Ma Zhaoxu:

Comrades, ladies and gentlemen, and friends, good morning! We will soon convene the 20th CPC National Congress. At this moment, I am pleased to be here addressing this press conference.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has led us to forge ahead with Party's external work by overcoming difficulties, risks, and tests as we embarked on a historical journey of furthering the great undertaking of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era. We have achieved many important achievements. Our historical achievements have been all-around and groundbreaking. We found a new method of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and created a better external environment for realizing the Two Centenary Goals (building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and building a great modern socialist country in all aspects) and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Riding on the development trends of China and the world and pondering on the future of humankind, General Secretary Xi Jinping carried forward the core principles and fine traditions of New China's diplomacy and proactively promoted innovations in major diplomatic theories and practices. A series of new concepts, proposals and initiatives with Chinese characteristics mirroring the spirit of the times and setting the trend of human progress were put forward. These elements form Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy.

The 10 major subjects of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy are as follows: strengthening the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC on external work under the overarching principle of upholding the authority of the CPC Central Committee; pursuing major-country diplomacy with distinctive Chinese features to fulfill the mission of national renewal; promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind as part of the effort to preserve world peace and pursue common development; enhancing strategic confidence that is rooted in socialism with Chinese characteristics; promoting the Belt and Road Initiative under the principle of shared benefits through discussion and collaboration; pursuing peaceful development based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation; forging global partnerships while advancing China's diplomatic agenda; steering the reform of global governance based on fairness and justice; safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests with the national core interests as the bottom-line; nurturing a distinctive style of Chinese diplomacy by combining fine traditions of our external work and features of the times.

Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, we have focused on serving national rejuvenation and promoting human progress. Based on the new position and direction of China's development, we have grasped the changes in the relations between China and the rest of the world and developed ourselves to help others with the well-being of the world in our mind. We have steadfastly followed the path of peaceful development, advanced the building of the community with a shared future for mankind, and advocated establishing a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice and win-win cooperation. We will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order.

We have advanced China's diplomatic agenda in a comprehensive, multilevel, multifaceted way and promoted dialogues, communication and cooperation with other countries. As our circle of friends expands and our global partner network enlarges, we have established diplomatic relations with 181 countries and forged partnerships with more than 110 countries and regional organizations.

We have proactively promoted the reform and building of the global governance system, safeguarded the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law and practiced genuine multilateralism. Remaining committed to the universal value of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, we have enhanced the global efforts to battle COVID-19 and deal with climate change with concrete actions. Moreover, we have promoted sustainable development and provided Chinese solutions for and contributed to addressing the global governance deficit and tackling global challenges.

We have firmly safeguarded our national interests and dignity. We have maintained a clear position and never budged an inch on major issues concerning Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, maritime territory and human rights. We have always risen to challenges and fought hard and vigorously to safeguard our national sovereignty, security and development interests.

We have implemented people-centered philosophy and focused on the central task of the Party and the state. While staying truly connected to the people, we have served national economic and social development and resolutely protected the legitimate rights and interests of oversea Chinese citizens and corporations.

Looking to the new journey, the successful convention of the 20th CPC National Congress will surely lead China's diplomacy in the new era in striving forward and breaking new ground. We will closely follow the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, acquire a deep understanding of the decisive significance of the establishment of both Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and boost consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership. We will stay confident in the path, the theory, the system, and the culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We will firmly uphold Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and uphold the Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership to write a new chapter on the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Thank you.

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Mr. Ma. Now the floor is open for questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before raising questions.