Founded in September 1981, the Chinese Association for International Understanding(CAFIU) is sponsored by and composed of political parties, social organizations, prominent personages, scholars and social activists from all walks of life in China. CAFIU, aiming at enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between China and other countries, safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, has been carrying out active and wide-ranging international non-governmental exchanges and dialogues in the hope to ¡°Let the world understand China, and let China understand the world¡±.
Since its founding, CAFIU has formed ties and had exchanges with social organizations, political parties, research institutes in scores of countries and international organizations and has established extensive contacts with personages from various circles of those countries.
The forms of CAFIU¡¯s exchanges are flexible and diversified, including exchange of visitors and study tours, sponsorship of exchanges on political, economic, cultural and other topics, organization of and participation in non-official bilateral and multilateral activities, co-organizing seminars and lectures on issues of common concern with different foreign organizations. CAFIU also offers assistance and service to foreign NGOs engaged in development and poverty alleviation programs in China. Keeping in regular touch with relevant central and local governmental organs, departments, other social organizations and some enterprises, CAFIU is willing to serve as a bridge friendly foreign organizations that wish to have various economic exchanges and cooperation with China and promote the development of the poverty-stricken areas in China.
CAFIU¡¯s highest organ of power is the executive council. Members are from the Chinese Communist Party, other democratic parties, social organizations and specialists, scholars or prominent figures from economic, religious, literary, artistic, journalistic, diplomatic, educational and other circles.
The first President of CAFIU was Mr. Li Yimang, who was a renowned social activist, diplomat, writer and calligrapher. Other presidents include Prof. Lei Jieqiong, a famous social activist, former Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People¡¯s Congress and Chairperson of China Association for Promoting Democracy, Mr. Wu Xueqian, former Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People¡¯s Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC) and former Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister, Mr. Li Guixian, former Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of CPPCC. The current President is Mr. Zhou Tienong,Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of NPC and Chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang.
The Secretary-General of CAFIU is responsible for day-to-day work.
In May 2003, CAFIU acquired special consultative status with ECOSOC, UN.
The publication of CAFIU is ¡°International Understanding¡±, an English quarterly.
