On May 19, a sunny day with gentle breeze, more than 180 members of the public from across the country visited the foreign ministry at the ministry's first public open day in 2007. In the Olive Hall, the guests stood around the newly appointed Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, shaking hands and taking photos with him. Yang cordially talked with the oldest and the youngest of the visitors, a 75-year retiree and a 4-year child. The reporters immediately clicked the shutters to record this moving scene.

"I'm very glad to attend the public open day activity for the first time," smiled Yang. He expressed warm welcome to the friends from all over the country and various sectors of the society. "Some of you are old comrades having contributed a lot to the construction of our nation, some are energetic youth and some are lively students. I feel sincerely grateful for your support for our diplomatic work," said he.

Yang delivered an enthusiastic speech to the guests, saying that the people are the master of our nation and China's diplomacy is people-oriented and serves the fundamental interests of the people. Over the past more than 50 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the diplomatic work has played an important role of maintaining the national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and made great contributions to ensuring the Chinese people could build their country in a peaceful environment. Today the diplomatic work, under the wise central leadership, has scored fruitful achievements. We are implementing the all-round diplomatic policies of stabilizing and developing relations with the world's powers, promoting good relationships with our neighbors, strengthening unity and cooperation with developing countries, actively developing multilateral diplomacy, enhancing trade and business ties with other countries and safeguarding the legitimate interests of overseas Chinese nationals and enterprises. China's diplomacy serves the economic and social progress, the building of a well-off and socialist harmonious society and the fundamental interests of the Chinese people.

Yang noted that the people are the foundation for our diplomatic work and the diplomatic achievements are attributable to the wise leadership of the central government, the cooperation of various governmental agencies and the full support of the people. Attending the public open day event just demonstrates their support for China's diplomacy. The power, wisdom and dynamism of China's diplomacy all come from the people. The guests as well as the rest of the Chinese people have contributed greatly to building a sound international image of China, promoting the exchanges with other countries and enhancing the friendships with people all over the world. We expect our friends to extend more understanding of and support for our diplomatic work and your suggestions and opinions on the diplomatic work are most appreciated.

Yang added emotionally that since the founding of the PRC several generations of diplomatic people have worked hard under arduous conditions with the faith in national prosperity and happiness of the people. We hold the same faith and will continue to work hard. We have the determination and confidence to do the diplomatic work well with your support. The sincere words of Yang moved the guests deeply.

A student from Beijing Foreign Studies University asked Yang about his ideas on the next stage of diplomatic work. Yang said that China's diplomacy faces both opportunities and challenges in the 21st century. We will resolutely implement the diplomatic policies and principles of the central government, hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, firmly follow the road of peaceful development and implement the independent foreign policy of peace and work relentlessly to build a harmonious socialist society and a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity. When answering the question of a student from China Foreign Affairs University about the new concepts of China's diplomacy, Yang said that President Hu Jintao raised the concept of "harmonious world" featuring political equality and democracy, economic mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, mutual trust and collaboration in terms of security and cultural exchanges. Especially today China's national strength keeps growing and an increasing number of Chinese people go abroad, we should give greater attention to "people-oriented diplomacy" and protect the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese citizens and enterprises. We also emphasize mutual benefit and common development. "Our road will get increasingly broad!"

A young student who wants to become a diplomat after graduation asked Yang to give him some tips. Yang said that to be a Chinese diplomat requires a strong sense of patriotism, resolute political stand and confidence, solid knowledge of political and diplomatic theories, acute judgment of political and international situation, rich skills including a good grasp of Chinese and foreign languages, diversified knowledge base, inter-personnel capacity, analysis ability and flexibility, a lofty moral and strict sense of organization and discipline, healthy body and optimistic mindset. He called the students with the will of devoting to the diplomatic undertaking to make good preparations now for joining China's diplomacy in the future. The words of Yang were warmly applauded by the audience.

The meeting between the spokesperson and the public has been a routine of the ministry's public open day. In the press room, Liu Jianchao, director of the Information Department, introduced the latest development of the diplomatic work and basic information of the foreign ministry with vivid multimedia demonstration. He also told the audience his stories of accompanying national leaders for state visits and participating in major diplomatic activities as well as anecdotes from the world of diplomacy. The visitors listened to him with avid attention. Some took notes carefully and smiled at the humorous words of the spokesperson occasionally.

One of the themes of the public open day is the protocol work. Lin Nan, Vice-Director of the Protocol Department, told the visitors about the political, policy and special nature of the protocol work. She stressed that "the protocol staffs must be precise and meticulous, for success depends on details". According to her, when preparing for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation her colleagues in the Protocol Department found it quite difficult to ensure the 49 state guests could easily find their seats in the conference hall. They then designed the "footprint marks", which well maintained the order of the conference. A visitor said emotionally, "the protocol work seems overelaborate, but it is such overelaborate details that make the diplomatic work so splendid."

To help the public better understand the protocol work, the foreign ministry especially invited 9 public representatives to view the welcome ceremony held by President Hu Jintao for visiting Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet in the Great Hall of the People May 17. Those 9 people who were also present at this public open day recalled that experience. A retiree scientist said, "I am very excited and proud of seeing our grand and well-trained honor guard. I feel our motherland is growing stronger with rising international position and an increasing number of friends. I used to think the diplomatic work mysterious, but now I feel the foreign ministry and Foreign Minister Yang are very kind." A CPC secretary of a suburb village said, "We the farmers are deeply encouraged by such great diplomatic achievements. I will lead our entire village to do our part in the building of new socialist rural area." A student noted that viewing the welcoming ceremony for state guests was a vivid patriotic education and made him more determined of serving the motherland worthily and devoting to the diplomatic cause.

As the 3-hour public open day activity came to the end, the visitors still felt excited and counted their "gains": "Today's activity broadens my outlook." "I learned a lot of diplomatic knowledge." "I shook hand and talked with Foreign Minister Yang." "I asked the spokesperson a question"…

They reluctantly said goodbye to the foreign ministry staffs. "Thank you. It is a memorable experience." "Good luck to all of you. We will support the diplomatic work forever…"