Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

Building a community with a shared future for mankind is the core concept of Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought and the noble goal of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era. The concept and practice of promoting a community with a shared future for mankind are in line with the changes of the world and answer the questions of the times, fully demonstrating the far-sighted vision and the responsibility of a great power with the core of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. As an indispensable part of the overall national diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy is a key force to consolidate the social foundation of a community with a shared future for mankind and to cultivate the public opinion soil for Sino-foreign friendship. The system of the National Association of Friends of the People's Republic of China insists on taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought, as the guide, closely combines the in-depth implementation of the spirit of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee with the study and understanding of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition on people-to-people diplomacy, actively plays the main channel role of people-to-people diplomacy, creates a favorable external environment for the comprehensive promotion of the cause of building a strong nation and rejuvenating the nation, and contributes people-to-people strength and a new chapter of the times to the promotion of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Deeply study Xi Jinping's important exposition, and clarify the direction and method of people's diplomacy.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has placed great importance on people-to-people diplomacy, personally planning, deploying, and promoting the innovation of people-to-people diplomatic theory and practice. He has delivered many important speeches, made critical instructions and responses, and written letters to foreign friends, profoundly expounding the contemporary connotation, value mission, and practical path of people-to-people diplomacy, and providing a powerful ideological weapon and a scientific guide for the high-quality development of people-to-people diplomacy in the new era.

Pioneering a new realm of people-to-people diplomacy and expanding the broad stage of a shared future. Looking back on the magnificent course of China's diplomacy since the founding of the PRC, people-to-people diplomacy has always been in harmony with the cause of the Party and the state, playing an irreplaceable role in stabilizing international relations, promoting people-to-people friendship, advancing pragmatic cooperation, and deepening mutual learning among civilizations. It has also laid a solid foundation for creating a peaceful and stable international environment, a good neighborhood and friendly surrounding environment, and an open and inclusive cooperative environment. With the world undergoing unprecedented changes in a century, human society has once again reached a crossroads in history. The trend of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win is irresistible, while unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic and aggressive practices are going against the tide. The world and the times are calling for people-to-people diplomacy to demonstrate greater responsibility.

On July 29, 2025, the World Youth Peace Congress, jointly sponsored by the China Association for Promoting World Friendship Externally and the All-China Youth Federation, was held in Beijing. (Photo provided by the China Association for Promoting World Friendship Externally)

President Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out that we shouldThe spirit of "building a community with a shared future" has gathered a broad consensus to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind; the concept of win-win cooperation has gathered a powerful force to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind; and the open and inclusive mindset has painted a picture of civilization to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. This profoundly reveals the inherent logic of people-to-people friendship and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and endows people-to-people diplomacy with a new historical orientation and mission of the times. Under the glorious banner of building a community with a shared future for mankind, people-to-people diplomacy in the new era has achieved the sublimation of its value pursuit: it not only serves the national interests of sovereignty, security, and development, but also takes into account the common well-being of mankind, with a more lofty goal; it goes beyond geographical political games and ideological differences, adheres to the common values of all mankind, and has a broader pattern; it gathers the magnificent power of the people of all countries to pursue a happy life, with a more powerful momentum; it builds a solid mass base for the sound and stable development of international relations, and plays a more critical role; and it paves the way for multi-party interaction and multi-party participation in cooperation, with a broader stage.
Interpret the value orientation of people-centered diplomacy, adhere to the fundamental position of people first. The fundamental political position of the Chinese Communist Party is to put the people first, which is also the original color of China's people-to-people diplomacy. General Secretary Xi Jinping, with the future of mankind in mind and the well-being of the people in heart, closely combines the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with the progress of human development, and closely connects the Chinese people's pursuit of happiness with the good aspirations of the people of all countries in the world, emphasizing"In the pursuit of happiness by mankind, no country or nation can be left behind", he proposed the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, advocated for a more inclusive economic globalization, and promoted the development achievements to benefit more and more fairly the people of all countries.

The people are the creators of history and the main body of practice in building a community with a shared future for mankind. President Xi Jinping has profoundly pointed out that people-to-people friendship is the foundation for the sound and steady development of international relations, the inexhaustible motive force for promoting world peace and development, and the basic premise for achieving win-win cooperation. The Chinese people are willing to work with the people of the world to create a better future for humanity. This series of important statements profoundly elaborates the core principles of people-to-people diplomacy: to take the communication of people's hearts as the bond, to take mutual benefit and win-win results as the goal, to pave the way and build bridges for the Chinese and foreign people to know and love each other, to work together and move forward in unison, to build a consensus and synergy for gathering wisdom and strength and building a better world, vividly demonstrates the high degree of unity between the value subject and the practical subject of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and fully shows the philosophical foundation and moral power of China's people-to-people diplomacy.

Embody the historical initiative of people-to-people diplomacy, and grasp the general trend of the times. The spirit of historical initiative is a precious quality of the Chinese Communist Party to overcome difficulties and create great undertakings, and it is also the source of strength for the pioneering and innovative development of people-to-people diplomacy in the new era. General Secretary Xi Jinping has a deep insight into the laws of the development of human society, a scientific judgment of the general trend of the world and the trend of the times, and repeatedly stressed that we should always grasp the historical initiative, anchor the goal of struggle, and move forward with determination in the right direction, which points out the direction for the adherence and innovation of people-to-people diplomacy. The construction of a community with a shared future for mankind is in line with the objective reality that all countries in the world are closely related, and it is in line with the common aspirations of the people of all countries for peace, development, and cooperation. It is the correct path to lead the progress of human civilization.

The new era of people-to-people diplomacy bears a special mission and must, with a high sense of historical consciousness and strategic confidence, take the initiative to recognize, respond to, and seek changes, plan its work with a forward-looking vision, and solve problems with innovative measures. It should scientifically apply the positions, viewpoints, and methods of Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought, deeply understand the laws of the development of people-to-people diplomacy, always maintain strategic determination, adhere to the principle of perseverance, inherit the fine traditions in adherence to the norm, expand the paths of work in innovation, and continuously improve the pertinence, effectiveness, and influence of people-to-people diplomacy. It is necessary to strive to create a new situation in the work.

Define the path of people-to-people diplomacy and make the practice of multi-party linkage solid. People-to-people diplomacy has the distinct characteristics of wide-ranging fields, diverse subjects, rich channels and flexible forms. President Xi Jinping has stressed that people-to-people diplomacy should be innovative, carry out people-to-people friendly exchanges in many fields, through multiple channels and at multiple levels. Efforts should be made to build a platform for people-to-people exchanges, pragmatic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and youth friendship."The Four Bridges", jointly committed to being practitioners of building a community with a shared future for mankind, participants in Chinese-style modernization, promoters of mutual learning among civilizations and people-to-people exchanges, and inheritors of the cause of people-to-people friendship. We should be sincere to touch people's hearts, warm them with our hearts, and move them with our emotions, to narrow the distance between the Chinese and foreign peoples.

General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition is a profound guide to the standpoint and viewpoint, as well as a precise deployment of the methods and approaches. It systematically elaborates the key points and the direction of efforts for the work of people's diplomacy in the new era, provides fundamental guidance for the national friendship association system to play the main channel role of people's diplomacy and pool the strength for peace and development, and is an action program to promote the quality and efficiency of people's diplomacy and serve the overall diplomacy.

Practice the mission and responsibility, and the new era of people's diplomacy shows new achievements.

In the new era and new journey, the system of the National Association of Friends of the People of China has thoroughly implemented Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought and the important exposition of General Secretary Xi Jinping on people-to-people diplomacy, focused closely on the central tasks of the Party and the state, played its role as a bridge and a bond, and strive to build a platform for friendly cooperation between China and foreign countries at the grassroots level, promoting the transformation of the Chinese initiative of building a community with a shared future for mankind into an international consensus and from a beautiful vision to solid practice, and has achieved solid results in all aspects of work.

Serving the overall diplomatic situation of the country and promoting China's ideas and proposals. Head-of-state diplomacy is the highest form and the core guidance of China's diplomacy and the most important part of the country's overall diplomacy. General Secretary Xi Jinping has taken the lead in carrying out people-to-people diplomacy, making friends extensively and deeply, and vividly interpreting the people-oriented feelings of China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. The national friendly association system has always taken serving the head-of-state diplomacy as the primary political task, carefully planning and efficiently implementing the supporting people-to-people activities, and successfully holding the China International Friendship Conference, the World Youth Peace Conference, The "Gulin Yuan" series of Sino-US people-to-people exchanges, the Sino-US City-Friendship Conference, the China-Vietnam Friendly People and Youth Meeting, the Fromud International Forum, the China-Russia Local Leaders Dialogue, and other brand events, as well as the awards ceremonies for the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friendship Award and the China-Arab Friendship Outstanding Contribution Award, have deeply explained China's ideas, propositions, and plans to the people of all countries, vividly showcased the outstanding wisdom and people-oriented sentiment of General Secretary Xi Jinping as the leader of the great party and great country, continuously enhanced the international recognition and appeal of the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and achieved the resonance and coordinated efforts of head-of-state diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, injecting positive impetus into the development of international relations.

On July 10, 2025, the American and Chinese youth participating in the 2025 "Gulin Yuan" China-US Youth Choir Week pose for a photo at the柳杉王 Park in Gulin, Fuzhou. (Photo provided by the National Committee of友协with Foreign Countries)

Deepening amicable, cooperative relations with neighbors and strengthening the ties of a community with a shared future in the region. The region is the foundation of China's existence and the basis of its development and prosperity. The national friendship association system has been deeply practicing the concept of amicable, sincere, beneficial, and inclusive foreign policy towards its neighbors, closely focusing on the goal of building a community with a shared future in the region, and comprehensively deepening people-to-people friendly exchanges with neighboring countries. The China-Asia-EuropeExpo has been held.—We have continued to expand people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in various fields through such regular platforms as the ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the RCEP Local Governments and友好 Cities Cooperation Forum, the Lancang-Meikong Local Governments Cooperation Forum, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization People-to-People Friendship Forum; implemented people-oriented projects such as youth elite exchanges, poverty alleviation and anti-poverty experience sharing, medical and health cooperation, and skills training in neighboring countries, focusing on grassroots levels and benefiting the general public; and held such activities as the Great Reunion of Border People and meetings of friendly organizations, which have promoted personnel exchanges, deepened emotional integration, and helped build a peaceful, prosperous, beautiful, and friendly neighboring home, while consolidating the popular foundation for neighboring friendship.

Promoting cooperation among the Global South and building a modern world together. The vast number of developing countries are natural allies of China and an important force in promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. The system of the National Association of Friends of China has always adhered to the concept of sincerity, affinity, and genuine friendship, and the correct view of righteousness and interests, with a heart for the Global South and rooted in the Global South, to continuously deepen solidarity and cooperation and cultivate friendly feelings. Building a meeting of the heads of China-Africa Civilian友好 organizations, China— multilateral platforms such as the Arab China Friendship Conference, the China-Latin America Civil Society Forum, and the China-Pacific Region Friendship and Cooperation Dialogue, focusing on the common needs of southern countries, and promoting practical cooperation to go deeper and more solid; carrying out activities such as visits by political figures to China for inspection, training for youth leaders, and exchanges of governance experience, vividly presenting the rich practice and valuable experience of Chinese-style modernization; implementing the outcomes of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, and preparing to organize a series of activities for the China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges Year in 2026, with civilizational mutual learning as the bond, tapping into cooperation potential, and building a consensus of friendship, to promote the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Africa to go deeper and more solid, and to pursue the dream of modernization hand in hand.

Improve the network of friendly cities, and enrich the exchange between Chinese and foreign localities. President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to vigorously carry out the work of Chinese international friendly cities, promote the exchange between Chinese and foreign local governments, and promote the realization of resource sharing, complementary advantages, and win-win cooperation. The National Committee for Foreign Friends has effectively performed its duties of guidance, coordination, management, and service, and promoted the high-quality development of the work of international friendly cities. Up to now, China has established friendly city relations withOver 3,100 friendly city (province-state) relations have been established among more than 150 countries. Since the new era, the number of friendly cities has increased by more than 50 percent, and the number of friendly cities with countries building the "Belt and Road" has increased by 80 percent. The network of friendly city partners on five continents is becoming more and more perfect. The China International友好 City Conference, the Local Cooperation Special Forum of the "Belt and Road" International Cooperation Summit, and other activities have been successfully held. A number of bilateral and multilateral friendly city cooperation mechanisms, such as China-US, China-Russia, China-Japan, China-Korea, China-Africa, China-Arab, China-Latin America, have been established. We support all localities to rely on their own endowments to connect with friendly city resources, promote cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, industry, culture and tourism, and governance to take root and show results, and promote the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind to blossom and bear fruit among the people of all countries.

Building a multi-dimensional dialogue platform to nourish global friendly ties. The system of the National Committee for Friendship with Foreign Countries insists on making friends extensively and deeply, coordinates bilateral and multilateral, official and non-official, traditional and emerging channels, and carries out extensive and in-depth exchanges and dialogues with people from all walks of life in various countries, including politics, local governments, enterprises, think tanks, and media. Focusing on the overall situation of Sino-US relations, it regularly holds the Sino-US Civilian Friendship Forum, Local Cooperation Dialogue, Agricultural Roundtable Forum, and other activities, deepening the United States and all sectors of society, and consolidating the foundation of people-to-people friendship; around the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, it carries out parliamentary dialogue, economic and trade cooperation, green development, and other exchanges and activities, promoting the integration of China-EU interests and the understanding of the people; inviting international friendly people, World War II veterans, and others to attend memorial activities, promoting the correct view of history and peace; strengthening the brand of the From Rome International Forum, the International Parliamentary Friendship Exchange Forum, and other brands, guiding civil forces to participate in the setting of the global governance agenda, spreading China's voice, telling China's story well, and gathering global friendly forces that support China's development and identify with China's ideas.
Promoting mutual learning and progress among civilizations and activating the dynamic of youth exchanges. Civilizations become more colorful through exchanges, and friendship lasts forever through inheritance. As President Xi Jinping has pointed out, people-to-people diplomacy is the most profound force to promote mutual learning and exchanges among civilizations. The system of the National Committee on友好交流与合作 adheres to the principles of using culture to convey道, spread ideas, and influence people, and organizes exchange performances, exhibitions of intangible cultural heritage, cultural forums, and activities such as the United Nations Chinese Language Day to promote the going-out of Chinese culture such as opera, music, and calligraphy and painting, and to promote the complementarity and mutual benefit of Chinese and foreign civilizations. High-quality implementation of the initiative for youth exchanges between China and foreign countries, organizing brand-name activities such as the World Youth Peace Congress, the China-US Youth Choir Week, the China-Russia Youth Road of Friendship, and the China-Africa Future Leaders Dialogue, to promote the hearts and minds of the younger generation to communicate and make friends, to learn from each other, and to cultivate a large number of young friendly envoys who understand and love China, and to inject inexhaustible youthful dynamics into building a community with a shared future for mankind. 

On October 12, 2024, foreign friends attending the China International Friendship Congress and the 70th anniversary celebration of the China Association for People's Friendship with Foreign Countries visited the Comprehensive Service Center of the Start-up Zone of Xiong'an New Area. (Photo provided by the China Association for People's Friendship with Foreign Countries)

Focus布局 the “15th Five-Year” plan, and promote the development of people-to-people diplomacy to achieve new heights.

The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is a critical stage for laying a solid foundation and making a comprehensive push for the basic realization of socialist modernization, as well as an important window period for the people's diplomacy to undertake new missions and achieve new results. The system of the National Association of Friends of the People of China will more closely unite around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, deeply understand the decisive significance of the "two upholds," enhance the "four consciousnesses," firm up the "four self-confidences," and ensure the "two safeguards," thoroughly implement the spirit of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party and the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee on foreign work, closely serve the start of the "15th Five-Year Plan," better play the main channel role of people's diplomacy, adhere to innovation, work hard, and strive to compose a new chapter in the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Strengthen the guidance of scientific theories, and enhance the forward-looking and scientific nature of people-to-people diplomacy. Insist on taking Xi Jinping’s diplomatic thought as the guide, and promote the mutual promotion and complementary advantages of the sublimation of practice and the innovation of theory, so as to accelerate the construction of a theoretical system for people-to-people diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. Carry out in-depth academic interpretation of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discussions on people-to-people diplomacy, integrate domestic and foreign academic resources, create a collaborative research platform, and launch a batch of original and forward-looking research results; sum up the historical experience of people-to-people diplomacy, distill the laws of practice in the new era, and enrich and develop the paradigm of the concept of people-to-people diplomacy in developing countries; strengthen international communication and academic exchanges, and promote the theory, practice and cases of China’s people-to-people diplomacy to the world; support the joint research of Chinese and foreign think tanks, propose people-to-people cooperation plans for global challenges, build a common narrative of the community of shared future for mankind, and enhance the theoretical influence and international discourse power of China’s people-to-people diplomacy.

Strengthen the synergy of multi-subjects, and pool the powerful strength of people-to-people diplomacy. We will uphold the overall leadership of the Party over people-to-people diplomacy, give full play to the main channel role of the system of the National Association of Friends of the People, and mobilize the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of all sectors of society to participate in people-to-people diplomacy. In line with the trend of the times, we will promote the expansion of the main body of people-to-people diplomacy from traditional friendly groups and friendly individuals to local governments, enterprises, think tanks, universities, the media, social organizations and other multi-subjects, and build a work pattern of multi-party participation and efficient synergy. We will improve the mechanism of overall coordination, build a platform for resource matching, enhance the ability of various subjects to participate, standardize the behavior of participation, guide all parties to give full play to their own advantages, integrate China's propositions and ideas into the whole process of people-to-people exchanges, and form a new situation of all-round participation, vitality, orderliness and common direction, and build a solid social foundation for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Adhere to the practical action-oriented approach and create visible and tangible cooperation outcomes. Building a community with a shared future for mankind requires both moral inspiration and practical cooperation. Civilian diplomacy has always adhered to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, identified the intersection of common interests, and made solid cooperation that takes into account both righteousness and interests. Guide enterprises overseas to fulfill their social responsibilities, win the recognition of local people, and achieve a win-win situation between economic and social benefits; promote local friendly cities to focus on economic and trade, industry, people's livelihood, and governance, and move from exchanges and interactions to deep and win-win cooperation, demonstrating China's development philosophy and people-oriented sentiment; focus on poverty reduction, health, education, women and children, and other grassroots concerns, and implement a number of"Small but beautiful" people's livelihood projects, showing China's civil responsibility; focusing on the periphery, the Global South, and countries participating in the "Belt and Road" initiative, creating landmark civil cooperation projects, and promoting people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding; deepening youth exchanges, expanding scale and improving quality, so that Chinese and foreign youth can share development opportunities and build a friendly future together; actively participating in global climate, digital governance, cultural heritage protection and other multilateral cooperation, providing civil public goods, and helping to solve global problems.

Innovating the discourse system for international communication and enhancing the effectiveness of international communication. Faced with the complex and changeable international public opinion pattern, people's diplomacy, as an important part of the national strategic communication system, must strive to improve the communication capacity and tell China's story well. Innovating the discourse system for international communication, using more micro-narratives and vivid cases, telling the vivid practice of Chinese-style modernization, and elaborating the people's path to build a community with a shared future for mankind; insisting on the integrated promotion of project planning and communication planning, optimizing the issue setting, and enhancing the attractiveness and appeal of communication content; relying on digital technology to expand communication channels, integrating the resources of official media, emerging media, and people's platforms, and building a multi-dimensional and three-dimensional communication matrix; strengthening the linkage between the central and local governments, the coordination of the main body, achieving the coordination of issues and the echo of narratives, promoting the spread of China's voice and friendly stories in a broader range and deeper level, and enhancing the international community's understanding and recognition of China.

Expand the coverage of exchanges, and cultivate the global public opinion soil for friendship. Insist on making true friends and deepening good friendships. On the basis of consolidating the traditional friendship, continue to expand the circle of friends and draw a bigger circle of hearts, so as to realize the extension of people-to-people diplomacy from the elite to the society at large and from limited coverage to extensive reach. Strengthen the research on regional countries, accurately grasp the social situation and public opinion of various countries and the dynamic of China's image, and implement differentiated communication strategies for different groups and different objects; expand the fields and objects of exchanges, pay attention to various circles and grassroots people, build more down-to-earth and popular communication platforms, and guide the Chinese and foreign people to go to each other and know each other; with an open and inclusive attitude and sincere and friendly actions, build a consensus and synergy for peace, development and win-win cooperation, and promote the people of all countries to work together and move towards a bright future of a community with a shared future for mankind.

With the journey ahead and the wind at our backs, we shall shoulder the heavy responsibility and set out again. The system of the National Committee of Friends of the People of China will always adhere to the original aspiration and mission of making friends for the country, maintain an attitude of unremitting spirit and unswerving progress, deepen the innovative practice of people-to-people diplomacy, strive to create a more favorable external environment for the comprehensive promotion of the cause of building a strong nation and rejuvenating the nation, and make new and greater contributions to the noble cause of promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and advancing human peace and development!