10 November 2017 - Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in her capacity as Chairperson of the Association of Philippine China Understanding (APCU), led a delegation in visiting China (Guangzhou and Beijing) at the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Madame Li Xiaolin witnessing the signing ofAPCU President Mr. Gabriel Lopez and  CPAFFC Vice President Madame Lin Yi of the MOU.

In Beijing, Former President Arroyo held a meeting with CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin, during which she expressed interest in reviving sisterhood relations between the Philippines and China.

APCU Chair Arroyo and CPAFFC President Li witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between APCU and CPAFFC, which aims to promote people-to-people ties between the two countries. The MOU was signed by Mr. Gabriel Lopez, President of APCU and Ms. Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC. 

Representative Arroyo listens as Vice Chairman Xiangba Pingcuo of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, proposes strengthening bilateral relations through more inter-parliamentary exchanges.

Also during the visit, Representative Arroyo, in her capacity as a member of the House of Representatives, had a meeting with Vice Chairman Xiangba Pingcuo of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC). At the meeting, the NPC Vice Chair proposed strengthening inter-parliamentary exchanges between the two countries as a means to enhance bilateral relations which Representative Arroyo welcomed.

The Former President and her APCU delegation meet the Philippine Embassy personnel.Also in the photo is former CNN Beijing Bureau Chief Jaime FlorCruz, who is now a Professor of journalism at Peking University.

The former President took time from her busy schedule in Beijing to visit the Philippine Embassy. During her visit, she thanked Embassy personnel for the support and assistance extended to her during her visits in China as President. She also expressed confidence in a new "golden age" in the Philippines' bilateral ties with China under the leadership of President Duterte, Ambassador Sta. Romana's "intimate knowledge" of China and the Chinese people and the hard work of all Embassy personnel.

FPGMA expressed appreciation to Minister Song Tao for his proposal to deepen party-to-party ties.

International Liaison Department Minister Song Tao of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China, who served as Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines during the former President's term, expressed interest in deepening party-to-party exchanges with the Philippines.

The former President also had meetings with President Wu Hailong, the Chinese People's Institute for Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), and Madame Gu Xiulian, President of China-ASEAN Association. 

APCU is a non-governmental organization informally founded in 1972. During that time, the CPAFFC provided assistance as the Philippines was then experiencing a calamity. Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China was established only on 09 June 1975. APCU sent its first delegation to China in 1977. END.