The following document is the 2019 budget for the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). In addition to its diplomatic and consular responsibilities, the MFA is also a major funder of study abroad programs for Chinese students.
Source: MFA website, April 2, 2019. The budget itself is dated April 2019. The Chinese source text is available online at:
https://web.archive.org/web/20200528123540/https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/wjb_673085/zfxxgk_674865/gknrlb/cwxx/ysjs/P020190402570648999673.pdf
US $1 ≈ 7 Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB), as of August 14, 2020.
Translator: Etcetera Language Group, Inc.
Editor: Ben Murphy, CSET Translation Lead
Part 1: Overview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
1. Primary Responsibilities of the MFA
(1) To implement the state’s diplomatic directives and policies and related laws and regulations; to safeguard national sovereignty, security and interests on behalf of the state; to run diplomatic affairs on behalf of the state and the government; and handle diplomatic activities between leaders of the party [the Communist Party of China (CPC)] and the state with foreign leaders.
(2) To study overarching and strategic issues in the international situation and in international relations; to analyze major issues concerning diplomatic work in such areas as politics, economy, culture and security; and to advise the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on adopting diplomatic strategies, directives and policies.
(3) To coordinate with relevant government departments according to the overall diplomatic arrangements, and report and give suggestions to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on major issues including foreign trade, economic cooperation and assistance, culture, military aid, arms trade, overseas Chinese affairs, education, S&T, and external propaganda.
(4) To draft laws, regulations and policy plans concerning diplomatic work.
(5) To handle global and regional security, political, economic, human rights, social, refugee and other diplomatic affairs in the United Nations and other multilateral fora.
(6) To deal with matters in international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation; research international security issues; and organize negotiations on treaties and agreements related to arms control.
(7) To conclude bilateral and multilateral treaties, handle international judicial cooperation, oversee or participate in dealing with major foreign-related legal cases that involve the state or the government, assist in examining foreign-related draft laws and regulations, and organize and coordinate the work of fulfilling international conventions and agreements.
(8) To lead or participate in efforts to formulate policies related to land and maritime boundaries; to guide and coordinate foreign-related maritime work; to organize the work of border delimitation, boundary demarcation and joint inspections, and to handle relevant foreign-related cases; and to conduct diplomatic negotiations on maritime boundary demarcation and joint development.
(9) To release information about important diplomatic activities, elaborate on foreign policy, conduct information-related work about important diplomatic activities, organize public diplomacy activities, and take charge of the affairs related to foreign journalists in China and resident foreign news agencies.
(10) To oversee the state’s foreign-related protocol and ceremonial affairs; to oversee the protocol arrangements for important diplomatic activities of the state; and to oversee the courteous reception, diplomatic privileges and immunities accorded to foreign diplomatic missions in China.
(11) To oversee consular work. To regulate the activities of foreign diplomatic and consular missions in China; to oversee work related to consular affairs of Chinese nationals abroad; to conduct or participate in handling representations regarding foreign-related cases in China; to oversee consular protection and assistance, coordinate with relevant government departments, local authorities and guide Chinese diplomatic missions abroad in handling cases requiring consular protection and assistance, and to release warning information for consular protection and assistance.
(12) To coordinate efforts to handle urgent incidents abroad concerning Chinese interests, safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and institutions abroad, and take part in efforts to handle urgent incidents in China which involve foreigners.
(13) To handle, in accordance with the law, diplomatic and consular affairs in the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions and to handle diplomatic affairs related to Taiwan.
(14) To guide and coordinate the foreign affairs work of local governments and State Council departments, to examine important foreign affairs regulations of local governments and State Council departments as well as requests to the State Council for instructions concerning foreign affairs, and to put forward recommendations together with relevant government departments on the handling of major incidents involving violations of laws and regulations governing foreign affairs.
(15) To handle and coordinate foreign affairs concerning national security.
(16) To provide interpretation for important diplomatic activities of the state and translation of diplomatic documents and correspondence.
(17) To lead Chinese diplomatic missions abroad and the offices of the Commissioners in Hong Kong and Macau; oversee the personnel and organizational work of diplomatic missions abroad; to provide direction to Chinese diplomatic missions abroad and to the offices of the Commissioners in Hong Kong and Macau on the use of information technology, financial management, and embassy and diplomatic residence construction; and to regulate the use of real property by foreign diplomatic missions in China.
(18) To oversee the work of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and oversee the foreign affairs work of the Red Cross Society of China and the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation.
(19) To perform other tasks assigned by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.