Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government

Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government is the department in charge of the city’s foreign affairs as well as the executing agency of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and its Steering Group for Foreign Affairs and International Communications. Its mandates include:

To implement strategies, policies, laws, regulations and rules concerning foreign affairs; draft local foreign affairs regulations, rules and policies based on the city’s reality, and be responsible for their implementation.

To oversee the reception of visiting state/party delegations and other VIP foreign guests as well as China-based foreign diplomats on their business trips to Shanghai; and make protocol arrangements for municipal leaders attending foreign affairs events other than those related to commerce and trade.

To organize friendly exchanges between Shanghai and its overseas sister-cities and provinces (states, prefectures, regions, or counties); and provide professional guidance on hospitality arrangements, protocol procedures and people-to-people relations across the city.

To oversee public affairs visits (i.e. visits by local CPC and government officials, executives of state-owned enterprises and representatives of civic groups on official duties) to foreign countries and Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs); approve applications for and review decisions of public affairs visits in line with governing rules; issue passports and assist visa applications for public affairs visitors; issue Passes to and from Hong Kong and Macao and grant exit endorsements to public affairs travelers; handle the application formalities for overseas visits by municipal leadership; oversee Shanghai’s relations with Hong Kong and Macao SARs; review and approve invitations for foreign citizens and issue visa notification forms within its scope of authorization.

To represent the municipal government before and handle relations with foreign consular missions based in Shanghai; oversee foreign news agencies and correspondents stationed in Shanghai; approve and organize reporting trips of foreign journalists coming to Shanghai for temporary assignments; and handle or assist in the handling of major foreign-related incidents in the city.

To review and respond to requests for instruction concerning foreign-related issues and coordinate key foreign affairs events; review or approve major international conferences to be held in Shanghai in line with governing rules; assist competent authorities in reviewing and handling foreign-related issues at port of entry; and collaborate with related departments in the administration of foreign expatriates and awarding of honorary titles to foreign citizens.

To provide professional guidance to organizations engaging in foreign affairs; oversee the education and training of foreign affairs personnel in international relations, foreign policies and foreign affairs disciplines; supervise and assess the enforcement of foreign affairs disciplines, and assist competent departments in dealing with major violations of such disciplines that bring serious damage to national interests and reputation; and award organizations and individuals with outstanding achievements in the field of foreign affairs.

To oversee the work of Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and other civic groups, and provide them with professional guidance.

To handle applications for administrative reconsideration cases and respond to administrative litigation.

To perform other tasks given by the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee or the Municipal Government.

Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government

To oversee Shanghai’s relations with Hong Kong and Macao in line with the instructions of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and the Municipal Government as well as the professional guidance of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; coordinate the communications with Hong Kong and Macao SAR governments, receive high-level delegations from the SAR governments, coordinate Shanghai’s major events related to Hong Kong and Macao, and promote exchange and cooperation between Shanghai and the SARs; and perform other assigned tasks.

Affiliated and reporting to the Office is the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Division.