On the afternoon of October 19, 2008, Beijing was immersed in the golden autumn bright sunshine. Decorated with blooming blossoms at the gate, the foreign ministry received more than 100 visitors from all walks of life who, with curiosity and joy, were invited to be present at the public open day of the foreign ministry. The theme of the activity was special and significant. First is to introduce the upcoming 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to the public and second to invite the public to witness the 6th inauguration ceremony of overseas Chinese diplomats.

Glorious diplomatic achievements highlighted by the Asia-Europe Meeting in 2008

The multimedia introduction session held at the press conference room of the foreign ministry is a repertoire of the public open day. The visitors felt cordial and excited to see with their own eyes this orderly yet grand room which many of them had seen on TV or pictures.

Director-General Liu Jianchao introduces China’s diplomatic work in 2008	Director-General Wu Hailong introduces the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting

Liu Jianchao, spokesman and director-general of the information department of the foreign ministry, warmly welcomed the visitors here in the room. Showing a large number of first-hand pictures which he had prepared carefully and telling moving stories, he described vividly the tests and outcome the Chinese diplomacy had withstood and achieved since the beginning of this year. He said 2008 was a very special year in the history of China and also exceptional to the Chinese diplomacy. As Liu listed the major events this year one by one, including the snow storm disaster, 3.14 Lhasa riots, Wenchuan massive earthquake, Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, Sanlu milk powder incident and launch of Shenzhou 7, the visitors gradually realized behind each of those events there were the hard work of and selfless contributions made by the Chinese diplomats in order to protect the interest of the motherland and the people and safeguard the honor and dignity of the nation. They listened carefully. Some took notes, some leaned on the chair back and some frowned slightly, seeming to think over something. Many of them revealed with their eyes sincere admiration and appreciation for the diplomats.

The 7th ASEM summit will be held in Beijing from October 24 to 25. To help the public feel diplomacy more closely, Director-General of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences Wu Hailong started his introduction from the ASEM flags hung along the main streets of Beijing with which the ordinary Beijingers were most familiar. Wu said the ASEM summit is an important platform for China to conduct diplomacy at the head of state level, consolidate relations with neighboring countries and expand ties with big powers in the world. With high-level participants, multi-level exchanges, broad cooperation areas, flexible cooperation mechanisms and wide influence, it is another major international activity hosted by China following the Beijing Olympic Games. Leaders of 47 countries will gather in Beijing to discuss such global issues as the international economic and financial situation, food security and disaster relief cooperation, which is of great significance. As China continues to grow and increases contacts with the outside world, such big international topics in fact are related in one way or another with the life of the ordinary Chinese people, noted Wu. Hence, he expressed hope all the Chinese could show greater care and support to the ASEM summit and demonstrate the charm of China and Beijing to the world once again.

Many visitors said the words of the two director-generals enabled them to get unprecedented deep understanding of the work of the foreign ministry and see the close relations between diplomacy and their daily life. They expressed heart-felt admiration for the huge efforts of the diplomats to promote world peace and development and maintain the fundamental interest of the country and the people. One visitor said it was the first time for him to understand diplomacy in such a systematic way and the complexity and toughness behind each diplomatic event. He now understood deeply the firm belief and tangible actions of the Chinese government and diplomacy to “reign for the people”. A senior visitor whose daughter works at the foreign ministry told the journalist she had not understood why her daughter always works overtime. Now she knew why and felt proud of her daughter!

Heavy responsibility of and high expectation on overseas Chinese diplomats

The olive hall of the foreign ministry is the official venue where the diplomats hold meetings, consultations and negotiations on major diplomatic affairs with their foreign counterparts. Another theme of the public open day - the 6th inauguration ceremony of overseas Chinese diplomats - was held here and opened for first time to the public.

The 9 newly appointed overseas Chinese diplomats stood in line on the big red carpet at the center of the hall, waiting silently for the start of the ceremony. With firmness in their eyes and standing straight, they looked like soldiers ready to fight for the interest of the motherland and the people. Those standing at the two sides of the carpet were their loved ones who had extended great support and understanding to them over the years and now looked gratified. The 100 plus visitors were deeply moved in such a solemn and touching atmosphere.

At 3:00 p.m. foreign minister Yang Jiechi and all the other officials of the foreign ministry in Beijing entered into the hall. After Vice foreign ministered Li Jinzhang declared opening of the ceremony, all the participants sang the national anthem amid the majestic melody played by the military band of the Chinese liberation army. Yang announced the appointment of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress on the 9 new Chinese ambassadors, including ambassador to South Korea Cheng Yonghua, ambassador to Tonga Fan Guijin, ambassador to Belarus Lu Guicheng, ambassador to Bolivia Qu Shengwu, ambassador to Fiji Han Zhiqiang and ambassador to Djibouti Zhang Guoqing.

Amid the attentive gaze of the audience, 4 handsome armed police soldiers escorting the national flag marched into the hall. In front of the bright Five-Star Red Flag, the 9 newly appointed diplomats of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) who would soon leave the motherland for the front line of Chinese diplomacy looked solemn, clenched their right fists and took the serious oath. “We will keep loyal to the Party, to the motherland and to the people, faithfully fulfill the lofty mission entrusted by the country, firmly implement China’s foreign policy, safeguard the national sovereignty and territorial integrity, maintain the national interest and dignity and promote world peace and development. We will work diligently and honestly, strive for the public interest, spare no effort in the performance of our duty and never let the motherland down.” Their resonant and firm voice reverberated in the hall. The vow shows their confidence of fulfilling their lofty mission and serious commitment to the motherland and the people. With deep love and devotion to the country and the people, they will bear it in mind forever to fight for the prosperity of China.

Han Zhiqiang, the new ambassador to Fiji who gave the oath to all the newly appointed ambassadors, made a speech on behalf of all the newly appointed diplomats. Han said we were extremely proud to be able to serve as the overseas diplomats of the great PRC and felt keenly the loftiness of our mission in such a solemn atmosphere. The inauguration ceremony here was like gathering men for a roll call and the oath we made just now in front of the national flag was a pledge to the Party and the people. In our future work, we will never forget our mission, serve our duty faithfully, work hard, practice the scientific concept of development, perform our tasks diligently and make the Party and the people satisfied. The motherland and the people can rest at ease.

Yang Jiechi sent emotional words to the new ambassadors. He said the world today is experiencing dramatic changes. China is developing towards a new historical stage. At this moment, the diplomats, representing the great motherland and the 1.3 billion Chinese people, took credentials to work abroad, which were a grand honor and more importantly a heavy responsibility and mission.

He required the diplomats to behave in line with the principle of “diplomacy by statesmen” to firmly safeguard the national interest, perform their functions according to the principle of “diplomacy in a scientific way” to actively push forward bilateral relations and multilateral cooperation, provide services in the spirit of “people orientation” and faithfully implement the philosophy of “diplomacy for the people”, carry forward the sound tradition of the foreign ministry and contribute to building harmonious embassies. He expressed hope they would keep the oath in mind and work hard to complete the mission entrusted by the Party and the people.

Yang also spoke highly of and extended high regard and sincere gratitude to the new ambassadors’ families for the strong support which they had offered silently without any complaint and regret over the years. He emphasized the foreign ministry would make greater efforts to help them solve problems and hope they would continue to support their loved ones and the diplomatic undertaking of the motherland.

On behalf of the foreign ministry, Yang expressed warm welcome to the visitors. It was their appearance that made the ceremony especially significant and the newly appointed diplomats feel more keenly the trust of the motherland and the people.

He stressed diplomacy in China is people’s diplomacy and serves the entire Chinese people. 2008 is a unique year for China and the Chinese diplomacy. Faced with fluctuating and complex situations, the Chinese diplomacy, under the leadership of the Central Party Committee and the State Council and with the support of the Chinese people, has forged ahead and made encouraging achievements. We will soon host the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting and the Chinese leaders will conduct a number of important diplomatic activities before the end of this year. 2008 marks the 30th anniversary of reform and opening up and in 2009 we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. He was confident the Chinese diplomacy would score greater outcome under the leadership of the Central Party Committee and the State Council and with the support of the Chinese people, create a sound external environment for the building of a well-off society in an all-round way and contribute even more to world peace and development!

He said emotionally diplomats came from the people. People always remain the solid foundation and strong backing for diplomacy. During the resolute fight against splittists and harsh struggle against natural disasters, in the process of realizing the century-old dream of hosting the Olympic Games, the Chinese people demonstrated the outstanding national spirit of solidarity, fortitude and striving unceasingly and set the sound international image of peace, justice and progress of China, which greatly enhanced the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and people of the rest of the world. He reiterated the spirit of the nation and the power of the people are always the source of wisdom and driving force of Chinese diplomacy and expressed hope the Chinese people would continue to support Chinese diplomacy and raise valuable suggestions and opinions to the foreign ministry.

All the visitors were deeply moved by the sincere and emotional words of Yang. Tang Jiangyu, student from the University of International Relations, made some comments on behalf of the visitors. We were moved by the loftiness and grandeur of the ceremony and felt proud of the peace envoys of the motherland who were devoted to the country and the people, said Tang excitedly. He described the understanding of ordinary people about Chinese diplomacy in a vivid language: actively mediating for the six-party talks to maintain peace in Asia and the Pacific; successfully holding the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to realize common development; rejection of Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations to safeguard national reunification; rescuing hostages at the risk of life to practice the concept of “diplomacy for the people”; appealing to the international community urgently to donate tents to support earthquake relief; and receiving world dignitaries during the Olympic Games to promote friendship and cooperation. With an outstanding performance on the international arena, Chinese diplomacy does not fail the people and deserves the wide attention paid by them. He noted the public would continue to care and support the Chinese diplomacy and look forward to seeing greater glory in the future!

Yang Jiechi later told the journalists the foreign ministry had held 6 inauguration ceremonies for overseas Chinese diplomats since November 2006. The purpose is to highlight the lofty mission and responsibility of the diplomats and increase the sense of duty and honor of all the diplomatic staffs. By taking a solemn oath in front of the Five-Star Red Flag, the overseas Chinese diplomats will feel more deeply the highest honor and heavy tasks as representatives of China in overseas countries and be encouraged to keep the motherland and the people in mind and perform their functions faithfully to devote to the modernization construction of the country and peace and development in the world. The foreign ministry will continue to hold the ceremony in the future.

He added the foreign ministry opened the ceremony to the public for the first time on the occasion of the public open day for three purposes: first, to emphasize to our overseas Chinese diplomats and all the diplomatic staffs that diplomacy in China always serves the people and people remain the solid foundation and strong backing for the diplomatic work. Only by serving the people wholeheartedly and devoting to maintaining the fundamental interest of the motherland and the people, can we fulfill our mission; second, to pledge to the people solemnly that we have a diplomatic force which loves the motherland, remains loyal to the people and politically trusted, has rich experience and performs its duty faithfully. Such a force can be seen everywhere in the world and selflessly contributes to safeguarding the interest of the country and the dignity of the nation. It deserves the trust of the people; third, to express thanks to the public for its long-term support and understanding of the diplomatic work. The gate of the foreign ministry is always open to the people.

With the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony, the public open day also approached the end. However, the enthusiasm of the visitors in the olive hall did not bate at all. Surrounding the diplomats of the motherland, they wanted to take this rare opportunity to exchange more ideas with those lovely “liberation army in casual dress”. Shang Yu’an, a ten-year-old student of Asia-Pacific Experimental School of Beijing Normal University told the diplomat beside him that he was most impressed by the scene of waiting for the national flag during the ceremony. He felt extremely excited to see the new ambassadors making a vow in front of the Five-Star Red Flag. Zhang Peng, a grassroots propagandist from Dangtu county of Anhui province, said he was moved by the hardness of the diplomatic work. He hopes the diplomats could have rest and take care of themselves after hard work. He would take the diplomats as his model and make due contribution to the building of socialist new rural area.