Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue gave a review of China's diplomacy this year in response to a question raised at a press conference held in Beijing on December 23.

In the face of an ever changing world, she said, the Chinese government has carried out an independent foreign policy of peace, continued to maintain world peace and opposed hegemony and power politics while keeping in mind the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and people around the world for common development.

In doing so, China has played the role of a peace-loving, cooperative and responsible big country, the spokeswoman said.

Firstly, China resolutely safeguards its independence, sovereignty, and national dignity, Zhang said. The Chinese government and people conducted a resolute and vigorous struggle after the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia by US-led NATO forces, which demonstrates the determined will of the Chinese people to safeguard sovereignty and national dignity.

China has effectively fought against the so-called "two states theory" advocated by Lee Teng-hui and dealt with the separatists in Taiwan and again safeguarded national sovereignty, the spokeswoman said.

Secondly, she said, China has continued to uphold justice, oppose hegemony and maintain peace in international affairs.

During the Kosovo war, China stuck to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter all the time, firmly opposed to NATO's use of force, and proposed to resolve the dispute politically by respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yugoslavia and ensuring the legal rights and interests of all ethnic groups in Kosovo.

China's stance on the Kosovo crisis was highly valued by the international community, which illustrated the constructive role of China in solving the Kosovo problem.

Thirdly, China has taken an active role in participating in multilateral diplomatic activities, and devoted its efforts to promoting the establishment of a new international political and economic order.

Fourthly, China has consistently insisted on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence to further develop friendly relations with other countries, said the spokeswoman.

China has been promoting cooperation and solidarity with developing countries, and has strengthened good-neighborly and trustworthy partnership with neighboring countries Zhang said, adding that China's relations with the world's major powers have maintained relatively stable, and ties with developed countries as a whole have improved steadily.

Finally, Macao's smooth return to the motherland a few days ago is another significant milestone in the cause of China's reunification following the return of Hong Kong. It is also another major event in China's diplomacy this year.

Under the guiding principle of "one country, two systems", "the Macao people administering Macao" and a high degree of autonomy, Macao's future will be much brighter.

Zhang predicted that China's diplomacy in the new century will make even further progress.