Statutes of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries
(Adopted by the Tenth National Council Meeting in May 2012)

Chapter One   General Principles

Article 1 This Association is a national people’s organization of the People’s Republic of China, called the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, abbreviated as CPAFFC.

Article 2 As a nongovernmental diplomacy organization, on behalf of the Chinese people, the Association makes friends and deepens friendship in the international community and various countries around the world, lays and expands the social basis of friendly relations between China and other countries to gain extensive international support for its socialist cause with Chinese characteristics.

Article 3 The aims of the Association are to enhance people’s friendship, further international cooperation, safeguard world peace and promote common development.

Article 4 The Association implements China’s independent foreign policy of peace, observing the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, while carrying out all-directional, multi-level and broad-area people-to-people friendship work to serve the great cause of China’s peaceful development and reunification, and engage in the cause of human progress and solidarity, working hard to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.

Chapter two   Functions

Article 5 The Association carries out friendly people-to-people contacts between China and other countries by organizing exchange of visits of delegations, holding commemorative activities, initiating and hosting exchange activities including seminars, talks, forums to enhance mutual understanding, build up trust and develop friendship with people of other countries.

Article 6 The Association promotes international cooperation by establishing contact mechanisms, building cooperation platforms and furthering pragmatic cooperation in economy, science and technology, talents and other areas, to create favorable conditions to achieve win-win results and common development.

Article 7 The Association effects people-to-people cultural exchanges with other countries by dispatching or hosting cultural groups or personalities on friendly visits, sponsoring performances or exhibitions to promote learning from each other in the cultural field and enhance understanding and friendship.

Article 8 Entrusted by the government, the Association coordinates and oversees the work of establishing and developing friendship-city relations between China and other countries, promoting exchanges and cooperation between their localities and cities. As a member of United Cities and Local Governments, the Association participates in international cooperation on behalf of Chinese local governments.

Article 9 As a nongovernment organization in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, the Association takes an extensive part in U.N. affairs and actively participates in the exchange activities of other international nongovernment organizations to effectively communicate information about China.

Article 10 The Association works to develop the force of people-to-people friendship between China and other countries by establishing China-regional or China-national friendship organizations, keeping contacts with friendly personages, organizations and public societies, and conferring separately upon organizations or personages that have made important contributions to people’s friendship the honorary title of Friendship Ambassador or the Award for Contribution to People’s Friendship; the honorary title of China-national Friendship Envoy or the Award for Contribution to China-national Friendship.

Article 11 The Association engages in the cause of safeguarding world peace and common security of humankind and supports the people of various countries in their just struggle to achieve national development and social progress and defend sovereignty and security.

Article 12 The Association carries out other activities for the friendly cooperation between the Chinese and other peoples.

Chapter Three   Membership

Article 13 The Association adopts the system of combining group and individual memberships.

Article 14 Relevant state departments, public societies, friendship organizations, and friendship organizations of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government as well as friendship organizations of cities under their jurisdiction may become group members of the Association. The member units recommend their respective representatives to be the Association’s group council members. In case the representative’s working post has changed, the member unit concerned ought to recommend another representative and report to the Executive Council of the Association for approval.

Article 15 The Association may invite a number of noted public figures to be its specially-invited council members, who are its individual members.

Article 16 The representatives of the Association’s group members and the individual members must abide by the Constitution and laws of China, and any member who violates laws will be deprived of membership automatically.

Article 17 The members of the Association must observe its statutes, undertake some work to realize its aims, actively participate in the people-to-people diplomacy activities organized by the Association, and have the rights to enjoy the services provided by the Association in international contacts.

Chapter Four   Organizational Structure

Article 18 The highest organ of authority of the Association is its National Council. The term of each session is five years. In addition to the general meeting held when a new session starts, at least one more council meeting should be held between sessions.

Article 19 In the composition of the National Council, attention should be paid to its extensiveness and representativeness, and it should be decided by the preceding Council and various circles of the society through consultations.

Article 20 Functions and powers of the National Council:
 1, to examine the work report of the Association, and decide on the work policies and tasks;
 2, to amend the statutes of the Association as required by development of the situation and the needs of work;
 3, to decide on inviting honorary president, honorary advisors and advisors; and
 4, to elect president, vice presidents and secretary-general.

Article 21 The president, vice presidents and secretary-general form the Executive Council to attend to the day-to-day work of the Association and is responsible for reporting its work to the National Council. The Executive Council may decide on individual adjustment of its composition, but it must be subsequently confirmed by the next National Council meeting. The Executive Council may decide to appoint a number of deputy secretaries-general and set up offices needed. When required by needs, the Executive Council may decide to temporarily hold the National Council meeting.

Article 22 Provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, as well as cities, districts and counties under their jurisdiction, may set up friendship organizations of corresponding levels when it is deemed necessary. As people’s organizations of corresponding levels, friendship organizations of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, or of cities, districts and counties, accept the guidance from friendship organizations of a higher level in their work.

Chapter Five   Funds

Article 23 The sources of the Association’s funds are:
 1, Donations from various circles in China and abroad;
 2, Incomes from activities sponsored by the Association; and
 3, Subsidies from the government.

Chapter Six   Association Emblem

Article 24 The Association’s emblem is composed of a pattern of plum flower, the Chinese characters of “ friendship” and “the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries”, and “CPAFFC”. The emblem may be hung at offices, activity places and meeting places, printed on publications and souvenirs, and made into badges for wearing.

Chapter Seven   Supplementary Provisions

Article 25 The Association is located in Beijing.

Article 26 The statutes shall become effective upon its adoption by the National Council.

Article 27 The termination of the Association shall become effective only upon the approval by two-thirds of the council members through discussion at the National Council meeting.

Article 28 The power for the interpretation of the statutes resides in the CPAFFC.