Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries
Introduction 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 is officially termed as a "people's organization" and manages China's sister city 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 system used to influence and co-opt elites to promote the interests of the Chinese Communist Party (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 CPAFFC sponsors and coordinates various front organizations and influence operations 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" (). Its chairperson between 2020 and 2023 was 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 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 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, and Neil Bush'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 (now RTX Corporation). The CFFPD maintains a strategic partnership with the Asia Society in the U.S.In May 2019, the CPAFFC inked an agreement with Irish think tank Asia Matters, founded and chaired by former politician Alan Dukes.In 2023, the Associated Press reported that personnel affiliated with the CFFPD had been involved in influence operations with the Utah state government.
Responses In October 2020, the United States Department of State 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 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 (June 1980–May 1981)* Deng Yingchao (April 1982–July 1992); ; Chair* Chu Tunan (May 1954–May 1969), Vice-chairman of the 6th NPC Standing Committee* Wang Guoquan (May 1972–April 1973), pioneer of the Sino-Japanese relations, former Vice President of the China-Japan Friendship Association* Chai Zemin (June 1974–August 1975), the first Chinese Ambassador to the United States* Wang Bingnan (August 1975–January 1986), former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs* Zhang Wenjin (January 1986–October 1989), former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs* Han Xu (October 1989–May 1994), former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs* Qi Huaiyuan (May 1994–October 2000), former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs* Chen Haosu (October 2000–September 2011), former Vice Minister of Culture; his father is the late Marshal and Foreign Minister Chen Yi* Li Xiaolin (September 2011–April 2020), whose father is the late Chinese President Li Xiannian* Lin Songtian (April 2020–August 2023), former Chinese Ambassador to South Africa* Yang Wanming (August 2023–present), former Chinese Ambassador to Brazil, Argentina, and Chile
See also *Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China*Chinese information operations and information warfare*Chinese intelligence activity abroad*One-China policy
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