On March 1, 1914, Chinajoined the Universal Post Union. Following the founding of the People's Republic of China, it sent delegation to the UPU executive and liaison committee (Today's Council of Administration) meetings and the joint session of the UPU and International Aviation Transport Association and in May 1950 and in January 1951 successively. In December 1950, the Chinese government had notified the UPU of its decision to abide by the Universal Post Convention adopted by the UPU's 1947 session and agreement on postal parcels, post money orders and international reply coupon. In April 1951, the Taiwanauthorities usurped China's legitimate seat in the UPU. Thereafter, the Chinese government suspended its ties with the UPU.

Not until the 26thUNGA passed resolution restoring Chinaits legitimate UN seat did the UPU adopt resolution on April13, 1972, recognizing the People's Republic of Chinaas the sole legitimate representative in the UPU with immediate effect. Ever since, Chinaresumes its normal relation with the UPU and maintains good cooperative relation.

In November 1972, China was represented at the annual research and advisory council members meeting, and subsequently, it completed all the procedures for accepting all the UPU-related legal instruments, attended all the regular congresses from 1974 onward, and was elected vice chairperson of the congress four tomes and postal operation council member all the times. With the exception of one term, Chinahas been elected member of the Administration Council all the times and assumed the post of vice chairperson of that council. Since 1999, Chinais member of that Council with term due in 2004 when the 23rdUPU Congress meets. Up till 1994, Chinahad signed all the existing UPU legal instruments.

In September 1999, Chinahosted the 22ndUPU Congress with success-a first-ever attempt by Chinato organize such a meeting in the UN system. The influence and role of Chinain the worldwide postal field has been upgraded.

The year 2002 saw Chinacontinue to play an active role in the UPU activities as the country chairing the Administration Council.

October 29-31, the UPU convened a high-level postal strategy conference in Geneva. Vice Postmaster of China's State Post Bureau Liu Andong headed the delegation, which included postmasters from HKSAR and MSAR. Mr. Liu delivered a statement entitled How to Make Postal Service Market-Oriented While Securing General Service, in which he stressed the importance China attached to the general access to the postal service and said that the general service remains one of the essential ways to guarantee the citizen's right to communication. However, he was of the opinion that the postal service should pursue active reform confronted with fierce market competition so as to upgrade the core competitive power and satisfy the need for market-orientation.

November 25-29, the annual Administration Council meeting of the UPU for Asiaand the Pacific region met in Thailand. The Council discussed the UPU cooperation, postal safety, proposed budget for Asiaand the Pacific region, and elected members for the administration committee of the UPU for Asiaand the Pacific.