China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Thursday stressed the importance of people-to-people diplomacy, urging the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) to actively engage in comprehensive, multi-level, wide-ranging and multifaceted friendly exchanges with foreign countries.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 11th National Council conference of the CPAFFC.

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the CPAFFC, Wang said the CPC has always attached great importance to conducting people-to-people diplomacy.

In the new era, the CPC Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has guided and promoted people-to-people diplomacy to make new achievements and bring about important changes, Wang noted.

He stressed that the CPAFFC should give full play to its role as the main channel of people-to-people diplomacy, enhance friendship between the Chinese people and those from other countries, promote mutually beneficial cooperation and better serve the overall national development.

(Cover: File photo of Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee. /CFP)