On September 29, 2022, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attended a "China in the Past Decade" press conference held by the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Community Party of China (CPC). He briefed the press on China's diplomacy in the new era and answered questions from Chinese and foreign media.

Ma Zhaoxu said that since the 18th CPC National Congress, under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, China's foreign service has forged ahead against all odds on the historical journey of advancing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Having pull through all the risks and tests and overcome difficulties and obstacles, China’s diplomacy has accomplished many great tasks, and made pioneering and historical achievements in all respects, blazing a new path of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, and creating a sound external environment for realizing the two centenary goals and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

Ma Zhaoxu stressed that with a firm grasp of the development trends in China and the world, and profound thinking about the future of mankind, General Secretary Xi Jinping has inherited and carried forward the core principles and fine traditions of the New China's diplomacy, made major innovations in diplomatic theory and practice, and put forth a series of new ideas, new propositions and new initiatives that carry distinctive Chinese characteristics, embody the spirit of the times and spearhead the trend of human progress and development, thus forming Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. Leading by example, General Secretary Xi Jinping has carried out a series of splendid and fruitful head-of-state diplomacy that has deepened the international community's understanding of China, demonstrated his amiable leadership charisma of treating others with sincerity and valuing goodwill and friendship, and testified to the irreplaceable important role and strategic value of head-of-state diplomacy. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, we have devoted ourselves to the main task of serving national rejuvenation and promoting human progress, and ground our efforts on the new goals of China's development. By grasping the new changes in China's relations with the world, and acting on the philosophy of helping others to succeed while seeking our own success and taking a global perspective, we have steadfastly pursued the path of peaceful development, and worked for building a community with a shared future for mankind, and a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, 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.

Ma Zhaoxu pointed out that building a community with a shared future for mankind is the overall goal of China's diplomacy in the new era. China upholds the vision of a global community of development with a shared future, and is committed to advancing the Belt and Road cooperation in line with the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. Standing at the forefront of international anti-pandemic cooperation, China has carried out the largest global emergency humanitarian operation since the founding of the New China, and promoted the building of a global community of health for all. Since last year, General Secretary Xi Jinping has successively put forward the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, further enriching the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind. China's call for building a community with a shared future for mankind has been echoed by more and more countries.

We in the Chinese diplomatic service have conducted China's diplomacy in a comprehensive, multi-level and multi-faceted way, engaging in dialogue, exchanges and cooperation with other countries in the world. The total number of countries with which China has established diplomatic relations has increased to 181, and we have established partnerships with more than 110 countries and regional organizations, making friends across the world and putting in place a global partnership network. We have worked actively to promote reform and development of the global governance system, safeguard and support the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, practice true multilateralism, and uphold peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are common values of humanity. We have taken concrete actions to support global pandemic response, address climate change, and promote sustainable development, and put forward China's proposals on addressing global governance deficit and global challenges, making our share of contributions.

We have built a strong line of defense to safeguard state interests and national dignity with a firmer will, more solid actions and stronger measures. We have taken clear-cut stance and never backed down on major issues of principle. We face challenges head-on and fight resolutely on the Taiwan question and issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Xizang, maritime affairs and human rights, among others. By so doing, we have effectively safeguarded national sovereignty, security and development interests, and held the initiative in national development and security firmly in our own hands. We have engaged in diplomatic struggle that is aimed at fighting words and deeds that harm China's national interests and national dignity, safeguarding legitimate rights and interests, opposing hegemonism and bullying, and upholding international fairness and justice.

We act on the philosophy of putting the people front and center, focus on the central work of the Party and the country, serve China's economic and social development, and firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese expats and legal persons overseas. We have more than 280 embassies and consular offices around the world that provide consular services to Chinese nationals overseas. With the assistance of the foreign ministry’s consular service emergency hotline 12308 that runs 24/7, consular protection is made available to Chinese citizens wherever they go. The motherland is always the strong backing the Chinese people can rely on.

Ma Zhaoxu noted that looking ahead, the successful convocation of 20th CPC National Congress will surely chart the course for China's diplomatic work to break new grounds and make greater strides in the new era. The diplomatic service will rally closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and profoundly appreciate 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. We will further strengthen our 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, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We will 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. We will strive to write a new chapter of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.