China has advanced major-country relations, enhanced solidarity and cooperation with its neighbors and developing countries, contributed its wisdom to the settlement of hot-spot issues, and consolidated public foundation for friendly cooperation, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday.

Under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics embarked on a new journey and has written a splendid new chapter in 2023, said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, at a regular press briefing.

First, China has advanced major-country relations, Mao said.

This year's head-of-state overseas visits kicked off with President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia. He and Russian President Vladimir Putin had long, sincere, friendly, and fruitful talks and exchanges, and drew up a blueprint for the growth of China-Russia relations, Mao said.

Xi was invited to hold the China-U.S. summit meeting in San Francisco. Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden had an exchange of views on strategic and overarching issues critical to the direction of China-U.S. relations and on major issues affecting world peace and development to stabilize and improve bilateral relations, Mao said.

Xi had meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron in April and European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in December. They exchanged views and reached important common understandings on China-France relations, China-EU relations, and regional and international issues of mutual concern, Mao added.

Second, China has enhanced solidarity and cooperation with neighbors and developing countries, Mao noted.

In Xi'an, Xi chaired the China-Central Asia Summit, where all parties jointly announced that they will build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future. In Johannesburg, Xi attended the 15th BRICS Summit, where BRICS expansion made a historic step forward. He co-chaired with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue, which demonstrated through concrete action that China and African countries will forever stand shoulder to shoulder, Mao said.

In Beijing, Xi announced eight major steps China will take to support the joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to help developing countries speed up the process of modernization. In Hanoi, Xi reached important common understandings with Vietnamese leaders to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. It is another vivid illustration of the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighborhood diplomacy, Mao noted.

Third, China contributed its wisdom to the settlement of hot-spot issues, said the spokesperson.

Based on the common understanding reached by Xi and Saudi and Iranian leaders and with China's support and facilitation, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a historic agreement to resume diplomatic ties, said Mao.

To facilitate the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, Xi maintained communication with leaders from relevant parties to promote peace talks, said the spokesperson.

Since the outbreak of the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Xi has outlined China's principled position on multiple occasions. At the Extraordinary Joint Meeting of BRICS Leaders, he called for an immediate ceasefire and efforts for an early solution to the question of Palestine that is comprehensive, just, sustainable and based on the two-state solution, Mao said.

Fourth, China has consolidated public foundation for friendly cooperation, Mao noted.

Xi personally reached out to the world to tell China's stories and make friends across the globe. Earlier this year, Xi met with Henry Kissinger, Bill Gates and several other U.S. friends, had cordial conversations with old friends from various sectors of the United States in San Francisco, and delivered a historic speech to the American public while he was there, Mao said.

He also exchanged correspondence with friends from various countries. The letters conveyed messages of goodwill, said Mao. It showed the character of a statesman who has a common touch and values the bond with the people, she said. "This has won respect and friendship from the world."

(With input from Xinhua)

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(Cover: File photo of the building of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing, China. /CFP)