Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries


The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries is one of the three major foreign affairs organizations of the People's Republic of China. 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 proxy organization coordinated by the United Front Work Department used to covertly influence elites to promote the interests of the Chinese Communist Party.
The CPAFFC has been described as the "public face" of the United Front Work Department. In the United States, it has served to cultivate "people to people exchanges" and has focused attention on the state and local levels of government via organizations such as the National Governors Association.

History

The CPAFFC was founded in May 1954 to promote civic exchanges with countries that did not have diplomatic relations with the PRC. The organization manages China's sister city relationships. Its leadership is drawn from the upper ranks of the Communist Party of China and, as a part of the United Front Work Department, it has as its goal "to make the foreign serve China." 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.

Key people

; Honorary Chair
;
; Chair
; Committee
The 1st CPAFFC Committee included Guo Moruo, Zhao Puchu, Ma Yinchu, Mao Dun, Cao Yu, Lao She, Xia Yan, Tian Han, Ding Xilin, He Luting, Ma Sicong, Mei Lanfang, Huang Xianfan, Jiao Juyin, Yang Hansheng, Zhou Yang, Hu Yuzhi, Fan Changjiang, Zhu Kezhen, Qian Duansheng, Qian Weichang, Hua Luogeng, etc.