Shanghai International Culture Association (SICA) was founded in 1986 as a municipal-level people’s organization that conducts non-governmental international cultural exchanges. Its function is to strengthen mutual understanding and friendly cooperation between Shanghai and the rest of the world. It serves to enhance Shanghai’s economic growth, scientific progress, and cultural output through people to people engagement in international cultural exchange.

SICA has a council composed of nearly a hundred local and international public figures. It also has operating departments in charge of exchanges in various fields and an integrated management unit.

SICA features a wide range of cultural exchange and communications in multifarious fields including culture and arts, the humanities, social sciences, economics, finance, science and education. It organizes a variety of substantial events, such as art exhibitions, cultural performances, international conferences, academic seminars, and cultural exchanges abroad. Having set up exchanges and cooperation with organizations and individuals in dozens of countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Russia, Austria, and Chinese Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, SICA is an influential international cultural exchange organization in Shanghai.

SICA has been at the forefront of China’s reform and opening-up. Continuing the tradition of international cultural exchange, it combines Chinese and Shanghainese culture. Embodying the spirit of Shanghai, pooling wisdom and excellence with liberality and generosity, it further expands the breadth and depth of the cultural exchange between Shanghai and the rest of the world. SICA thereby has greatly contributed to making Shanghai a truly international metropolis.