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Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A meeting between Russian and Chinese officials discussing international friendship and cooperation.

The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) is an important group in foreign affairs organizations of the People's Republic of China. It is called a "people's organization" and helps manage China's sister city relationships. The group says it wants to build friendship and understanding between the people of China and people from other countries.

However, some people think the CPAFFC acts as a front organization for the united front system. This system is used to support and influence important people in other countries to help the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), while not showing its close link to the CCP.

The CPAFFC started in May 1954. Its goal was to create connections with countries that did not have official diplomatic ties with China at that time. The leaders of the CPAFFC come from high levels of the Chinese Communist Party. As part of the United Front Work Department, the group aims to help China benefit from relationships with other nations. It also supports and organizes various activities and groups in other countries, working at both national and local levels through influence operations.

History

Predecessor

On October 2, 1949, the Committee of China's Conference for the Defense of World Peace was created after the founding of the People's Republic of China, with Guo Moruo as chairman. The General Association of Sino-Soviet Friendship was also established, with Liu Shaoqi as president. After the Korean War began, the Chinese People's Committee for Opposing the U.S. Aggression against Taiwan and Korea merged with the Conference for the Defense of World Peace and was reorganized into the Chinese People's Committee for the Defense of World Peace Against the U.S. Aggression, with Guo Moruo continuing as chairman.

On May 3, 1954, the People's Association for Foreign Culture of the People's Republic of China was founded by several people's organizations and the Committee of China's Conference for the Defense of World Peace, at the suggestion of Premier Zhou Enlai. Many scholars attended, including Guo Moruo and Zhao Puchu.

On November 20, 1961, Chair Chu Tunan led the friendship association to visit Japan.

Early activities

In 1955, the Association sent a Chinese song and dance group to visit Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland, countries that did not yet have diplomatic ties with China. They met with Nobel Prize winner Halldór Laxness in Finland. In 1956, a Chinese art delegation visited Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, also countries without diplomatic relations with China at the time. Sadly, one of the planes on the return trip exploded, and ten people were lost.

In May 1957, the association sent a delegation to Nepal to meet with King Mahendra. In December 1957, Guo Moruo led a group to Egypt for the Asian-African Solidarity Conference, where they were received by President Nasser. In February 1959, a Chinese cultural team visited North Korea and signed the first Sino-North Korean Cultural Cooperation Agreement. In April 1961, the association visited Cuba.

In 1966, the organization's name was changed to the Association of the People's Friendship with Foreign Countries and Culture. In 1969, it became the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

In October 1984, Chair Wang Bingnan led a delegation to visit the Netherlands and met with Mayor of Amsterdam Ed van Thijn.

In 1970, Wang Guoquan was asked by Zhou Enlai to return to Beijing to lead the CPAFFC. Under his leadership, the CPAFFC worked on building friendly connections between people. In August 1971, Wang Guoquan traveled to Japan to attend a funeral and meet with Japanese leaders, helping to prepare for better relations between China and Japan in 1972. In 1971, the CPAFFC hosted "Palestine International Week" with the Arab League and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, featuring rallies, exhibitions, and documentaries about the Palestinian people.

In April 1973, Liao Chengzhi led a CPAFFC group to Japan to help build the foundation for the 1978 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China.

In November 1978, the CPAFFC visited the United Kingdom, Belgium, and France, meeting with Joseph Needham and King Baudouin of Belgium. In April 1980, a delegation went to North Korea, and in 1981, they visited Romania. In 1982, Italy was visited.

In March 1992, the CPAFFC created the China Association of International Friendship Cities and joined United Cities and Local Governments.

In January 2023, Hideo Tarumi, Ambassador of Japan to China, met with Songtian Lin, Chair of the Association.

21st century

On May 20, 2004, at the CPAFFC's 50th anniversary celebration in the Great Hall of the People, Hu Jintao and former leaders from Finland and Australia gave speeches.

On May 15, 2014, the CPAFFC held the China International Friendship Conference to celebrate its 60th anniversary, with Xi Jinping attending. Xi encouraged the group to build friendships and create opportunities for cooperation.

The China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development works with the CPAFFC and has formed partnerships with many organizations. The CPAFFC supports exchanges between people and has worked with groups in many countries.

On December 16, 2023, Yang Wanming visited Cagayan, Philippines.[citation needed]

In April 2015, the CFFPD partnered with United Technologies. Since 2016, the CPAFFC has held the China-U.S. Sub-National Legislatures Cooperation Forum.

In May 2019, the CPAFFC agreed to work with an Irish think tank called Asia Matters. Since 2021, the CPAFFC has worked with the United States Heartland China Association to promote trade between the U.S. and China.

Between 2020 and 2023, Lin Songtian, China's former ambassador to South Africa, served as chairperson. In 2023, reports said that people connected to the CFFPD were involved in efforts to influence the Utah state government. In 2024, the CFFPD helped organize panda diplomacy efforts in San Francisco.

Responses

In October 2020, the United States Department of State decided to stop taking part in a forum meant to help U.S. and China work together. This happened because some people thought the CPAFFC was trying to influence leaders in the U.S. in ways that weren’t fair. But, another meeting between China and U.S. lawmakers kept going as normal.

In July 2022, a U.S. security group warned local leaders that the CPAFFC might use agreements between cities in different countries to push its own plans forward.

Organization

The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries has many groups that help it work. Inside the main group, there are offices that handle different parts of the world, like East Asia, Asia-Africa, and Europe. There is also a group for cultural exchanges and a special group for sister cities.

There are also many friendship groups linked to this organization. These groups focus on building friendships between China and other regions, such as Latin America, Africa, and the Arab world. There are also special groups for individual countries, like Russia, India, and Japan, to help friendship and cooperation between peoples.

Key people

In April 2023, Chair Lin Songfeng visited the Russian Duma.

Honorary Chair

Chair

Related articles

Foreign policy of China
People's organization
Sister city
Front organization
United front (China)
Chinese Communist Party

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