In pursuing diplomacy, China will continue to work with other countries to shoulder the responsibilities of the times, and respond to challenges with a broader vision and more positive actions to advance the world toward a better and brighter future, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks in Beijing at the opening ceremony of a symposium on the international situation and China's diplomacy in 2023.

Noting that 2023 was a year of profound change in international relations and solid advancement of Chinese modernization, Wang said China's diplomacy remains upright and innovative, and forges ahead to make new contributions to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the symposium on the international situation and China's diplomacy in 2023, in Beijing, China, January 9, 2024. /Chinese Foreign Ministry

Six highlights

Wang summed up six highlights of China's diplomacy in 2023, and stressed that it was a pioneering, fruitful year for China's diplomacy.

First, the head-of-state diplomacy was brilliant and created a new monument for major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

In 2023, President Xi Jinping hosted two major diplomatic events, attended three multilateral summits, carried out four important overseas visits, and held more than 100 meetings and phone calls, promoting the connection between China and the world, Wang said.

Second, the building of a global community of shared future was solidly advanced.

Building a global community of shared future has developed from a concept to a scientific system, and has grown from vision to practice, he said, adding that it has been written into the resolutions of the UN General Assembly for seven consecutive years, continuously expanding to various regions and fields.

Third, the third Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation was successfully held.

Over the past decade, the Belt and Road cooperation has extended from the Eurasian continent to Africa and Latin America, and built the world's most extensive and largest international cooperation platform, becoming a road of cooperation, opportunity and prosperity for partner countries, said Wang.

As the third BRF was the most important diplomatic event for China in 2023, Wang said China announced eight major steps to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and advocated that all countries should work together to achieve global modernization.

Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with distinguished guests attending the third BRF for International Cooperation in Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. /Xinhua

Fourth, the BRICS mechanism achieved historic expansion.

Wang described the expansion as a milestone in the development of the BRICS mechanism, which has opened a new era for the Global South to unite further.

"The expanded BRICS will promote the development of the global governance system in a fair and reasonable direction, and enhance the representation and voice of the Global South in international affairs," he said.

Fifth, the China-Central Asia Summit was successfully held.

As the summit advanced the building of a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future, he hailed the cooperation between the two sides, based on equality, respect, openness, inclusiveness and mutual support, has injected positive energy and stability into the region and the world.

Sixth, the historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran was promoted and achieved.

The reconciliation is a major victory for dialogue and peace and a useful practice in solving hot-spot issues with Chinese characteristics, he said, adding that China will continue to be a promoter of security and stability in the Middle East, a collaborator for development and prosperity, and a supporter of unity and self-reliance.

"These highlights have written a new chapter of win-win cooperation with the world, embodying distinctive Chinese characteristics, and demonstrating the country's increasing international influence, innovative leadership and moral appeal in the new era," Wang emphasized.

Six firm choices

In the past year, faced with major issues concerning the future and destiny of mankind and global development, China's diplomacy has always stood on the right side of history and on the side of the progress of the times, making decisions that can stand the test of practice and time, Wang noted.

Between cooperation and confrontation, unity and division, as well as openness and closure, China firmly chooses cooperation, unity and openness, said Wang.

He added that China also firmly chooses peace, multilateralism and justice, instead of war, unilateralism and power politics.

In response to external interference and provocations, China resolutely fights back and takes legitimate and reasonable countermeasures against all kinds of unreasonable suppression, he said, adding that the determination of 1.4 billion Chinese people to promote national reunification is rock solid.

He added that China's diplomacy is committed to creating favorable conditions for domestic development, and building bridges to promote international cooperation, making unremitting efforts to enhance people's well-being.

Wang Yi delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of a symposium on the international situation and China's diplomacy in 2023, in Beijing, China, January 9, 2024. /Chinese Foreign Ministry

Noting that the central conference on work relating to foreign affairs has made comprehensive plans for the country's external work for the present and coming periods, Wang called for focusing on the building of a global community of shared future, and constantly creating new prospects for major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

"We will always adhere to self-confidence, self-reliance, openness and inclusiveness to fulfill the responsibilities of a major country, promote the development and progress of human civilization, and advocate to build an equal and orderly multi-polar world," he said, urging efforts to uphold win-win cooperation to actively promote inclusive economic globalization.