As the year 2008 is drawing near, I wish to express, on behalf of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, heart-felt thanks and the best New Year wishes to everyone at home and abroad who cares for and supports China's diplomatic endeavors.

In 2007, we have closely followed the global trend of peace, development and cooperation, and pursued an independent foreign policy of peace and upheld China's national interests of sovereignty, security and development. We have seized opportunities and advanced China's diplomacy in an all-round way. We have worked to develop friendly cooperation with all the other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, promote the building of a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity and foster a favorable international environment to build a well-off society in all respects in China.

In the coming year, the world will continue to undergo profound changes, and there will be increasingly closer ties and interactions between China and the rest of the world. We will fully apply the Scientific Outlook on Development, stay on the path of peaceful development and continue to follow the win-win opening-up strategy. We will strive for new progress in advancing China's diplomacy, so as to better promote the interests of China and the Chinese people and contribute more to the cause of global peace and development.

Yang Jiechi