China.org.cn | October 31, 2022
Beijing Youth Daily:
Recently, there has been a widely acclaimed movie titled "Home Coming." It was adapted based on the real evacuation operation of a Chinese embassy. After watching it, many netizens said that nowadays diplomats on the front line of evacuations are the next closest to war after soldiers. I would like to ask Mr. Ma Zhaoxu, as a senior diplomat, how do you and your colleagues practice diplomacy for the people? Thank you.
Ma Zhaoxu:
The report to the 20th CPC National Congress pointed out that we must stay true to our fundamental purpose of wholeheartedly serving the people, ensure that we are acting for the people and relying on the people in everything we do, and breathe the same air as the people, share the same future, and stay truly connected to them. The reason why "Home Coming" has moved so many people, I think, is because it gives vivid expression to the people-centered defining values. The line from in the movie, "The motherland will not give up any of its compatriots — we will bring everyone home," is a true portrayal of diplomacy for the people.
China's diplomacy is the diplomacy of the people. China's diplomatic service has always preserved the nature of people-centered diplomacy, practiced diplomacy for the people, made every effort to do a good job in diplomacy to satisfy the people, and resolutely safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal persons overseas.
We have always kept in mind the security and well-being of our people overseas. In response to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, we put the people and their lives above all else, delivering "Spring Festival kits" and "health kits" to our fellow compatriots abroad in more than 170 countries, and assisting more than 4.6 million Chinese citizens living abroad to get vaccinated through the "Spring Sprout" vaccine program. Over the past decade, China has organized and implemented nearly 20 emergency evacuations of Chinese citizens living overseas, and handled more than 500,000 consular protection cases concerning millions of Chinese citizens.
In the wake of the Ukraine crisis, we in the diplomatic service took urgent action in accordance with the deployment of the CPC Central Committee and swiftly evacuated more than 5,200 compatriots from Ukraine safe and sound. Given the current security situation in Ukraine, the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine is organizing the evacuation of Chinese citizens from the country. I would also like to take this opportunity to once again call on Chinese citizens still in Ukraine to enhance their security precautions and preparedness and get in touch with the Chinese Embassy in order to evacuate Ukraine as soon as possible.
In the past 10 years, we have answered more than 2.7 million inquiries of various types on the 12308 hotline of the MFA's Global Emergency Call Center for Consular Protection and Services. We have further promoted the transformation and upgrading of consular services, significantly reduced the fees for Chinese citizens to apply for consular documents, created a smart consular platform, and innovated convenience-for-people measures such as online passport application, remote online notarization, online appointment, and mobile payment. We are better leveraging the role of data to provide convenience for people. We have improved the functions of the "China Consular Affairs" application, allowing overseas compatriots to contact embassies and consulates abroad with one click.
Up to now, China has reached various visa-free agreements or arrangements with 150 countries, making Chinese passports more powerful and valuable. Sticking to strict COVID-19 prevention and control at home, we have launched a fast-lane arrangement for personnel exchanges between China and foreign countries and issued the Chinese version of an International Travel Health Certificate to facilitate personnel exchanges and help stabilize industrial and supply chains.
China's diplomatic service always goes all out to deliver its duty in ensuring overseas compatriots' long journey home. Serving the people is the abiding mission of Chinese diplomats. We will always put the people in the highest position, have our roots in the people, have the people in mind, and deliver benefits to the people. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we will continue to carry forward the diplomatic cause true to the expectations of the people. Thank you!
Chen Wenjun:
Thanks to the two delegates to the 20th CPC National Congress, Ms. Shen Beili and Mr. Ma Zhaoxu. Thank you, journalists, for your participation. Today's press conference is concluded. Goodbye.
Translated and edited by Zhang Liying, Wang Qian, Xu Xiaoxuan, Zhu Bochen, Liu Sitong, Gong Yingchun, Zhang Junmian, Liu Jianing, Dong Qingpei, Zhou Jing, Ma Yujia, Yan Bin, Wang Wei, Wang Yanfang, Xu Kailin, Yuan Fang, Zhang Rui, Yan Xiaoqing, Li Huiru, Huang Shan, Wang Yiming, He Shan, Qin Qi, David Ball, Tom Arnsten, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.