At the invitation of the Embassies of the People’s Republic of China in the United States and Canada, the CPIFA (Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs) Working Group led by Amb. Lu Shumin, Vice President of CPIFA, visited New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver successively from May 20th to 30th.
       During its stay in the US, the Group met with Mr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, Mr. Brent Scowcroft and Mr. Samuel Berger, Former Assistants to the President for National Security Affairs, Mr. William Cohen, Former Defense Secretary, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California), Chair of Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, Chairman of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Richard Shelby, Ranking Member of Senate Banking Committee, Rabbi Arthur Scheiner, President of Appeal of Conscience Foundation, Mr. Jessie White, Secretary of Illinois State, Mr. John Podesta, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress, Mr. Edwin John Feulner, President of the Heritage Foundation. The Group had exchanges with the leading members from the National Committee on Sino-US Relations and the Asia Society, and research fellows from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The Group also participated in the luncheon held by US-China Policy Foundation in the Group’s honor. During its stay in Canada, the Group called on Hon. Jean Chrétien, Former Prime Minister of Canada, Hon. John Baird, Foreign Minister of Canada, Hon. John Manley, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and President of Canadian Council of Chief Executives, Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of the Canadian Province of Ontario and Mr. Peter Harder, President of Canada China Business Council. The Group also had a roundtable discussion with President and Councilors of National Capital Branch of the Canadian International Council, professors of Munk School for Global Affairs of University of Toronto, Mr. Woo Yuen Pau, President and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and other members of Board of Directors of the Foundation.
       The two sides exchanged views on Sino-US relations, Sino-Canadian relations, global affairs and China’s peaceful development.