Established in 1941 in the Communist base area of Yan'an, Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) is known in China as the "Cradle of Diplomats". The University is one of the key foreign studies universities of China, with a large numbers of foreign languages taught and has many international links with foreign universities and institutes. It also serves as a national base for research in foreign language teaching and international studies. The university has many research institutes focusing on international affairs and is used for the advanced training of interpreters and translators.

In 1996, the University became a member of the state-sponsored 211 Programme, which comprises of 100 major universities in China that will receive special support for development in the 21st Century. There are now more than 60,000 graduates from the university, working in all parts of the world, active in fields such as foreign affairs, economics and trade, finance, media, education and academia. Among the graduates of the university are 230 Chinese ambassadors. Almost all translators and interpreters working in the UN have been recruited from Beijing Foreign Studies University.