China?s major foreign affairs institutions and organizations:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC This government functional unit is in charge of relations with other countries and consular and overseas Chinese affairs. There are foreign affairs offices in each province, autonomous region and municipality directly under the Central Government, responsible for handling foreign-related affairs in those localities under the leadership of the Foreign Ministry. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up commissioners? offices in the special administrative regions. Such offices shall handle foreign affairs managed by the Central Government and related to special administrative regions, and serve as the channels of contact between the special administrative regional governments and the Central Government on such foreign affairs. The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Tang Jiaxuan; the current commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is Ji Peiding; and the current commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in the Macao Special Administrative Region is Yuan Tao.
The Chinese People?s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Founded in May 1954, this organization?s sole purpose is the promotion of friendship and mutual understanding between the Chinese people and other peoples throughout the world. Representing the Chinese people, it makes contacts and promotes exchanges with friendly organizations and people all over the globe. This work allows it to serve as a link in the friendly relations between the Chinese people and the people of the rest of the world. The Association has branches in all China?s provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. The current president of the Association is Chen Haosu.
Chinese People?s Institute of Foreign Affairs Founded in December 1949, this organization focuses on international issues and foreign policy research, aiming to conduct international exchanges and expand people-to-people diplomatic activities, thus working to enhance friendship between the Chinese people and the people of other nations, promote the development of China?s international relations and contribute to the cause of world peace. This Institute works to establish contacts with political activists, diplomats and other distinguished individuals in other countries, along with organizations and scholars researching international issues. It organizes and participates in a variety of public lectures and symposiums on academic subjects, and various other activities geared to the exploration of international affairs and exchanges of ideas. The current president of the Institute is Mei Zhaorong.
