CPAFFC President Urges Stronger People-to-People Ties Between China and South Asia

H.E. Dr. Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 9th China–South Asia Friendship Organizations Forum, held yesterday afternoon at Crossroads Maldives.

In his remarks, Dr. Yang described the Maldives as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” and congratulated the forum’s organizers for advancing friendship and cooperation across the region. Speaking to delegates from China and six South Asian nations, he reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties, cultural exchange, and inclusive development through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and long-standing principles of peaceful coexistence.

“China and South Asia are not only partners in win–win cooperation but also a community with a shared future,” Dr. Yang said. He recalled centuries of maritime exchange between the two regions, from the ancient Silk Road to Admiral Zheng He’s voyages, emphasizing that friendship “has never faded” despite the passage of time.

Dr. Yang highlighted the rapid growth in China–South Asia trade, which reached nearly USD 200 billion in 2024, and pointed to landmark projects such as the China–Maldives Friendship Bridge, Bangladesh’s Padma Bridge, and Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port City as examples of how infrastructure and connectivity can deliver tangible benefits.

He proposed four key areas of focus to strengthen cooperation: aligning development strategies under the BRI; promoting mutual learning among civilizations; consolidating regional peace through trust and inclusivity; and deepening youth exchanges to ensure that “the friendship between China and South Asia is passed on from generation to generation.”

The CPAFFC president reaffirmed that China’s approach to diplomacy is grounded in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and that the association will continue to act as “a bridge for cultural exchange, pragmatic cooperation, and mutual understanding.” He encouraged participants to take the forum as an opportunity to renew dialogue and consensus under the theme “Mutual Learning: Peace and Prosperity for a Shared Future.”

Concluding his address, Dr. Yang expressed hope that the friendship between China and South Asian countries will remain “as pure as the glassy sea of the Maldives and as vast as the Indian Ocean.”

The China–South Asia Friendship Organizations Forum, co-hosted by the China–Maldivian Cultural Association (CMCA), OSARFCC, and CPAFFC, continues through November 15 with sessions focused on civil diplomacy, cultural partnerships, and sustainable regional development.