On the eve of the founding of the new China, in order to unite with and educate more young people of all nationalities and all walks of life in China, to struggle for the victory of the new democratic revolution and for building of a new China, to consolidate and develop the Chinese youth united front, the Communist Party of China, while preparing to establish the Communist Youth League, put the establishment of the All-China Youth Federation ("ACYF") on agenda.
　　In September 1948, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held a political bureau meeting at Xibeipo and discussed the issue of convening a national youth conference to establish the ACYF in the first half of 1949.
　　On May 4, 1949, the First All-China Youth Conference, which marked the unity of young people of all nationalities and all walks of life, was grandly convened in Beijing. Five hundred and fifty-two youth representatives attended the Conference on behalf of young people of different regions, occupations, nationalities, classes, parties and faiths. Mao Zedong wrote an inscription for the Conference, which read: "Unite with youth of all walks of life and participate in building of the new democracy." This Conference formally declared the birth of the ACYF, and elected the First National Committee of the All-China Democratic Youth General Federation. Liao Chengzhi was elected President of the First National Committee. The Conference also adopted the Charter of the ACYF.
　　On October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China was founded. Since then, the ACYF has entered a new historical phase under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the People's Government. During this period, the ACYF carried out the following main work:
　　1. 　　Strengthening leadership on local youth conferences, rapidly developing organization of youth federations
　　In the early days after the founding of the new China, in response to the requirements of the development of the overall situation of China and requests of young people of all walks of life, the ACYF decided to lay emphasis of its work on: to exercise leadership over local youth federations, particularly urge them to regularly convene youth conferences, further unite with and educate young people of all circles, set up a broad youth united front; help those young people who belonged to no organizations and those who were unable to attend school and the unemployed youth to study, promote young people of all social strata to respond to the call of local people's congresses, publicize the principles and policies of the Communist Party of China and the People's Government. At the same time, the ACYF called to establish the united front of young people of all ethnic groups in the minority nationality regions.
　　Around the year of 1950, youth conferences were held as scheduled throughout the country as required by the ACYC. Triggered by those conferences, representatives widely contacted young people of all walks of life, of all strata of the society and of local urban communities; found out their opinions and needs. This opened up an approach for youth representatives to have extensive contacts with young people and realize the objective to unite with and educate young people.
　　At those local youth conferences, local youth federations were simultaneously set up. By the time of August 1950, youth federations had been established in Ningxia, Tangshan, Chengdu, Kaifeng, Tianjin, Taiyuan, Fujian, Changsha, Wuhan, Shenyang, Xiamen, Chongqing, Lanzhou and Xi'an.
　　2. 　　Organizing young people of all circles to learn how to read and write, and to master occupational skills
　　In the initial period after the founding of the new China, there were a large number of the young unemployed in urban areas. Members of all local youth federations took the initiative to give them help, showed their concern and bore interests of those unemployed on their own minds. They actively ran all kinds of continuation schools, helped the young unemployed to study policies, culture and occupational skills, prepared them for future jobs.
　　3. 　　The ACYF's work during the "War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea"
　　On November 15, 1950, the ACYF announced its "Proclamation of 'Anti-USA and Aid Korea' and Defending China", expressing the resolve of its seven million members and young people of all walks of life and all ethnic groups. On March 14, 1951, the ACYF announced its Decision calling all local youth federations and their member organizations to immediately hold meetings and forums among young people in respect of the war, calling young people to join the war effort by hard work and with high patriotic enthusiasm.
　　All local youth federations actively responded to the call. They convened youth conferences, formulated the "Anti-US and Aid Korea Program" and the "Patriotic Covenant of Youth of All Circles". All local youth federations combined the war effort with recovery of domestic economy and various reform drives, called and organized young people to work hard, carry out "patriotic production competitions" so as to support the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.
　　On June 10, 1953, the Second All-China Youth Conference was held in Beijing. Attended at this Conference were 560 representatives and twelve foreign youth delegations. At this Conference, the Charter of the ACYF was revised, and Liao Chengzhi was elected President of the Second National Committee. Due to the need of work, the Conference decided to establish the General Office, Department for Youth of Industry and Commerce, Department for Religious Youth, Department for Unemployed Youth, Department for Youth of Science and Technology, Department for Youth of Minority Nationalities and the International Liaison Department.
　　In the period from 1953 to 1957, the ACYF and all local youth federations, in coordination with the central task of the Communist Party and the People's Government, carried out their work among young people mainly in five circles, namely, the circle of the unemployed in urban areas, the circle of youth in industry and commerce, the circle of the religious youth, the circle of youth of ethnic groups and the circle of technicians.
　　After more than eight years, the ACYF completed the work of establishment of local youth federations at all levels throughout the country and gradually clarified whom they should serve, formulated a number of rules and forms governing the work of the ACYF and local youth federations and made important contribution to the development of the national economy and socialist reforms.