The year 2018 marked the first year of fully implementing the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress. Under the strong leadership of the party leadership group, the Department of Foreign Affairs earnestly studied and carried out Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, worked hard to understand, perceive and implement them, continuously strengthened the coordination of foreign affairs activities, and optimized the management of official visits, which provides a strong guarantee for foreign affairs services for the business reform and development in the new era.
The work of foreign affairs is closely connected with the background of the era. In this year’s work of foreign affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs closely revolved around the central government’s direction of key diplomatic work and the spirit of the party leadership group’s instructions, earnestly fulfilled the responsibility of taking the lead and wrapping up, strengthened the top-level design, and carefully planned to ensure the success of all major foreign affairs activities.
The first China International import Expo is China’s final domestic diplomatic event this year. It is China’s major policy announcement and action to voluntarily open the market and a major innovation in the history of international trade development. With high level and wide participation, the expo brought together guests, friends and entrepreneurs to attend the “Oriental Appointment” of win-win cooperation. As the head of the Foreign Affairs’ Work Group of the Office of the Preparatory Committee, the Department of Foreign Affairs regarded this work as the top priority, prepared in advance, actively fostered synergy, and coordinated the work of foreign guests reception, concierge of large-scale events and bilateral activities. In activities such as guest welcoming, opening ceremony, welcoming banquet and parallel forum, the Department of Foreign Affairs revolved around the center, highlighted the theme, carefully planned and arranged the details, cooperated with relevant departments, carefully designed and properly arranged the planning of the events and on-site concierge, implemented policies according to the countries, the groups, and the people, and successfully completed the foreign affairs of the expo.
Over the past year, the Department of Foreign Affairs enhanced its political position, courageously fulfilled responsibilities, carefully focused on every key link, earnestly completed the various concierge work of the leaders’ foreign affairs activities led by the Ministry of Commerce, and successfully completed the foreign affairs work of more than 50 leaders such as President Xi Jinping’s attendance at the opening ceremony of the High-level Dialogue between Chinese and African Leaders and Business Representatives and the Sixth Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs, Premier Li Keqiang’s attendance at the China-Japan Third-Party Market Cooperation Forum, Vice Premier Han Zheng’s attendance at the China-ASEAN Expo, Vice Premier Hu Chunhua’s attendance at the China-South Asia Expo, Vice Premier Liu He’s attendance at the China-EU High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue, and State Councilor Wang Yong’s attendance at the China-Thailand Economic and Trade Joint Committee, which provides a strong service guarantee for deepening bilateral economic and trade exchanges.
In 2018, the Department of Foreign Affairs resolutely implemented the spirit of the eight rules of the CPC Central Committee. Revolving around the opinions on the implementation of the Party Leadership Group and the actual work of MOFCOM and based on the wide opinions from various departments, the Department of Foreign Affairs actively revised the work system, improved the institutional system, and strengthened the centralized management of the work of foreign affairs of MOFCOM. We adhered to diligence and frugality in foreign affairs and prevented the risk of corruption. In accordance with the requirements of the central government, we have carefully carried out special inspections on “Stopping Overseas Tour in the Name of Official Business”, strictly controlled groups travelling to “hot” countries and world popular tourism countries, and rigorously implemented the management system of official visits of MOFCOM.
Translators and interpreters of the Department of Foreign Affairs appeared both on the stage and off the stage in 2018 foreign affairs activities. The Department of Foreign Affairs is mainly responsible for the translation of major foreign affairs activities, negotiation tasks and related materials. In 2018, the Department of Foreign Affairs undertook more than 230 translation tasks for various foreign affairs activities, completed nearly 400,000 words of translation, and successfully completed the translation work of the first China International import Expo.
In 2019, we will usher in the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It is also the crucial year for realizing the first centenary goal of securing a decisive victory in finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Looking into the future, China's door of opening up will only become ever wider. All party members of the Department of Foreign Affairs will continue to study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, firmly adopt the “four consciousnesses”, resolutely implement the “two safeguards”, stay true to our original aspiration, hold on to our mission, focus on serving the new pattern of opening up, and strive to create a new situation for commercial diplomacy!
