Misjudging China will result in missed opportunities, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing on Thursday.

"China remains strong as an engine for growth," said Wang, adding China's development is driven not only by a reasonable growth in quantity but also an effective upgrade in quality.

Wang called for more countries to offer Chinese citizens visa facilitation, build fast-track networks for cross-border travels and encourage the speedy resumption of international passenger flights.

He said China will continue to expand its visa-free "circle of friends," and reach arrangements with more countries for multi-year and multiple-entry visa options. China will adopt a visa-free policy for Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg on a trial basis, starting March 14.

Such policies will make it more convenient for Chinese citizens to travel abroad and make foreign friends feel at home in China, he said.

(Cover: Downtown Beijing, China. /CFP)