Create New Glory on Achievements of Past 60 Years

As 2014， a year of hope and expectations， approaches， we are filled with joy and excitement to greet the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries（CPAFFC）. Looking back at the brilliant course over the past six decades， we are full of pride； looking into the future of people-to-people diplomacy， we are determined to continue the good work and achieved new glory.

Carrying on Its Mission of Making Friends

On May 3， 1954， in accordance with the principle of “placing hope on the people” in New China’s diplomatic work put forward by Chairman Mao Zedong and on the initiative of Premier Zhou Enlai， a brand-new organization engaged in people-to-people diplomacy—the Chinese People’s Association for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries （assuming its present name in 1969）—was founded with its sacred mission of “making friends for the country”.

Over the past 60 years， it has received great attention and care from successive Party and State leaders and the enthusiastic participation and sup- port from friendship organizations and personages at home and abroad in its people-to-people diplomatic work. Holding high the banner of “Friendship， Cooperation， Peace and Development”， several generations of CPAFFC workers have made friends extensively in the international arena， sowed the seeds of friendship in the hearts of the people of many countries， and spread the hymn of peace to every corner of the five continents. Through its hard work of the past six decades， it has made innumerable international friends who support China’s construction and development； through unremitting efforts， it has made indelible contributions to the country’s people-to-people diplomacy.

Great Results from Hard Work of 60 Years

The 60 years of the CPAFFC are years of reaping friendship， years of furthering cooperation， years of advocating peace and years of promoting harmony.

Up to now， the CPAFFC has established friendly and cooperative relations with nearly 500 non-governmental organizations and institutions in 157 countries and set up friendship associations with 46 countries and regions. This has laid a strong foundation， in- jecting vitality and deepening the connotation for State relations.

Through the efforts of the past 40 years， the work of international friendship cities under the CPAFFC’s coordination has made great headway. Now， more than 2，000 cities in China’s 30 provinces， autonomous regions and municipalities have established friendship-city/province ties with their counterparts in 131 countries， providing a solid and broad bridge of communication and cooperation between local governments of China and other countries.

Every year， the CPAFFC receives about 3，000 person/time visitors from about 130 countries， sends more than 2，000 people on friendly visit to 60-odd countries， and organizes nearly 100 large-scale activities in an effort to let the world have an objective understanding of China and the Chinese people have a rational look at the world， thus playing a key role in the country’s public diplomacy.

The CPAFFC， together with more than 300 local friendship associations in China， have made contributions to the country’s overall diplomacy， the development of the motherland and world peace， and injected positive energy to the creation of a good international environment for China’s reform and opening up.

A New Starting Point for Greater Goals

On May 15， 2014， the CPAFFC will host activities in celebration of its 60th anniversary. It will invite Chinese and foreign friends of various circles who have cared for and supported its work over the years to participate in the activities. Together we will review the course the CPAFFC has traversed， talk about friendship between the Chinese and other people， and express our appreciation for the great support given to us by people of various sectors both at home and abroad. The CPAFFC will take the 60th anniversary as an opportunity to carry forward its fine tradition， be creative in its work and make new achievements in fulfilling its mission. It will use the 60th anniversary as a new historical starting point to continue its efforts to uphold the banners of friendship and cooperation and add a new glorious chapter to the annals of people-to-people friendship between China and other countries for realizing the goals set for the Party and the People’s Republic’s centenaries and the Chinese dream of great national renewal.