The Western Returned Scholars Association (WRSA) is a people's organization composed mainly of returned overseas Chinese students from various countries. It is under the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
History The original WRSA was founded in October 1913 in Beijing by Wellington Koo, Liang Dunyan, Zhan Tianyou, Cai Yuanpei, Yan Huiqing, Chengting T. Wang, and Zhou Yichun, among others.
The organization ceased activities during the Cultural Revolution, and resumed its activities in 1982.
Functions According to analyst Alex Joske, the WRSA is "the UFWD's primary body for interacting with ethnic Chinese scholars and scientists". It runs the official association for participants for the Thousand Talents Plan. It is managed by the UFWD's Non-Affiliated and Minor Party Intellectuals Work Bureau and led by the CCP Secretariat. In the 2020s, the WRSA has come under greater scrutiny in the West.
Organization
Presidents +NameTook officeLeft officeNotesLiang Dunyan19131918Lu Zhengxiang19181925Chengting T. Wang1925Late 1920sHu ShihLate 1920s1949Li Zongen19491950Yan Jici19501951Cao Richang19521953Zhang Yuanshan19531955Li Zongen19551956Chen Daisun19571958Ye Jingxin19581961Chu Coching1961Mao Yisheng19821991President of the 1st CouncilLu Jiaxi19911995President of the 2nd CouncilWu Jieping19951999President of the 3rd CouncilDing Shisun19992003President of the 4th CouncilHan Qide20032013President of the 5th and 6th CouncilChen Zhu20132021President of the 7th CouncilDing Zhongli2021IncumbentPresident of the 8th Council
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