The China Foreign Affairs University is the only institution under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China that produces talents in diplomacy, foreign affairs, international studies, and foreign-related economic and legal work. The academy was founded in 1955 at the personal initiative of Premier Zhou Enlai.
The Diplomatic Academy has the authority to confer doctoral, master's and bachelor's degrees. Diplomacy, international relations and international law are the school's strengths.
Since its establishment more than 50 years ago, the college has trained nearly 40,000 Chinese students of all kinds, and has sent a large number of outstanding talents to the fields of diplomacy, foreign affairs and international studies of New China. This team has made significant contributions to the development of China's diplomatic cause. The college will have about 2,900 full-time Chinese students in 2025. The Diplomatic Academy is known as "the cradle of Chinese diplomats." On January 2, 2025, with the approval of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Research Center for a Community with a shared future for Mankind was officially established at the China Foreign Affairs University.
In the 1950s, the Diplomatic Academy trained a considerable number of international students from Eastern European countries, many of whom later held senior diplomatic positions such as ambassadors or became experts on international issues. The institute resumed enrolling foreign students in the 1980s and will have about 100 foreign students in 2025 from more than 60 countries.
In addition, the college has been entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce and other departments of China to hold training courses for foreign diplomats and foreign journalists on a regular basis, covering various aspects such as the Chinese language, international relations, diplomacy, China's national conditions, and news media. From 1994 to the end of 2024, more than 4,000 people from over 160 countries have been trained. In 2008, the Diplomatic Academy was approved by The State Council as one of the first five national training bases for foreign aid.
The institute is also a member of the Council of Deans of the Institute of International Diplomacy, attending the annual Council of Deans of the Institute of International Diplomacy. Since 2003, the Institute has irregularly held forums, inviting renowned experts, scholars and leaders from home and abroad to give reports and speeches at the institute.
The old campus (Exhibition Road Campus) is located in the center of Beijing, between West Second and West Third Ring Roads. It is about 7 kilometers from Tiananmen. There are cultural and entertainment venues such as the Beijing Exhibition Center, Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre, Capital Gymnasium and the National Library nearby. The campus environment is elegant and convenient for living and transportation.
Since September 2012, the Institute has opened its new campus (Shahe Campus) in the Changping Higher Education Park, Beijing, which is about 30 kilometers from the city center. The campus is beautiful and well-equipped. At present, undergraduate students in their first, second and third years and master's students in their first year study and live at the Shahe campus.
