Third, more significant openness to the outside world and expanded economic diplomacy are the priorities of diplomatic work in 2015.

The report argues that "opening-up is also a reform" and stresses to "win the initiative in development and international cooperation through taking the initiative to open up."

"Economy is the foundation." Diplomacy is no exception to this rule. Economic diplomacy will have the following highlights in 2015.

The first is accelerated implementation of the Going Global Strategy. Efforts will be made to sell Chinese equipment to the rest of the world, manage outward investments through registration, expand export credit insurance, broaden uses of foreign exchange reserves, and improve financial, information, legal and consular protection services. Stress is put on "paying attention to risk prevention and enhancing the ability to protect rights and interests overseas." The second involves the construction of a new pattern of comprehensive opening-up by promoting the "one belt, one road" initiatives as well as China-Pakistan and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar economic corridors. The third is to plan bilateral and regional openness and cooperation as a whole. While safeguarding the multilateral trade regime, efforts will be sped up to implement the FTA strategy so as to work towards completion of the negotiation to upgrade the China-ASEAN FTA and RCEP negotiations to create an Asia-Pacific FTA. China-U.S. and China-EU negotiations on investment agreement will be pushed forward. And the fourth is to steadily develop a marine economy and work towards becoming a maritime power by formulating and implementing strategic plans, firmly safeguarding national maritime rights and interests, and properly handling maritime disputes.

Fourth, multi-faceted diplomacy should be put at the service of the new strategic blueprint of "Four Comprehensives."

The "Four Comprehensives" refer to the efforts to build a moderately prosperous society, deepen reform, carry out rule of law, and strengthen Party discipline and are the overarching blueprint of General Secretary Xi Jinping to guide the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and to govern the country.

The report proposes a diplomatic guideline that China unswervingly pursues a path to peaceful development, adheres to the strategy of mutual benefit, win-win and opening-up, resolutely safeguards state sovereignty, security and development interests, protects legitimate overseas rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal persons, and promotes the establishment of new international relations centering on cooperation and win-win.

The report identifies five diplomatic priorities as follows: deepen strategic dialogue and practical cooperation and construct a healthy and stable framework of major country relations; comprehensively promote neighborhood diplomacy and create a community of shared destiny with neighboring countries; increase solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries to safeguard shared interests; actively participate in international multilateral affairs to push the international system and order towards greater fairness and rationality; and conduct activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of world anti-fascist war (WWII) and victory against Japanese aggression, and safeguard the fruits of victory and uphold international fairness and justice together with other members of the international community.

In conclusion, the report is a full demonstration of the proactive and enterprising diplomatic work of China in a period of accelerated rise. The year 2015 will witness intertwined opportunities and challenges and the reshaping of international order. Chinese diplomacy will be guided by the latest government work report, pursue both justice and interests with sufficient moral power and physical strength and make progress while ensuring stability by exercising both hard and soft powers, thus making even greater contribution to the strategic blueprint of "Four Comprehensives" and the Chinese Dream of great national rejuvenation.

Chen Xiangyang is a research fellow and Deputy Director of the Institute of World Politics, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Its original unabridged version was published in Chinese. The English version was first published at Chinausfocus.com.