Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Sunday highlighted the pivotal role of heads-of-state diplomacy in shaping the country's foreign policy, describing it as the "anchor" of China's diplomacy.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a press conference on foreign policy held on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing.

He noted that over the past year, amid a turbulent and fast-changing international landscape, Chinese President Xi Jinping has conducted extensive heads-of-state diplomacy, creating a series of significant historic moments.

Extensive heads-of-state diplomacy has pioneered new practices of dialogue and coordination between major countries over the past year, building up new momentum of good neighborliness and friendship, gathering new impetus for the great unity of the Global South, and sounding a new, powerful call for safeguarding peace and justice, Wang said.

Under the guidance and stewardship of President Xi, China's diplomacy provides the most-needed stability and certainty to a world in turmoil and serves as an irreplaceable mainstay amid global turbulence, Wang stressed.

He also said that the series of important initiatives and propositions put forward by President Xi demonstrate exceptional strategic foresight and broad global vision, pointing out the right way forward for the changes in the world unseen in a century.

Looking ahead to this year, Wang said President Xi will host a number of major diplomatic events in China, including the informal meeting of leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the second China-Arab States Summit. The Chinese president will also undertake several important overseas visits, he added.

"Head-of-state diplomacy is bound to further advance China's relations with the world in a positive direction, open up new space for building a community with a shared future for humanity, and enable the Chinese nation to make new, greater contribution to world peace and development," said Wang.