges and cooperation between China and the U.S., the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the U.S. State Legislative Leaders Foundation reached consensus on establishing the China-U.S. Sub-national Legislatures Exchange Mechanism, and plan to co-host the First China-U.S. Sub-national Legislatures Cooperation Forum in 2016.
We are honored to represent the USA in this important new initiative.
Over the upcoming months and years, SLLF and CPAFFC will be convening a series of educational programs in China and here in the USA focusing on a variety of critical public policy issues of mutual importance to both nations and in a larger sense, to the world. As with all SLLF programs, our goal will be to inform the debate by providing key political and business leaders in both nations with objective, factual and relevant information on the many issues and concerns that require our shared commitment. Equally important, this new partnership heralds the establishment of a new framework for advancing communication, cooperation and friendship between our nations.
We look forward with great anticipation to the many opportunities this partnership affords all parties to advance the cause of peaceful coexistence and lay the foundation for lasting friendships built on trust and mutual respect.