The Chinese Foreign Ministry has been deepening the reform of administrative approval to simplify procedures, improve services and reduce fees of passport applications for overseas Chinese citizens. Guo Shaochun, the director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Foreign Ministry discussed the development of China's consular work in 2018. China currently has 98 consular organizations in 53 countries. Ninety-two of them have opened since the reform and opening up over the past 40 years. 

Guo says these consular offices and consulates were established to promote friendly cooperation between China and foreign countries and safeguard the security and legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese citizens and enterprises. He also outlined new measures in 2019 to promote the consular work for the people. 

"Effective January 1, our embassies and consulates around the world have launched a new round of measures to benefit the people. We have greatly expanded the scope of passport applications. We also no longer make an applicant's residence abroad a prerequisite for accepting overseas Chinese citizens' passport applications. Applicants can use their local medical cards, social security cards, bank statements, or utility bills as evidence to prove that they are working or living abroad." Guo Shaochun added.

(Cover: The journalist talks with Guo Shaochun (R). /CGTN Photo)