On behalf of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and in the capacity of Vice President of UCLG, I would like to express warm welcome to you and wish the UCLG World Council Meeting and the World Mayors Forum held in Beijing a great success!

　　CPAFFC joined IULA at the Barcelona World Congress in March 1999. Over the past six years, we have been actively engaged in the cooperation between cities and local governments, especially in the process of the unification of three local government organizations and the establishment of UCLG. I have always been looking forward to inviting you to Beijing for a meeting so as to reciprocate the hospitality which we were accorded when we were having a meeting in many of your cities. This wish is finally fulfilled in this summer of June 2005.

　　We are full of enthusiasm for international cooperation between cities and local governments. The aims of CPAFFC are to enhance people’s friendship, further international cooperation, safeguard world peace and promote common development, which also represent our basic stand for international cooperation between cities and local governments. We have designed two topics for the World Mayors Forum: one is Local Authorities and UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); and the other is Disaster Management, both of which involve international cooperation including macro prospects and concrete methods. I believe it will draw the active attention of our friends.

　　As I am the Vice President of the UCLG World Organization in the capacity of the President of UCLG-ASPAC, I would like to, in the name of UCLG-ASPAC, extend welcome to the World Council and friends from other sub regions. The fact that UCLG has chosen Beijing to convene its World Council Meeting one year after its establishment and Jeju of Korea to hold its World Congress in two years from now reflects the attention given by our colleagues from other sub regions to the development of ASPAC. In the spirit of unity and cooperation, mutual respect, activeness and prudence, our ASPAC region is striving for our own development and at the same time making contributions to the progress of the whole world. 

　　Let us thank the friends who have contributed to the success of this meeting. With your help and support, we are writing a new successful record in the history of the development of UCLG.  

　　Let us toast to share the joy of success and express our sincere gratitude.