CIDCA spokesperson on Chinese government's new foreign aid logo and CIDCA logo

Tian Lin, spokesperson for the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), answered some questions from journalists about the Chinese government's new foreign aid logo and the CIDCA logo on Nov 25.

Q: The CIDCA announced today the launch of the Chinese government's new foreign aid logo. Would you please introduce how the new foreign aid logo will be used, and tell us why the Chinese government would release a new foreign aid logo? 

A: Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese government has been adhering to the spirit of internationalism and humanitarianism, fulfilling its international obligations, and providing assistance to a number of developing countries to the best of its ability without any political strings attached. The Chinese government has made great progress in foreign aid work and has been highly praised by the international community and developing countries. In the process, China has gradually developed the concept of foreign aid with Chinese characteristics. 

The use of a foreign aid logo in foreign aid activities is important for China to demonstrate its foreign aid concept, promote foreign aid work, and enhance its international influence and appeal. It is also a common practice among major aid givers in the international community. Since 2008, China has been using a foreign aid logo which it has continuously revised and improved. The foreign aid logo has been widely used in China's foreign aid projects and activities and has played its part well.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, China has carried out a series of theoretical and practical innovations in foreign affairs work, enriching the concept and connotation of foreign aid and achieving more remarkable results. The purpose of the CIDCA is to optimize the foreign aid logo so it can better promote Xi Jinping thought on diplomacy, convey the concept of a community of a shared future for mankind, reflect China's traditional virtue of helping those in distress and peril, and give China an open and inclusive international image. The foreign aid logo is not only characterized by Chinese elements but is in line with international standards. It will help build images, uphold righteousness, and warm people's hearts.

Q: What is the design idea of the new foreign aid logo?

A: China has been using a foreign aid logo for more than a decade. The original logo consists of the element of a red Chinese knot and "China Aid" both in Chinese characters and English, which has had a good response. The new foreign aid logo mainly contains two aspects. The first is inheritance. It has retained the main creative elements of the red Chinese knot and "China Aid" both in Chinese characters and English. It reflects the Chinese elements and Chinese characteristics and highlights the good message of a concentric knot with the meaning of moving ahead hand in hand. The new logo inherits the good meaning of the original logo. The second aspect is innovation. We have added the English expression "FOR SHARED FUTURE" to the new logo, which highlights the idea of building a community of a shared future for mankind put forward by CPC Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping, embodies the thought of win-win cooperation, and conveys the vision of building an open, tolerant, clean and beautiful future world of lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity. In addition, the new logo optimizes the composition of the original logo with two types of design layout which shows flexibility in matching different occasions and projects. 

Q: Where will the foreign aid logo be used? What are the rules for using the foreign aid logo?

A: The foreign aid logo can be used for China's foreign aid projects and related activities. China's foreign aid projects mainly include: whole sets of foreign aid projects, aid materials, technical cooperation programs, human resource development cooperation, voluntary services, and South-South Cooperation Fund projects. Relevant activities include launch, completion, and handover ceremonies of related projects and meetings involving China's foreign aid. 

In 2016, the Ministry of Commerce issued the Measures on the Management of the Use of Foreign Aid Signs, which clearly stipulated the use of foreign aid signs. The CIDCA is revising the Measures and will issue the new Measures after extensive public consultation.

Q: When will the new foreign aid logo be used?

A: According to the announcement issued by the CIDCA today, the new foreign aid logo will be officially launched on January 1, 2020. It is of great significance to launch the new foreign aid logo in the year 2020 as it marks the 70th anniversary of China's foreign aid work.

Before the launch of the new foreign aid logo, some Chinese foreign aid projects were already using the old logo and emblem. Taking into account the consistency of elements and styles of the old and new versions, the old logo and emblem can continue to be used. 

Q: The CIDCA logo is also released today. Would you introduce it？ 

A: The CIDCA was established on April 18, 2018 and has drawn tremendous attention from the international community. "CIDCA", the English acronym of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, has gradually become an important brand in international development cooperation. In accordance with international practices, the CIDCA has designed the logo for use in domestic and international activities.

The CIDCA logo takes the idea of internationally common emblem design, incorporates the Chinese knot element of the foreign aid logo in its design, and highlights the English acronym “CIDCA”.

The CIDCA logo and foreign aid logo share distinctive features and high recognition.