On January 23, 2008, Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Hongbo attended the expert seminar on consular protection organized by the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing. Present at the seminar were leaders from the Commission of Legislative Affairs of the NPC Standing Committee, the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Legal Affairs Office of the State Council and many authoritative experts and scholars from Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University, China Foreign Affairs University and China Institutes for Contemporary International Relations. Wu stressed that the consular work in China was facing unprecedented challenges in the new situation and was required to explore an effective, long-term, and standardized consular work system. Consular legislation is conducive to implementing the governance concept of putting people first, conducive to improving mechanisms aiming at protecting the rights and interest of overseas Chinese citizens and legal persons, conducive to mobilizing all sides concerned to carry out consular protection work in a pragmatic, efficient and rational manner, and in line with the fundamental interest of the people; therefore, consular legislation work should be promoted robustly.

The seminar is a very important meeting for implementing the important guiding spirit of the foreign affairs work meeting of CPC Central Committee on strengthening foreign affairs legislation and for further promoting consular protection process in accordance with the requirement of the 17th CPC National Congress on "democratic and scientific legislation". The participating delegates represent a very high academic level in legislation. They had extensive yet in-depth and constructive discussions on such subjects as necessity of legislation, legal nature and outcome of consular behaviours, legislative style, and legislative structure. The delegates shared their unique perspectives and insightful views, which were valuable. The experts stated that the studies on consular legalisation were thorough; the thinking was clear; and the work plan was mature. Through discussions, the participating delegates all believed that consular legislation concerns the fundamental interest of the people, reflects the perfect combination of "putting people first" and "administering according to law" and is of great long-term significance to implementing the general plan of ruling the country according to law and the concept of "governing for the people" and to promoting the development of consular work.