The Foreign Affairs Office of People's Government of Zhejiang Province (FAO) is a provincial government organ in charge of foreign affairs of Zhejiang Province, operating under the direction of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and its Foreign Affairs Leading Group. FAO shares premises and staff with Zhejiang People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Its main responsibilities are as follows:

1. Implementing and carrying out policies, laws and regulations of PRC concerning foreign affairs, as well as instructions and resolutions on foreign affairs made by Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee of CPC and Zhejiang Provincial Government; coordinating with other departments in putting forward practical measures and methods to execute certain policies concerning foreign affairs; supervising and urging the implementation of policies, laws and regulations concerning foreign affairs by relevant departments and organizations throughout the Province; handling foreign-related political issues in the Province.

2. Coordinating programs of foreign affairs activities proposed by various provincial departments; handling major foreign-related issues jointly with relevant provincial departments; assisting departments in central authorities in foreign affairs activities where local participation is necessary; giving guidance to the operation of foreign affairs-related organizations in the Province.

3.Gathering information about how the foreign affairs are handled in the province, how foreigners live and work in the province and whether there are any prevailing problems, and proposing ways for improvement.

4. Taking charge of the reception of foreign guests, staff on business visits from the embassies and consulates-general, and foreign journalists involved in news gathering activities; planning and arranging foreign visits and exchanges led by vice governors or officials at higher ranks; giving instructions to foreign-related protocol matters.

5. Examining and approving visits of official duties by people in the Province to foreign countries, Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs); examining and approving invitations to people from foreign countries, Hong Kong and Macao SARs; applying to the central authorities for approval of foreign visits of official duties by vice governors or officials at higher ranks and for inviting people of high ranks to visit China; issuing passports for official business trips abroad, and pass permits for official business trips to Hong Kong and Macao SARs and handling visa applications as entrusted by some foreign consulates-general; handling consular authentication; supervising and assisting departments concerned in educating delegations or delegates prior to their foreign visits on foreign policies and disciplines.

6. Establishing friendly relations with foreign countries and undertaking tasks of regular contacts with counterparts in sister states or provinces of foreign countries; conducting reviews and researches into development and problems in the existing sister city/province/state/prefecture relationship.

7. Joining efforts with other departments to open new demonstrative sites for foreign visitors, readjusting old ones and improving work efficiency.

8. Managing foreign economic experts; managing or assisting departments concerned in managing foreign experts, foreign students, foreign interns, overseas Chinese, foreign employees in Sino-foreign joint ventures, enterprises with Sino-foreign cooperation, and wholly foreign-owned enterprises.

9. Cooperating with and assisting the Foreign Publicity Department of the Provincial Party Committee in foreign publicity and foreign affairs discipline education among grassroot people; providing publicity materials and statements of attitudes concerning the international situation, foreign policies and major world issues; participating in examining and approving news reports of major foreign affairs.

10. Taking charge of the education of officials of foreign affairs in international situation, foreign policies, disciplines of foreign affairs, confidential policies and so on, and organizing short-term education programs for officials of foreign affairs.

11. Assisting departments of discipline inspection, supervision and other related departments in inspecting and supervising the implementation of disciplines of foreign affairs and confidential policies; handling major violation cases.

12. Undertaking tasks designated by the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People¡¯s Congress, the Provincial Government, the Provincial Political Consultative Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, the Chinese People¡¯s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and so on.

Public Tel: 0086-571¡ª87050311
Supervision Tel: 0086-571¡ª87050311
Address: No.25, Santaishan Road, Hangzhou
Post Code: 310007
E-mail: renmi@zjfad.gov.cn