The Chinese Government also refuted accusations from other countries that China is more assertive in handling its disputes with neighboring countries and denied that China's firm stance on sovereignty issues signals the shifting of its diplomatic strategy. Wang said, "China is committed to the path of peaceful development, and we hope other countries will also take the path of peaceful development."

A responsible global power

China deeply understands that its contribution to the world should grow with the increase of its national strength as it strives to become a responsible global power. However, its efforts sometimes have been neglected.

Wang gave a detailed explanation of China's policies on hotspot issues at the NPC press conference. Regarding the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Wang articulated China's "red line": China will never allow war or instability on the Korean Peninsula. He further pointed out that the six-party talks, which involve China, North Korea, South Korea, the United States, Russia and Japan, are the only dialogue mechanism acceptable to all the parties concerned. Only with denuclearization can the Korean Peninsula enjoy genuine and lasting peace.

Wang claimed that it is not accidental that the situation in Ukraine has reached its current point of crisis. He said that China urges those involved to heed the interests of all ethnic communities in Ukraine and uphold regional peace and stability. The priority now, he said, is to exercise calm and restraint. The parties should carry out dialogue and consultation to put the issue on the track of a political settlement.

On the Afghanistan issue, Wang announced that China will for the first time host a ministerial conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan in August. China hopes that through this conference, the parties will build more consensus and work together to support Afghanistan's efforts to complete its political, security and economic transitions.

Wang also gave an outlook of China's all-round diplomacy in 2014. He confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Europe in March. Xi will also visit some Latin American countries within the year and attend the BRICS Summit in Brazil. Premier Li will take a trip to Africa.

Wang said that the "China-Russia relationship is at its best point in history." He pointed out that the most important task for Sino-Russian relations is to ensure that the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination will continue to grow. Talking about China's ties with the European Union (EU), Wang said China hopes to speed up the negotiation toward a China-EU investment agreement, with a view to future free trade arrangements.

Since the beginning of 2014, due to Sino-Japanese tensions as well as U.S. President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama, signs of more differences between China and the United States are increasing. Washington fears that the Chinese military may attempt to capitalize on the Obama administration's perceived weakness and push to drive U.S. forces out of the western Pacific rim. However, during this session of the NPC, China showed its resolution to build a new model of major-country relations with the United States.

Wang said that at the heart of this new model of major-country relationship is mutual respect, win-win cooperation and an absence of conflict or confrontation. This is the common direction the two sides have set. It is a positive strategic outlook the two countries show to the world and a solemn commitment to the international community. He said the China-U.S. relationship is both very important and very complex. "The Asia-Pacific should be the testing ground of our commitment to building a new model of major-country relations, rather than a competitive arena," he said.

In 2014, China will play host to two major international conferences: the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia Summit in Shanghai and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting in Beijing. Wang said that China will make the most of its role as the host country to show its sincerity in promoting Asian security as well as Asia-Pacific economic integration, striving for a new breakthrough in launching a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific.

People-oriented diplomacy

Premier Li's work report has upgraded "protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal persons overseas" to being on par with safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, echoing the governing task of "making coordinated efforts to ensure and improve people's well-being" mentioned in the work report.

Early on the morning of Wang's press conference, a Malaysian civil aviation flight bound for China with 239 passengers and crew members—including more than 150 Chinese—lost contact with ground control. Wang mentioned the incident before the opening of the press conference and expressed his concerns, adding that the Chinese Foreign Ministry and relevant diplomatic and consular missions of China had activated the emergency mechanism.

Before the end of his press conference, Wang introduced the latest progress in China's consular protection and services. The foreign minister said that nearly 100 million Chinese travel abroad each year and his ministry needs to handle tens of thousands of consular cases annually. He noted it is the abiding purpose of China's diplomacy to serve the people. The Foreign Ministry will establish a global emergency call center for consular protection and services. The ministry will continue to implement the initiative to better protect and serve overseas Chinese and further improve consular services.

After the press conference, Wang immediately returned to the Foreign Ministry to deal with the missing Malaysian flight. That morning, President Xi and Premier Li instructed China's diplomatic authorities to employ their full efforts to handle the aftermath of the incident. Premier Li also talked with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on the phone in an urgent call that afternoon. A massive international search-and-rescue operation was soon underway in Southeast Asia.

The author is an op-ed contributor to Beijing Review

Email us at: yanwei@bjreview.com