Launched by the China International Culture Association in 2012, China Cultural Volunteers project aims to meet the rising foreign demand for information about Chinese culture and to encourage global people-to-people exchanges.

According to the project design, CICA selects and sends professional artists abroad based on the needs and requests for volunteer support as identified by foreign organizations, Chinese embassies and consulates as well as China culture centers abroad. The artists, as cultural volunteers, teach Chinese calligraphy, fine art, theatrical performance, music, dance, folk art and other aspects of Chinese culture.

The project was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the China Literature and Art Foundation. More than 30 people have been sent to 15 countries, including Vietnam, Myanmar, Germany, France, Portugal, Malta, Slovakia, Hungary, Cape Verde, Mauritius, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Dominica and Costa Rica, to carry out cultural volunteer activities. These outstanding Chinese cultural volunteers along with their expertise were very active in opening up a new path for Chinese culture to be brought to people all over the world.

The selected volunteers are all dedicated to communication of culture and their enthusiasm and superb skills intrigued the foreign students. Many countries requested volunteers from CICA more than once, setting off Chinese culture fever in their countries. For example, from 2014 to 2016, CICA assigned cultural volunteers to Panama three times and Dominica twice. Wang He, one of the volunteers to Panama, assisted with the establishment of a local folk chorus, which performed in the celebration of China-Panama diplomatic ties in 2017. In addition, Chinese volunteers also contributed to some activities, such as "Happy Chinese New Year-Chinese Cultural Week" in Cape Verde which has been held for 6 years successively.

The project not only spreads Chinese culture overseas, but also encourages excellent Chinese artists from all walks of life to be part of international cultural exchanges. Promoting people's communication is the core of cross-cultural communication activities. During this process, our volunteers act as cultural ambassadors, forming good relationships with foreigners and facilitating cultural exchanges and external relations.