In the late Qing Dynasty, China was in charge of foreign affairs and sent envoys to foreign countries. It is also the central institution responsible for trade, coastal defense, customs duties, railways and mines, posts and telecommunications, military industry, Wentong Museum and sending overseas students. Initially, it was called the Prime Minister's Foreign Trade Affairs Office, or simply the Prime Minister's Office.

In the tenth year of Xianfeng (1860), after the Qing government signed the Beijing Treaty with Britain and France, foreign negotiations increased. 65438+ In October of the following year, Prince Gong Yixin, Gui Liang, a college student, and Wen Xiang, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Finance, called for the establishment of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Prime Minister in the capital to take over the foreign affairs of the Ministry of Rites and Yuan. Approved by Emperor Xianfeng, it was established in February of the first year of Tongzhi (1March 862).

The Prime Minister's Office is headed by Wang or the Minister of Military Affairs. It is modeled after the military department and has two levels of officials: ministers and ministers. There is a prime minister, the prime minister walks on the ground, the prime minister learns to walk on the ground, and the minister handles affairs. At first, Yi Xin, Gui Liang and Wen Xiang were ministers. Since then, the number of people has increased slightly, ranging from seven or eight to more than ten, including Yi? He has served for 28 years. Ministers are composed of Zhang Jing (two in Manchu), Zhang Jing (one in Manchu), Zhang Jing (Manchu 10) and Zhang Jing (eight in Manchu).

Its former site is located at No.49 Dongtangzi Hutong, Beijing. It was originally the residence of Cezanne, a bachelor of Qing Dynasty, and was rebuilt in the same year. The eastern part of the Prime Minister's Office is the earliest foreign language teaching institution in China-Shi Jing Wentong Museum (now the predecessor of Peking University International Studies University), and the western part is the place where ministers of ministries and institutes conduct diplomatic activities with foreign envoys. 190 1 year, the Qing government carried out constitutional reform and changed the yamen of the Prime Minister to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is also the reason why Yangwu Street on the south side of Dongtangzi Hutong was named.

At first, the Prime Minister's yamen presided over diplomacy and trade. Later, it expanded its business, set up factories, built railways, opened mines, set up schools and sent overseas students. With the increase of power. All foreign affairs and foreign-related finance, military affairs, education, mining, transportation, etc. Being subordinate to yamen, it became an important decision-making body of the Qing government.