China Foreign Affairs University

The China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU; simplified Chinese: 外交学院; traditional Chinese: 外交學院; pinyin: Wàijiāo Xuéyuàn) in Beijing, People's Republic of China is a competitive university for diplomats. It is directly under Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it is jointly administrated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education.[1] It is a Chinese Ministry of Education Double First Class Discipline University, with Double First Class status in certain disciplines.[2]

China Foreign Affairs University
外交学院
Motto站稳立场，掌握政策，熟悉业务，严守纪律 (Simplified Chinese)
Motto in English
Unswerving Loyalty, Mastery of Policies, Professional Competency, Observance of Discipline
TypePublic
Established1955
AffiliationMinistry of Foreign Affairs
Administrative staff
Over 170
StudentsOver 2,000
Location
Beijing
,
 People's Republic of China
CampusOld: Xicheng District 39.9264°N 116.3442°E / 39.9264; 116.3442
New: Changping District
Websitewww.cfau.edu.cn

Since its foundation, there have been over 300 ambassadors and thousands of senior diplomats (counsellor and above) among alumni of CFAU, gaining the university the reputation as "the cradle of Chinese diplomats." [3] At present, CFAU has two campuses - the first began operating in 1956, while the new one came into service in 2012.[4]

History
Bust of Chen Yi in university's Zhanlanlu campus.

China Foreign Affairs University was founded in 1955 with the advice of then-Premier Zhou Enlai, and is affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the university is not to be confused with the University of International Relations, also in Beijing). The predecessor of CFAU was the Department of Diplomacy of Renmin University of China. Vice Premier and Foreign Minister of China Chen Yi was the president of the university from 1961 to 1969. The University was forced to close during the years of Cultural Revolution. It was reopened in 1980 under the auspices of Deng Xiaoping. Most of the former presidents of CFAU are ambassadors.[5] The current president is Qin Yaqing (秦亚青), specialist in international relations, and its party secretary is Qi Dayu.[6] Before 2005, the university was called the Foreign Affairs College in English.

Academic

The courses of study offered include foreign languages (English, French and Japanese), foreign policy, international politics and relations and diplomacy, international law and economics. The university awards BA, MA and PhD degrees.

China Foreign Affairs University also holds short-term courses for Chinese civil servants and for foreign diplomats. For example, in 2005, it has trained diplomats for the new governments created after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq for one month each.

Model United Nations

Model United Nations (MUN) is the most renowned student activity of CFAU. On June 3, 1995, CFAU organized the 1st Model United Nations Conference. It was the first of its kind held in China and attended by Chinese students.[7]

In 2002, together with UN Association of China, CFAU organized the 1st Beijing Model United Nations Conference (BMUN. Its name changed into Beijing International Model United Nations (BIMUN) since 2017[8]). It was the first inter-university MUN in China and was later listed as one of the three most prestigious university MUNs.[9]

In 2004, CFAU again cooperated with UN Association of China and hosted the 1st China Model United Nations Conference (CNMUN).[10]

Praise and Criticism
  • On July 1, 2008, then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon praised CFAU as "the cradle of Chinese diplomacy; an institution that has firmly established itself as an authoritative forum in active and inter-active discussions on issues concerning China and its expanding role in the international community"[11] in his address given at the university.
  • Former French President Jacques Rene Chirac on April 29, 2009 called CFAU “the institute of higher education which cultivates top talents for Chinese diplomacy."[12]
  • US Ambassador to China Gary Faye Locke celebrated CFAU as "China’s incubator of diplomatic talent" at the Opening Ceremony of U.S.-China Joint Training Program for Afghan Diplomats at CFAU.[13]

In recent years, CFAU has been criticized for putting too much emphasis on the study of foreign languages at the cost of diplomatic training and education, and some consider many Chinese foreign affairs personnel no more than translators or interpreters.[14]

Fund Scandal

In 2013, during a thorough investigation by the National Audit Office of the PRC, noncompliance was discovered in the procurement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, involving more than 52 million RMB. Among them, about 38 million RMB was associated with the construction of CFAU's new campus in Shahe.[15]

Disputes Over "the cradle of Chinese diplomats"

CFAU has produced an array of senior diplomatic officials and proudly claims itself as "the cradle of Chinese diplomats." However, having trained hundreds of Chinese ambassadors, Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) also considers itself "the cradle of PRC diplomats."[16] Disputes between students of the two universities continue to present day.

On September 10, 2012, then Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao wrote an inscription of "the cradle of Chinese diplomats" and dedicated it to CFAU after he gave an address. Many CFAU students believe it is an endorsement of the University being the true "cradle of Chinese diplomats."

  • Front Gate of Zhanlanlu Campus
  • South Gate of Shahe Campus
  • Memorial Statue of Zhou Enlai and Chen Yi

References
  1. "Wang Yi Attended the First Meeting of CFAU's fourth Board of Directors and Signing Ceremony". 2015-01-30.
  2. 教育部 财政部 国家发展改革委 关于公布世界一流大学和一流学科建设高校及建设 学科名单的通知 [Notice from the Ministry of Education and other national governmental departments announcing the list of double first class universities and disciplines] (in Chinese). Ministry of Education. 2017-09-21.
  3. "Minister Wang Yi's Commencement Speech at CFAU," Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2015-01-30 http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/
  4. Xu Song, "Premier Wen Jiabao Delivered a Speech at Dedication of the statue of Zhou Enlai and Chen Yi at CFAU." 2012-09-10 http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-09/10/c_113027049.htm
  5. "About CFAU | China Foreign Affaire University". Archived from the original on 2012-01-13. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  6. "Current Leadership". Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  7. "Memory of the 1st CFAU Model United Nations Conference." http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTotal-WJXY503.015.htm
  8. Official Website of BIMUN. 2018-08-30 http://bimun.org.cn/zh/
  9. Retrieved 2018-08-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20150115050959/http://www.unachina.org/upload/Attach/default/272497.doc
  10. Retrieved 2018-08-30 http://www.un.org/zh/cyberschoolbus/modelun/conferences.shtml
  11. "Secretary-General's Address at Foreign Affairs University." Retrieved 2018-08-30 https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2008-07-01/secretary-generals-address-foreign-affairs-university-prepared
  12. "希拉克先生在北京外交学院的演讲" [Mr. Chirac's Address at CFAU, Beijing.] (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  13. "Remarks by Ambassador Locke at the Opening Ceremony of U.S.-China Joint Training Program for Afghan Diplomats". US Embassy in Beijing. 2012-05-17. Archived from the original on 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
  14. Hou Feng, "'Translator Diplomacy' Distorted Chinese Diplomacy." 2012-09-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20160520055556/http://www.21ccom.net/articles/qqsw/zlwj/article_2012092968634.html
  15. Retrieved 2018-08-30 http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2014/06-25/6319983.shtml
  16. Retrieved 2018-08-30 http://news.ifeng.com/photo/history/200707/0702_1398_146517_7.shtml
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