2016年CRI FM: 2016 an important year for China's diplomacy

Speaking to participants at a think-tank seminar on China's role in international affairs, the Chinese Foreign Minister said change and chaos 1 are two features of the international situation over the past year.

At the same time, Wang Yi suggested that it's a period in which challenges and opportunities coexist and a country must grasp the opportunity to meet the challenge.

"The situation that is undergoing changes amid chaos brings huge uncertainty 2 and instability and has sparked concerns among members of the international community. Nevertheless, we need to note that the change and chaos is an indispensable part of a the global restructuring process, that bears not only challenges but opportunities as well. The key now for all countries is to seize opportunities to overcome challenges."

During his speech, Wang Yi wrapped up the progress China has made in its diplomacy 3.

"Amid global chaos, we've maintained a favorable external environment for our development while increasing our influence and obtained more institutional rights in the changes of the global system. The effort to push forward China's major-power diplomacy has also yielded positive fruits."

The minister said China's diplomacy has overcome a series of difficulties this year and become more active, progressive, confident and mature in leading the reform of the global governance system.

He said the country has made substantial progress in maintaining regional stability, developing relations with major countries like the United States and Russia, safeguarding China's sovereignty in the South China Sea and promoting the Belt and Road initiatives.

The minister went on to speak highly of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, which he said was the highlight of China's diplomacy this past year, playing a significant role in promoting China's major-country diplomacy and popularizing China's participation 4 in global affairs.

"As the host, China concentrated the attention of all participants towards innovation and structural 5 reform, in an effort to explore new development patterns, increases the influence of China's development concepts, add international significance to China's reform and opening up policy, and set the direction for the global economy and global governance. We also shared China's prescription 6 for the world economy that addresses both the symptom and the root causes, providing a strong impetus 7 for global growth."

Wang Yi said, through China's efforts, the summit involved the largest number of developing countries, focused primarily on development and achieved the most substantive 8 results in the G20's history.

Looking ahead, Wang Yi said China's diplomacy will strive to consolidate 9 the progress made so far, contributing to both the country's building of a moderately prosperous society and world peace.

In the coming year, China is to host the ninth meeting for the BRICS leaders and the "One Belt, One Road" International Cooperation Summit Forum 10.

For CRI, this is Liu Mohan.