China will continue to commit itself to working together with other countries toward an Asia of peace, stability, equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation.

Since assuming office, you have attached great importance to public diplomacy. How do you view the role of public diplomacy, and what have you done in this regard?

Unlike traditional diplomacy, public diplomacy calls for the participation of all sectors of society with the government playing a leading role. It aims to present China and its policies to the rest of the world by means of communication and human interaction. It also aims to introduce the government's foreign policies and relevant activities to the Chinese people. It is a special form of diplomacy by which the government seeks to gain the understanding, recognition and support of the general public both in China and foreign countries. It is very important for us to strengthen public diplomacy, promote a correct perception of China in the global community, and encourage the Chinese people to better understand and support diplomatic work.

We have put increasing effort into public diplomacy in recent years. The Foreign Ministry has established and improved its public diplomacy mechanisms. For instance, it regularly holds "open house" events as well as "Lanting Forums" on foreign affairs in its press hall. Moreover, the Foreign Ministry and overseas diplomatic missions staged diverse events for the Beijing Olympics, the Shanghai World Expo and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, sparking a "China fever" worldwide. I believe with our joint efforts, even greater progress will be made in public diplomacy.

Could you tell us about China's foreign relations plans during the 12th Five-Year Plan? What will be the priorities?

The international situation will hopefully remain generally peaceful and stable during the 12th Five-Year Plan. China's largely favorable external environment will not change. China will continue to find itself in a period full of strategic opportunities during which it can make a big difference. Chinese diplomacy will encounter historic opportunities as well as difficulties and challenges--both predictable and unpredictable. The mission of diplomacy will be glorious and the responsibility will be heavy.

We will earnestly study and implement the principles put forward at the Fifth Plenum of the 17th CPC Central Committee. We will seize and make the most of the strategic opportunities in this important period. In keeping with the principle that diplomacy should serve national development, we will safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests to create a more favorable external environment. We will continue to advance relations with major powers; we will build a framework for these relations marked by overall stability, relative balance and win-win cooperation. We will continue to deepen friendly ties with neighboring countries in order to solidify a neighboring environment conducive to peace, stability and mutual development. We will strengthen traditional friendship with other developing countries, consolidating their status as the cornerstone of China's diplomatic strategy. We will take an active part in multilateral cooperation while playing a constructive role in the reform of international systems. We will press ahead with economic diplomacy to help accelerate the change in China's economic development pattern. We will strengthen efforts in security diplomacy to safeguard China's sovereignty and security interests. We will actively engage in public and cultural diplomacy. We will also promote the establishment of a theoretical system of diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. I believe our diplomatic work--under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and with the support of the Chinese people--will certainly make an even greater contribution to China's efforts to build a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way.