31 December 2012

President Li Zhaoxing of the China Public Diplomacy Association,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

Good morning!

On this New Year's eve, let me begin by extending, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warm congratulations on the establishment of the China Public Diplomacy Association! This morning, the Association held its first assembly, Chairman Li Zhaoxing was elected as its president, and Ambassador Ma Zhengang and Mr. Shu Yi were elected as its vice presidents. I wish to congratulate them on their election and express my thanks to the Ministry of Civil Affairs and other departments for vigorously supporting the preparation for the Association's establishment. I am convinced that under President Li Zhaoxing's leadership and with active participation by various sectors, the Association will make new great contribution to the development of China's public diplomacy.

The 11th Conference of Chinese Diplomatic Envoys Stationed Abroad held in 2009 stressed that public diplomacy is not only an imperative for China to improve its diplomatic layout under the new situation, but also an important new area for China's diplomatic endeavours. The Report to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) states clearly that we will take solid steps to promote public diplomacy as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges, setting higher requirements for advancing public diplomacy in the new environment from the strategic height of China's overall development.

As China's comprehensive national strength and international influence continue to grow, China's relations with the world have undergone historic changes. The international community is paying greater attention to China's standing and role, and following closely China's domestic and foreign policies and their implications for the world. Factual and sensible elements continue to increase in the public opinion of foreign countries, but prejudice, misunderstanding and misgivings still remain. At the same time, the media and the general public in China have followed and been involved in global developments and diplomatic affairs as closely as never before.

In recent years, we have made great efforts to promote public diplomacy. Chinese leaders have led by example. They engage in a variety of substantive public diplomacy activities during overseas visits and at major international conferences. With an innovative approach to public diplomacy, we have intensified publicity work abroad through various channels and platforms to help the international community learn more about China. We have also strengthened communication with the domestic media and general public, soliciting their opinions and benefiting from their wisdom, in order to make diplomacy more engaging to the people and garner more public understanding and support. As a result, an all-dimensional and multi-tiered structure of China's public diplomacy is now taking shape, featuring integrated use of political, economic and cultural initiatives, collaboration among different government departments and localities, and coordination between domestic and overseas institutions.

Ultimately, to advance public diplomacy as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges in the new environment is to increase the mutual understanding between China and the world, deepen China's relations with the world, and promote sound interactions between China and the world and their common development. To be more specific, we need to give a full account of China's path of peaceful development, win-win strategy of opening-up and independent foreign policy of peace to foreign audience, so the world will get to see a genuine picture of China, and adopt an objective and comprehensive "China outlook". We should work harder to inform our own people about China's foreign policy and diplomatic work so that they will be more sensible in viewing China's external relations, and be more understanding and supportive of the principles and policies guiding these relations. We should vigorously promote the spirit of equality, mutual trust, inclusiveness, mutual learning and win-win cooperation, and strengthen dialogue and exchanges with people of all other countries, with a view to enhancing the mutual understanding, trust, friendship and cooperation between the Chinese people and the people all over the world.

In conducting public diplomacy, we should fully leverage the resources and role of all sectors of the society. China's public diplomacy has thrived in recent years. Various government departments and local institutions have been supporting and participating in public diplomacy in their own ways. I have noticed that members of the China Public Diplomacy Association include both national and local organizations, academic research institutes, universities, businesses and media organizations as well as prominent individuals specialized in public diplomacy. The newly established Association will help us share experience, step up cooperation and further promote China's public diplomacy to better serve the country's development.

I hope that the Association will earnestly follow through with the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress, make good use of both domestic and overseas resources, and make the "voice of China" and the "story of China" more engaging and more convincing. I hope it will serve as a bridge and bond of communication, and help shape a favorable media environment and get more public support for China's development and diplomacy. I also hope that people from all walks of life, the guests today in particular, will take an active part in public diplomacy, and support the work of the Association. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to give full support and assistance to the Association.

I wish the China Public Diplomacy Association greater success and I wish all of you good health, a promising career and a happy New Year.

Thank you.