International Department of the Chinese Communist Party

International Department of the Chinese Communist Party
中国共产党中央委员会对外联络部
Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng Zhōngyāng Wěiyuánhuì Duìwài Liánluòbù

Headquarters of the CCP International Department
Agency overview
Formed1951 (1951)
TypeDepartment directly reporting to the Central Committee
Ministerial level agency
JurisdictionChinese Communist Party
Headquarters4 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing
Minister responsible
Deputy Ministers responsible
  • Shen Ying, Deputy Head
  • Chen Zhou, Deputy Head
  • Li Mingxiang, Deputy Head
  • Sun Haiyan, Deputy Head
  • Lu Kang, Deputy Head
  • Ma Hui, Deputy Head
Parent agencyParty Central Committee
Child agencies
Websitewww.idcpc.gov.cn/english2023/index.html

The International Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, also known as the International Liaison Department (ILD), is an agency under the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in charge of establishing and maintaining relations with foreign political parties and other foreign organizations.

Established in 1951, the international department was originally tasked with overseeing relations with foreign communist parties. Under Mao Zedong's leadership, the International Department supported Maoist groups around the world. In the 1980s under Deng Xiaoping, the department started cultivating relations with non-communist parties. The department is CCP's primary body tasked with conducting diplomacy through party-to-party channels. It plays a particularly critical role in China's relations with other communist states, including North Korea and Vietnam.