Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries
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The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC, or in short) is one of the major foreign affairs organizations of the People's Republic of China. The organization manages China's
sister city A sister city or a twin town relationship is a form of legal or social agreement between two geographically and politically distinct localities for the purpose of promoting cultural and commercial ties. While there are early examples of inter ...
relationships. Its stated aim is to promote friendship and mutual understanding between the Chinese people and foreign nations but observers have pointed out that it functions as a front organization in the
United Front A united front is an alliance of groups against their common enemies, figuratively evoking unification of previously separate geographic fronts and/or unification of previously separate armies into a front. The name often refers to a political ...
system used to influence and co-opt elites to promote the interests of the
Chinese Communist Party The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officially the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the CCP emerged victoriou ...
(CCP) while downplaying its association with the CCP. The CPAFFC has been described as the "public face" of the CCP's
United Front Work Department The United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (UFWD; ) is a department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which is officially tasked with "united front work". For this endeav ...
. The CPAFFC sponsors and coordinates various front organizations in other countries at the national and sub-national level.


History

The CPAFFC was founded in May 1954 to promote civic exchanges with countries that did not have diplomatic relations with the PRC. Its leadership is drawn from the upper ranks of the Chinese Communist Party and, as part of the United Front Work Department, it has as its goal "to make the foreign serve China" ( zh , c=洋为中用 , p=yáng wéi Zhōng yòng , l=overseas become China use). Its current chairperson is Lin Songtian, China's former ambassador to South Africa who suggested that the U.S. Army was responsible for the
COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China The COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). China was the first country to experience an outbreak o ...
. The CPAFFC has served to cultivate "people to people exchanges" and has attempted to influence sub-national and local levels of government via groups such as the
National Governors Association The National Governors Association (NGA) is an American political organization founded in 1908. The association's members are the governors of the 55 states, territories and commonwealths. Members come to the association from across the politica ...
in the U.S. The CPAFFC has sponsored and coordinated with groups such as China Bridge in Germany, the EU-China Friendship Group, Association Sino-Française d'Entraide et d'Amitié (ASFEA) in France, the Italy-China Friendship Association,
US–China Peoples Friendship Association The US–China Peoples Friendship Association (USCPFA) is a nonprofit educational organization whose stated aim is to develop and strengthen people-to-people diplomacy between the United States and China. USCPFA has over 50 chapters across the U ...
, and
Neil Bush Neil Mallon Bush (born January 22, 1955) is an American businessman and investor. He is the fourth of six children of former President George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush (née Pierce). His five siblings are George W. Bush, the 43rd President o ...
's George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, among others. Since 2016, the CPAFFC has convened the China-U.S. Sub-National Legislatures Cooperation Forum jointly with the non-profit State Legislative Leaders Foundation. The China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development (CFFPD) operates under the auspices of the CPAFFC and has forged partnerships with prominent non-profit and private sector entities. In April 2015, the CFFPD signed an education partnership with
United Technologies United Technologies Corporation (UTC) was an American multinational conglomerate headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut. It researched, developed, and manufactured products in numerous areas, including aircraft engines, aerospace systems, ...
(now
Raytheon Technologies Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It is one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world by revenue and market capitaliza ...
). The CFFPD maintains a strategic partnership with the
Asia Society The Asia Society is a non-profit organization that focuses on educating the world about Asia. It has several centers in the United States (Manhattan, Washington, D.C., Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco) and around the world (Hong Kong, Man ...
in the U.S. In May 2019, the CPAFFC inked an agreement with Irish think thank Asia Matters, founded and chaired by former politician Alan Dukes.


Responses

In October 2020, the
United States Department of State The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other n ...
discontinued participation in the U.S.-China Governors Forum to Promote Sub-National Cooperation, established jointly with the National Governors Association in 2011, due to alleged actions by the CPAFFC to "malignly influence state and local leaders" in the U.S. However, CPAFFC's China-U.S. Sub-National Legislatures Cooperation Forum remained unaffected by the U.S. Department of State's action. In 2022, the U.S.
National Counterintelligence and Security Center The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) leads national counterintelligence (CI) for the United States government. It is part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). History The position of Natio ...
issued a warning notice to state and local leaders citing the CPAFFC and the United Front Work Department.


Key people

; Honorary Chair *
Soong Ching-ling Rosamond Soong Ch'ing-ling (27 January 189329 May 1981) was a Chinese political figure. As the third wife of Sun Yat-sen, then Premier of the Kuomintang and President of the Republic of China, she was often referred to as Madame Sun Yat-sen. ...
(1980.6-1981.5)) *
Deng Yingchao Deng Yingchao (; 4 February 1904 – 11 July 1992) was the Chairwoman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from 1983 to 1988, a member of the Chinese Communist Party, and the wife of the first Chinese Premier, Zhou Enlai. ...
(1982.4-1992.7) ; ; Chair *
Chu Tunan Chu Tu'nan (; August 18, 1899 – April 11, 1994) was a Chinese male politician, who served as a vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of the 6th National People's Congress and the chairman of the China Democratic League The China Demo ...
(1954.5-1969.5), Vice-chairman of the 6th
NPC Standing Committee The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China (NPCSC) is the permanent body of the National People's Congress (NPC) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), which is the highest organ of state po ...
*
Wang Guoquan Wang Guoquan () (1911–2004) was a Chinese diplomat. He was born in Gongyi, Henan. He was a graduate of Henan University. He was governor, Communist Party of China Committee Secretary and delegate to the National People's Congress from Rehe Provi ...
(1972.5-1973.4), pioneer of the
Sino-Japanese relations Sino-Japanese is often used to mean: * Sino-Japanese vocabulary: That portion of the Japanese vocabulary that is of Chinese origin or makes use of morphemes of Chinese origin (similar to the use of Latin/Greek in English). * Kanbun: A Japanese meth ...
, former Vice President of the China-Japan Friendship Association *
Chai Zemin Chai Zemin (; October 1916 – June 7, 2010) was a Chinese diplomat, and the first ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the United States after the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, normalization of t ...
(1974.6-1975.8), the first Chinese Ambassador to the United States *
Wang Bingnan Wang Bingnan (1908–1988) was a diplomat and foreign affairs official of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic of China. Before 1949, Wang was one of Zhou Enlai's trusted aides and after the founding of the People's Republic in ...
(1975.8-1986.1), former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs *
Zhang Wenjin Zhang Wenjin (; 13 July 1914 – 18 February 1991) was a Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the United States and Canada. Zhang participated in historic meetings including Henry Kissinger's secret talks with China's Prime Minister Zh ...
(1986.1-1989.10), former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs *
Han Xu Han Xu (May 26, 1924 – July 19, 1994) was a Chinese diplomat who served as the Chinese Ambassador to the United States from 1985 to 1989, and as Vice Foreign Minister of China from 1982 to 1985. Early life Han was born May 26, 1924, in Ji ...
(1989.10-1994.5), former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs * Qi Huaiyuan (1994.5-2000.10), former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs *
Chen Haosu Chen Haosu (born 1942) is a Chinese poet and politician. He served as Chairman of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries from 2000 to 2011. He is also President of the China International Friendship Cities Associa ...
(2000.10-2011.9), former Vice Minister of Culture; his father is the late Marshal and Foreign Minister
Chen Yi Chen Yi may refer to: * Xuanzang (602–664), born as Chen Yi, Chinese Buddhist monk in Tang Dynasty * Chen Yi (Kuomintang) Chen Yi (; courtesy names Gongxia (公俠) and later Gongqia (公洽), sobriquet Tuisu (退素); May 3, 1883 – June ...
*
Li Xiaolin Li Xiaolin (; born 1 June 1961) is a Chinese businesswoman, currently serving as vice-president of the China Datang Corporation, a state-owned power generation enterprise. She is the former CEO of China Power International Development (SEHK: ...
(2011.9-2020.4), whose father is the late Chinese President
Li Xiannian Li Xiannian (pronounced ; 23 June 1909 – 21 June 1992) was a Chinese Communist military and political leader, President of the People's Republic of China (''de jure'' head of state) from 1983 to 1988 under Paramount Leader Deng Xiaoping and ...
* Lin Songtian (2020.4-present), former Chinese Ambassador to South Africa ; Committee The 1st CPAFFC Committee included
Guo Moruo Guo Moruo (; November 16, 1892 – June 12, 1978), courtesy name Dingtang (), was a Chinese author, poet, historian, archaeologist, and government official. Biography Family history Guo Moruo, originally named Guo Kaizhen, was born on November ...
,
Zhao Puchu Zhao Puchu (November 5, 1907 – May 21, 2000) was a religious and public leader who promoted cultural progress and religious tolerance in China. Zhao was best known as president of the Buddhist Association of China and also one of the most ...
,
Ma Yinchu Ma Yinchu (; 1882–1982) was a prominent Chinese economist. He was the father of China's family planning. Biography Early life Ma Yinchu was born in Sheng County, Shaoxing, Zhejiang. He was the fifth child of the owner of a small distillery ...
,
Mao Dun Shen Dehong (Shen Yanbing; 4 July 1896 – 27 March 1981), known by the pen name of Mao Dun, was a Chinese essayist, journalist, novelist, and playwright. Mao Dun, as a 20th-century Chinese novelist, literary and cultural critic, and Minis ...
,
Cao Yu Cao Yu (, September 24, 1910 — December 13, 1996) was a Chinese playwright, often regarded as one of China's most important of the 20th century. His best-known works are ''Thunderstorm'' (1933), ''Sunrise'' (1936) and ''Peking Man'' (1940). ...
,
Lao She Shu Qingchun (3 February 189924 August 1966), known by his pen name Lao She, was a Chinese novelist and dramatist. He was one of the most significant figures of 20th-century Chinese literature, and is best known for his novel '' Rickshaw Boy'' ...
,
Xia Yan Xia Yan is the name of: *Xia Yan (Ming dynasty) (1482–1548), Ming dynasty politician *Xia Yan (playwright) Xia Yan (; 30 October 1900 – 6 February 1995) was a Chinese playwright and screenwriter, and China's Deputy Minister of Culture bet ...
,
Tian Han Tian Han ( zh, 田汉; 12 March 1898 – 10 December 1968), formerly romanized as T'ien Han, was a Chinese drama activist, playwright, a leader of revolutionary music and films, as well as a translator and poet. He emerged at the time of the ...
, Ding Xilin,
He Luting He Luting (traditional: 賀 綠 汀; simplified: 贺 绿 汀; pinyin: Hè Lùtīng; July 20, 1903 – April 27, 1999) was a Chinese composer of the early 20th century. He composed songs for Chinese films beginning in the 1930s, some of which rem ...
,
Ma Sicong Ma Sicong (; May 7, 1912 – May 20, 1987) was a Chinese violinist and composer. He was referred to in China as "The King of Violinists." His ''Nostalgia'' (思鄉曲) for violin, composed in 1937 as part of the '' Inner Mongolia Suite'' (內 ...
,
Mei Lanfang Mei Lan (22 October 1894 – 8 August 1961), better known by his stage name Mei Lanfang, was a notable Peking opera artist in modern Chinese theater. Mei was known as "Queen of Peking Opera". Mei was exclusively known for his female lead ...
,
Huang Xianfan Huang Xianfan ( zhuang: ; ) (November 13, 1899 – January 18, 1982) was a Zhuang Chinese historian, ethnologist and educator. He was the first college graduate of Zhuang ethnicity and trained at Peking National University under leading historia ...
,
Jiao Juyin Jiao may refer to: *Horn (Chinese constellation), or Jiao (角宿), a Chinese constellation *Jiaolong, or Jiao (蛟), a Chinese dragon *Jiao (currency) (角), a unit of currency in China, one-tenth of a Chinese yuan or dollar *Jiao (surname) ( ...
,
Yang Hansheng Yang Hansheng (阳翰笙, Yáng Hànshēng; November 2, 1902 – June 7, 1993) was a Chinese screenwriter, playwright and writer, also known under the pseudonym Huahan (华汉, Huáhàn). Biography Born as Ouyang Benyi (欧阳本义, Ōuyáng B ...
, Zhou Yang,
Hu Yuzhi Hu Yuzhi (; September 9, 1896 – January 16, 1986) was a Chinese male politician, who served as the vice chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. References 1896 births 1986 deaths Vice Chairpersons of t ...
, Fan Changjiang,
Zhu Kezhen Coching Chu (; March 7, 1890 – February 7, 1974) was a Chinese geologist and meteorologist. Born in Shangyu, Zhejiang, Chu went to United States for his college education in 1910. He graduated from the College of Agriculture, University o ...
, Qian Duansheng, Qian Weichang,
Hua Luogeng Hua Luogeng or Hua Loo-Keng (; 12 November 1910 – 12 June 1985) was a Chinese mathematician and politician famous for his important contributions to number theory and for his role as the leader of mathematics research and education in the Peop ...
, etc. CPAFFC, ''Chinese Wikipedia''. Retrieved 9 November 2013.


See also

*
Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), has full diplomatic relations with 178 out of the other 193 United Nations member states, Cook Islands, Niue and the State of Palestine. Since 2019, China has had the most diplomatic mi ...
* Chinese information operations and information warfare *
Chinese intelligence activity abroad The Government of China is engaged in espionage overseas, directed through diverse methods via the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the United Front Work Department (UFWD), People's Liberation Army (PLA); ( ...
*
One-China policy The term One China may refer to one of the following: * The One China principle is the position held by the People's Republic of China (PRC) that there is only one sovereign state under the name China, with the PRC serving as the sole legit ...


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Chinese People's Association For Friendship With Foreign Countries People's Republic of China friendship associations Organizations associated with the Chinese Communist Party Chinese intelligence agencies Chinese propaganda organisations Information operations units and formations Disinformation operations United Front (China)