The US–China Peoples Friendship Association describes itself as "a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) educational organization" whose "goal is to develop and strengthen friendship and understanding between the peoples of the United States and China.
USCPFA was founded as a national organization in 1974, working on people-to-people diplomacy between Americans and Chinese. Over 50 chapters in four regions spanning the United States comprise the organization. National policies are established by the membership, which meets biennially at a national convention. A national board of directors implements national policy and meets twice each year.
Starting in the 1970s, the national association or regional chapters published the journal New China and short books and pamphlets such as Debbie Davison, Mark Seldon, William Hinton, Chou En-Lai and the Chinese Revolution / Conversations with Americans: Interviews (Los Angeles: US–China Peoples Friendship Association, 1977) and China and Us (New York,: U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association.).