Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (The BPAFFC)

Founded on July 15, 1981, the Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (The BPAFFC) is a Beijing-based non-governmental organization for international people-to-people exchanges. The Association aims to facilitate building a prosperous and harmonious world through joint efforts between the people of Beijing and those of the world. For this purpose, the BPAFFC enhances mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples, promotes exchanges and cooperation, and strengthens the friendly ties between the city of Beijing and those around the world.

The BPAFFC is governed by a council consisting of institutional members and invited members. The institutional members are the social organizations committed to non-governmental exchanges; the invited members are the individuals from all walks of life who are devoted to people-to-people contacts. The council is changed every five years. It is now the seventh council with more than 100 members. The council elects the president, executive vice president, vice presidents and secretary general. The executive meeting, composed of the president, executive vice president, vice presidents and secretary general, shall exercise its functions and power during the inter-sessional period.

The BPAFFC invites venerable individuals to serve as the honorary president, and those who contribute greatly to Beijing's international people-to-people friendly exchanges to be honorary council members both from home and abroad.

The BPAFFC mainly serves to establish and develop friendly relations with organizations and people from all walks of life in the capitals and cities of other countries and regions; to bring into play the characteristic advantages of non-governmental friendly contacts to promote people-to-people exchanges; and to hold international non-governmental activities in the fields of culture, sports, education, science and technology, economy and trade, etc. Up to now, the BPAFFC has conducted exchange activities with more than 220 organizations in more than 70 countries.

I. Promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. The BPAFFC has held events featuring Chinese calligraphy and painting, Peking Opera, intangible cultural heritage, folk handicrafts, as well as pictures of Chinese scenery, cultural relics and Buddhism in countries in the world. In addition, the BPAFFC helps more foreign friends know about traditional Chinese culture, including Chinese tea, Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, Chinese calligraphy and painting, kite, paper mache, tai chi, Chinese cuisine and festival customs. It has also organized exhibitions and exchange events on music, pictures, paintings, cultural relics, agriculture, food, among others, in more than 20 countries on five continents, as well as themed events such as "Chinese Culture Week" and "Beijing Culture Week" in more than 10 countries.

II. Launch and organize the "Beijing in My Eyes" series of non-governmental exchange events. The BPAFFC has actively carried out a variety of exchange activities, including the "Beijing International Friendship Forest" tree planting activity, Beijing International Kite Festival, field tour for the BPAFFC council members and foreign diplomats in Beijing, "Tai chi & Beijing"—Beijing International Health-building Exchange, Walking Around Kunming Lake for International Friends, " Beijing in My Eyes" Essay Competition for International Students, and "Beijing in the Eyes of Foreign Friends" Photo Contest. More than 5,000 people around the world take part in the events every year.

III. Launch and organize the Beijing International Forum on People-to-people Friendship. In 2011, the BPAFFC convened the First Beijing International Forum on People-to-people Friendship to mark the 30th anniversary of the BPAFFC. Since then the Forum has been held every two years. It serves as a bridge for international people-to-people exchanges and enhances the understanding and friendship among people around the world. Up to now, more than 150 international organizations from nearly 100 countries have participated in the Forum.

IV. Care about future development of human society. The BPAFFC pays great attention to fostering the awareness of peace-building among young people. It has organized the exchanges of culture, sports, arts and technology between middle school students from China and those from the U.S., Japan, ROK, Malaysia and Brunei. It has worked with Thailand, Nepal and other countries to carry out events such as China-Thailand Youth Elite Exchange and China-Nepal Young Entrepreneurs Exchange. Through the social organizations of Malta, Belgium, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Switzerland and other countries, young people from these countries were invited to participate in international youth camps in Beijing and the "Joy Dancing Beijing" Cultural and Art Exchange Week of International Youth.

V. Give full play to the role of international friends in promotion of the common good. In commemoration of the Victory Day of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the BPAFFC held "Commemoration of Michael Lindsay, an Outstanding Friend of Chinese People", The Russian Patriotic War Poster Exhibition, "International Friends in the War of Resistance Against Japan" Photo Exhibition and "Peace Festival – Painting Peace with International Friends". The BPAFFC also organized Edgar Snow Symposium, Commemoration Seminar on the 80th Anniversary of Norman Bethune’s Arrival in China and "A la mémoire du Docteur Jean-Augustin Bussière, ami de la Chine 60 ème anniversaire de sa disparition" to safeguard peace and justice for mankind.

VI. Organize exchanges and seminars for council members. The BPAFFC organizes international talent training, and invites experts to share working experience in the exchanges and seminars, so as to help council members build their capability for international people-to–people exchanges. The BPAFFC also provided opportunities for council members to take part in receptions, visits and exchange activities in Beijing.