Directly under the Ministry of Commerce ( MOFCOM ), the China international Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE) was founded on March 12, 1983 with the approval of the State Council. CICETE's main mandate delegated by MOFCOM is to coordinate, on behalf of the Ministry, the cooperation between China and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and United Nations Volunteers (UNV), and to undertake the execution of the assisted programs. The main objectives are to intensify personnel exchanges, economic and technical cooperation between China and other countries, promote the development of new and advanced technology, so as to support China 's economic reforms and modernization. In addition, CICETE has been also cooperating actively with International Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Chinese enterprises through its associate bodies as the China Association for Non-Governmental Organization Cooperation (CANGO), the China Association for Service Trade and the China Association for Promoting UN Procurement (CAPUNP), giving strong backing to the social and economic development of this country.

By the end of 2006, CICETE has successfully executed USD 800 millions worth of country programme, and in a total number up to 800 projects nationwide covering fields of economic and social development of the country, such as industry, agriculture, energy, transportation, environmental protection, finance, taxation, education, health care, social welfare, economic system reform, south-south cooperation and etc. It has not only facilitated the training of a large number of personnel and the building of institutional capacities, but also brought about new thoughts and advance technology through the implementation of these projects, having filled in a gap in some fields of science and technology in the country and brought enormous economic and social benefits and made important contributions to the building of socialist market economy as well as the reform and opening up of the country. It is worth mentioning that CICETE is the first organization to bring into the country the assistance from international NGOs as well as the International Official Development Assistance for undertaking poverty alleviation. At present, 272 poverty-alleviation projects have been arranged in 78 counties of 25 provinces and autonomous regions in China .

In process of cooperation with UNDP, UNIDO, UNV and other international NGOS, the institutional capacity of CICETE itself keeps upgrading and strengthening. At present, CICETE employs over 130 staff members to be engaged in international economic and technical cooperation with UNDP and other international organizations as well, 6 of them are PHD Degree, 22 Master Degree and 20 senior professional titles. The competent staff, modernized management and prefect Office Automation System enables CICETE to accomplish its goals efficiently and in high standard. CICETE maintains close cooperative relations with more than 150 international organizations and agencies, including UN agencies and international NGOs, such as International Labor Organizations, United Nation Environment Programmme, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, United Nation Educational Scientific and Culture Organization and so on ， and established wide contacts with governments at provincial, autonomous region and city levels and with over 30 ministries such as State Development Planning Commission, State Economic and Trade Commission, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources and State Environmental Protection Administration.

In recent years, all staff of CICETE has been putting into practice a scientific outlook on development, creating a proactive and upward institutional culture with joint efforts, pioneering and innovative sprits, to achieve the goals of building up the first class international development organization.