On December 10, 2012, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the New Year Reception 2013 for foreign diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations based in China at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. There were over 400 representatives attending the reception including State Councilor Dai Bingguo, heads of relevant departments and foreign guests.

In his speech, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi extended new-year greetings to the foreign diplomatic envoys and representatives and expressed sincere thanks to the people from all walks of life showing care and support to China's diplomacy.

Yang said that 2012 is a very important year in the development process of China. This year, the Eighteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held recently. The congressed established the goal of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and deepening reform and opening up in an all-round manner and made an holistic arrangement for advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the new historical conditions. It was stressed in the report of the 18th CPC National Congress that China will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development, and cooperation for win-win results and advocate the spirit of equality, mutual trust, inclusiveness, mutual learning, and cooperation for win-win results. China will firmly pursue the independent foreign policy of peace, unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, and adhere to developing all-round friendship and cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Yang said that China's diplomacy has made new positive headways in 2012. China's international status and influence was further enhanced. The Chinese leaders attended a series of major bilateral and multilateral activities, which effectively pushed forward the friendly and cooperative relations with other countries. China further promoted the relations with other countries and deepened the good-neighborly and friendly cooperation with neighboring countries. China played an important role as a responsible and constructive big country in dealing with international and regional hot-spot issues, actively promoted the peaceful settlement of related disputes and issues, and maintained the basic norms of international relations. China actively carried out public diplomacy and cultural and people-to-people exchanges and increased the understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and the people around the world.

Yang Jiechi said that in 2013, China’s diplomacy, on the basis of maintaining stability and continuity, will actively adapt itself to the new changes and requirements of the international and domestic situation, keep abreast of with the times, blaze new trails and create a more favorable international environment for building a moderately prosperous society and achieving socialist modernization. China will work together with other countries to make new and greater contributions to advancing the lofty cause of human peace and development.

Nolana Ta-Ama, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Togo's Ambassador to China, extended the new-year greetings to the Chinese government and people on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps. He said that in the past year, China, under the leadership of CPC, has made remarkable achievements. China has played a crucial role in addressing major global issues and regional hot-spot issues, has made positive and constructive contributions to the promotion of world peace, stability and development. The international community congratulated China on the success of the Eighteenth CPC National Congress and wished China and China’s diplomacy new and greater achievements. The Diplomatic Corps is willing to make vigorous efforts to promote the friendly cooperation between other countries and China.