China opens first time its diplomatic documents

Home>>China

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 19, 2004

China opens first time its diplomatic documents

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an inauguration ceremony for its "Open Archives Center" at its southern wing tower. This marks that part of the documents on China's diplomatic history since the founding of the PRC kept by FM is open to the public at home and abroad. Present at the ceremony were leaders of the Foreign Ministry including Li Zhaoxing, Minister, Qiao Zonghuai, vice minister as well as other heads of offices and bureaus of the ministry.

In his speech Minister Li pointed out that the opening of the archives formed since the founding of the PRC is a new measure taken by FM, which showed its faithful commitment to the theory of "three representatives", keeping pace with the times and innovation. The archives should serve both the interests of the nation and the public as well. The opening of the documents on diplomatic matters represents the service for the public.

China's Law of Archives and the Implementation of the Law of Archives stipulate that the documents formed after the founding of the PRC is open to the public 30 years afterwards. China's FM will open the records in batches after it has decoded and made an assessment of the diplomatic documents based on the particular situation of China.

The documents formed between 1949 and 1955 by the FM are the first batch to be opened, which comprised of about ten thousand documents. They recorded the establishment and development of diplomatic ties and political, economic and cultural exchanges with foreign nations as well as China's efforts on the recovery of its seats in international organizations. For instance the recovery of the UN at the multilateral diplomatic front and participation into the two important international conferences, the Geneva conference and Asian-African conference. There are also working papers of consular affairs, protocol, treaties and laws. The opening of the records will help the public at home and abroad to get to know the way China has gone through on its diplomatic front and its great achievements in this field since the founding of the PRC. It will also promote the research on the guidelines and policies of the PRC and the history of China's diplomatic affairs.

The diplomatic documents are available for the PRC citizens and organizations, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, overseas Chinese, foreign citizens of Chinese origin, and foreign organizations and individuals.

An application procedure has to be gone through for using the documents. Users should submit the application 20 working days ahead of the time before using the documents upon receiving the confirmation notice. The application and utilization process in detail are subject to the "Interim Provisions on Open Documents of the Archives of FM".

By People's Daily Online

Questions?Comments? Click here

Exploration rover "Spirit" lands safely on Mars ( 9 Messages)

Two major state banks to pilot joint-stock system ( 3 Messages)

China pondering its own "green card" system ( 16 Messages)

Roaring BMW: Was it "road rage" or an accident? ( 2 Messages)

Beijing's traffic no longer a headache by year 2008 ( 5 Messages)